What Is Active Recall & Why Is It So Effective For Revision?

Key Takeaways

• Active recall boosts your memory by making you actively retrieve information: Instead of just rereading notes, you test yourself to strengthen your long-term recall and improve exam confidence.

• It works best when combined with regular review and spaced repetition: Testing yourself repeatedly over time helps move information into your long-term memory and improves your ability to retrieve information accurately and quickly.

• Use different techniques like flashcards, blurting, and practice questions: Mixing methods keeps revision engaging and helps you identify and focus on areas that need improvement.

Worried your current revision isn’t working? Feeling like nothing sticks no matter how many times you reread your notes? The good news is, there is a better way to revise.

Passive revision techniques rarely yield good results, so try switching to techniques that use active recall. These can help you transfer information into your long-term memory for more effective and accurate recall, and boost your confidence tackling challenging exam questions.  

In this guide, we’ll explain what active recall is, how it works, and how to start using it right away to supercharge your memory.

Active Recall Explained

Active recall is a strategy that involves actively retrieving information from your memory. Instead of reading and highlighting your notes or copying information straight from your textbook, active recall requires you to test your knowledge. The goal is to see what you can remember without looking at your notes.

This might sound simple, but it makes a big difference. By forcing your brain to search for an answer, you strengthen your memory and make it easier to recall this information in the future.

How Does Active Recall Work?

When you try to remember something without looking at your notes, science has shown your brain builds stronger connections. Each attempt strengthens the neural pathways linked to that information and makes it easier to retrieve it next time you need it.

Yes. In a systematic review (opens in a new tab) of student study methods and outcomes, researchers observed a positive correlation between the use of active recall techniques during revision, including flashcards, practice tests and creating mind maps, and student outcomes on their real exams. Stanford’s Memory Lab (opens in a new tab) also found active recall activated multiple brain regions at once, suggesting it is able to send a stronger signal through the brain’s memory circuits, leading to longer-lasting retention and deeper understanding.

This extra effort makes a big impact. Unlike passive study methods, active recall challenges your brain, which helps improve your memory over time.

Active Recall vs Passive Revision

Examples of Active Recall in Action

Flashcards

Write a question or key term on one side and the answer or definition on the other. You can use physical cards or online versions, like Save My Exams flashcards. This is ideal for quick facts, definitions and equations. Flashcards should be used frequently as part of a spaced revision strategy.

Blurting

Revise a topic and then write everything you can remember about it without looking at your notes. If you prefer revising orally, record your blurting. Afterwards, check what you missed and review it again later. Learn how to use blurting effectively.

Practice Questions

Use past papers or exam-style questions from Save My Exams to test your knowledge. Answer them without notes, then check and review your mistakes using your notes and mark schemes.

Teaching Others

Explain the topic to someone else such as a family member or peer. If you can teach it clearly, you’ve probably learned it well enough to explain it in an exam.

How to Use Active Recall in Your Revision Routine

Start by learning the topic using notes or a revision guide. Then: 

1.       Test yourself using flashcards, blurting, practice questions or other active revision techniques

2.        Check what you got wrong or missed out using your notes and/or mark schemes

3.        Identify areas where you made the most mistakes or had the least knowledge

4.        Review your notes again, particularly focusing on your weaker areas

5.        Repeat steps 1-4 regularly to keep information fresh and transfer it into your long-term memory

6.        Mix subjects and topics to keep things interesting (this is called interleaving)

Combining Active Recall with Spaced Repetition

Spaced repetition is when you review material at increasing intervals (e.g. at day 1, day 3, day 6 and day 10). This frequent repetition will help strengthen your memory and help you recall information more quickly over time. Learn how to create a spaced repetition schedule.

When Should You Use Active Recall?

Active recall should start as soon as you learn the topic content for the first time. Starting this process early will give you the best chance of transferring as much information about it as possible into your long-term memory. It will also make it easier to recall information quickly to help you answer questions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Rereading or copying notes instead of testing yourself

Simply rereading your notes or copying from a textbook feels productive, but passive revision isn’t very effective for long-term memorisation. This is because it doesn’t challenge your brain to retrieve the information. 

In contrast, active recall requires you to actively remember information and moves that information into your long-term memory. This makes it easier and quicker for you to recall this information in future.

Waiting too long before reviewing

If you wait too long between study sessions, you risk forgetting important information. Spaced repetition works best when you review material at increasing, but reasonably short, intervals. Waiting too long means you’ll have to relearn the content rather than just refresh it, which wastes time and energy.

Only testing yourself on topics you already know

It’s tempting to focus on what feels easy and familiar, but this limits your progress. The greatest improvements come from challenging yourself on material you find difficult. Testing only what you already know won’t strengthen your weak areas and may give you a false sense of confidence.

Not checking your mistakes or trying to fix them

Testing yourself is only half the process. If you don’t review the questions you get wrong or the information you frequently forget, you miss the chance to learn from your mistakes. Understanding where and why you went wrong helps you improve and avoid repeating errors in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is active recall backed by science?

Do I need flashcards to use active recall?

No. Flashcards are just one method of active recall, but you can also use blurting, practice questions, or teaching others.

How often should I do active recall?

Ideally, use it regularly throughout your revision schedule. Combine it with spaced repetition to make it even more effective. The earlier you start your revision, the best chance you have of memorising key information before your exams and avoiding last-minute cramming.

Can active recall work for essay-based subjects?

Yes, active recall works for a wide range of subjects, including essay-based ones. You can it, for example, to memorise key information, examples, vocabulary and quotes for essays, as well as example essay plans, key arguments and useful phrases.

What’s the best tool for active recall?

It totally depends on the subject and your learning style. Try out a range of active recall techniques, including flashcards, blurting, practice questions and teaching others, to see which works best for you. Save My Exams has a range of exam questions, mock exams and past paper questions you can use to support your active recall practice.

Final Thoughts

Active recall is a powerful and simple way to get more from your revision. It helps you remember more in less time and gives you the confidence to tackle challenging exam questions. Whether you’re studying formulas, dates or essays, this technique can make a big difference.

References

Active recall strategies associated with academic achievement in young adults: A systematic review. (opens in a new tab) 

Memorization tool bulks up brain's internal connections, scientists say (opens in a new tab)