Retrieval Practice Techniques for Students: What Works and Why

Retrieval practice means pulling information out of your memory rather than reading it again. Every time you successfully recall something, the memory becomes more durable — a well-documented effect called the testing effect. This guide explains the evidence behind it and shows five practical techniques you can start using today.

What is retrieval practice and why does it work?

When you reread your notes, the material feels familiar — but familiarity is not the same as the ability to recall it under exam pressure. Retrieval practice forces your brain to search for and reconstruct information, and that effortful process is what strengthens the memory trace.

The Education Endowment Foundation rates retrieval practice as one of the highest-impact, lowest-cost strategies available to students. It works across subjects and age groups, and its benefits compound over time: the more often you retrieve something, the more durable it becomes.

Technique 1 — Brain dump

A brain dump is the simplest form of retrieval practice. After studying a topic:

Close your notes and set a timer for ten minutes.

Write down everything you can remember about the topic — facts, concepts, diagrams, anything.

Open your notes and compare. Highlight what you missed.

Focus your next session on those gaps.

The brain dump works because it forces you to identify what you actually know versus what you merely recognise when you see it. Recognition and recall are very different skills, and exams test recall.

Technique 2 — Flashcards (done properly)

Flashcards are one of the most well-known retrieval tools, but they only work when used correctly. The key is to read the question side, attempt to recall the answer from memory, and only then flip the card.

Common mistake | Better approach
Reading both sides together | Cover the answer; recall first, then check
Reviewing all cards every session | Focus on the ones you got wrong
Passive reading | Say or write the answer before looking

Space your flashcard sessions out over several days, reducing the frequency as cards become secure. This builds on the spacing effect — returning to material just as you are starting to forget it produces the strongest memory.

Technique 3 — Past-paper questions

Answering past-paper questions is retrieval practice at exam level. It not only tests your knowledge but also trains you to recall under the conditions you will face in the real exam. To use past papers as retrieval practice:

Attempt the question without notes.

Mark your answer against the mark scheme — identify where marks were lost.

Return to your notes only to fill the gaps revealed by marking.

Repeat the same question type a week later to see if you have improved.

BBC Bitesize provides practice questions for many KS3 and GCSE subjects that can be used in this way.

Technique 4 — Teach it to someone else

Explaining a topic to another person is retrieval practice in its most demanding form. You cannot fake understanding when someone can ask follow-up questions. This is sometimes called the Feynman Technique: explain the concept as simply as possible, notice where your explanation breaks down, and return to your notes to repair the gap.

You do not need another student — explaining to a parent, sibling, or even a soft toy will reveal the gaps in your knowledge just as effectively.

Technique 5 — Closed-notes summary writing

After reading a section of a textbook or your class notes, close everything and write a one-page summary of what you have just read. This is harder and slower than rereading — which is exactly the point. The effort of reconstructing the material from memory is what consolidates it.

Reviewing these summaries before an exam is also more efficient than rereading the original source, because they already reflect what you remember most clearly.

How to build retrieval practice into your weekly revision

The most effective approach combines multiple techniques across the week:

Day | Activity
Monday | Brain dump on a new topic; make flashcards for missed content
Wednesday | Flashcard review; past-paper question on an older topic
Friday | Closed-notes summary; teach a concept to someone at home
Following week | Return to Monday's topic with a fresh brain dump — how much more can you recall?

The specific days matter less than the principle: short, frequent, effortful retrieval sessions spread over time.

Frequently asked questions

Is retrieval practice the same as active recall?

Yes — the two terms are used interchangeably. Both refer to the practice of retrieving information from memory rather than reading or rereading it. "Active recall" emphasises the effort involved; "retrieval practice" is the technical term used in learning research. Either way, they describe the same high-impact strategy.

How often should I use retrieval practice?

Research on spaced practice suggests reviewing material at increasing intervals — for example, after one day, three days, one week, and two weeks. The key is that each review happens just as the memory is starting to fade, which is what makes the retrieval effort productive. Daily retrieval on every topic is not necessary or realistic; spaced retrieval on a rotating schedule is.

Can retrieval practice help with subjects that require understanding rather than memorisation?

Yes. Retrieval practice works for conceptual understanding as well as factual recall. Explaining a scientific concept from memory, deriving a formula without looking at your notes, or outlining an argument without your essay plan — all of these are forms of retrieval practice that build understanding rather than just rote knowledge.

What is the difference between retrieval practice and doing lots of practice questions?

They overlap significantly. Practice questions are one form of retrieval practice. The broader concept includes any activity where you produce information from memory — brain dumps, flashcards, teaching, and summary writing, as well as practice questions. The common feature is that you retrieve before you check, not after.

For tutoring that builds retrieval practice into every session — so your child actually remembers what they learn — visit aitutors.me.