Retrieval practice is a very common learning tool that is advocated by psychologists and educators to promote long-term memory and comprehension. In this article, we will review what retrieval practice is and explore its versatile applications in learning.
Applications of Retrieval Practice
- Retrieval practice enables learners to actively recall information from their brains, aiding long-term memory.
- The four common retrieval practice strategies include brain dumps, flashcards, practice tests, and teaching others.
- Retrieval practice can be done in the classroom setting or during self-learning.
- Some common mistakes during retrieval practice include not checking the accuracy of information, only retrieving easy topics, relying on notes too soon, and only applying one type of retrieval practice strategy.
🔍 What is Retrieval Practice?
First, let's break down the concept of retrieval practice. Imagine you're listening to a familiar melody on the radio, but you can't seem to remember the song title. As the song progresses, you find yourself humming along to the melody and lyrics. Before you reach the chorus, you suddenly manage to match the melody to a specific word and recall the title, just like the big hit from Celine Dion, “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” (pun intended). That’s retrieval practice in full force.
It is a process where you actively try to recall something from memory, rather than reviewing material (like a notebook or PowerPoint slides) repeatedly to remember it.
Retrieval practice is actively pulling information from your brain, whereas re-reading is actively putting information back into your brain.
🔬 The Science Behind It
Next, let's explore the significance of retrieval practice. It is actually a part of cognitive science, which explains the relationship between effective learning 1 and long-term memory. A psychology theory that supports the efficiency of retrieval practice is the Testing Effect, where testing exercises are used as a teaching tool to assess students' actual understanding of a topic and also identify knowledge gaps to improve future learning.
To learn effectively, you need to activate your long-term memory. This happens when you repeatedly use and recall the information you’ve stored in your brain.
Each time you retrieve a specific topic from memory, the neural pathways connected to that memory are strengthened, reinforcing your ability to remember it. As a result, there’s a higher chance you’ll recall that topic even more easily the next time.
Additionally, retrieval practice is a deep cognitive process that also fosters metacognition, where you think about what you have thought in a continuous and systematic act of reflection to understand what worked and what didn't work during your learning process, for instance.
🎯 Retrieval Practice Strategies
There are multiple ways to start retrieval practice, depending on your learning fields, learning goals, or learning preferences. We'll discuss four common retrieval practice strategies that centre around self-paced learning and also structured learning in a group setting.
Brain dumps
- Recall everything that you have learnt on a blank page
- Focuses on recalling without any cues
- Promotes deep understanding
- Example: Writing down what you can remember after a lecture without looking at the topic slides.
Flashcards
- Correctly pair the keywords/ questions and answers through physical/digital flashcards
- Focuses on recalling with cues
- Aids memorisation of vocabulary and definitions
- Example: Writing down questions on the front, and flipping the back after you recall the answers
Practice tests and quizzes
- Simulate actual test questions in the form of structured papers or short quizzes
- Can be conducted at home by yourself/in the classroom by an educator
- Test understanding through a systematic recall and direct feedback (you know/ don't know the answer)
- Example: Sitting for a weekly quiz in school to test your understanding of a new Biology chapter
Teaching others
- Explaining what you have learnt to another person so that they can understand the topic too
- Makes you focus more during learning to memorise and understand better
- Facilitates active memory retention as you organise your teaching materials and identify knowledge gaps
- Example: Preparing a short tutorial slide for your group study friends on cognitive load theory
💡 Using Cues for Long-term Memory Activation
You may have noticed that cues play a role in helping you remember and recall certain things more effectively. Cues serve as hints or triggers that help you recall past memories or previously learned information.
Some of the cues that students use while learning include images and a storyline (especially through diagrams or illustrations), and memory techniques like acronyms. For instance, the M.A.I.N. acronym is used to explain the main causes of World War I: Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism.
⏰How to Space & Interleave Alongside Retrieval Practice
You'll be surprised to know that retrieval practice can be paired with other memorisation techniques, such as spacing and interleaving, to create a dynamic learning synergy.
Spacing occurs when learners review learning material in portions at spaced intervals, rather than studying the entire material all at once. Developed by German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus in 1885, the concept of spacing is regarded as an effective learning strategy that promotes long-term memory retention while reducing the likelihood of forgetting information quickly.
Here's a guideline example on how to apply spacing in your revision routine schedule:
Monday
Studying psychology concepts (definitions)
Wedneday
Review what you have learnt
Next Monday
Attempt some quizzes or short questions about what you have studied
Next next Monday
Review the psychology concepts and definitions again through flashcards or notes
Moving on, let's talk about interleaving. We understand that some learners prefer to dedicate a longer period of time to study instead of having spaced intervals. Interleaving is a studying method that mixes different learning topics in a single study session instead of cramming one whole topic (that is, blocking) throughout the time of study.
Let's say you plan to do some Mathematics practice. Instead of doing 30 questions of the same topic in one session, you can mix the types of questions for an engaging session like the following:
10 questions
Algebra questions
10 questions
Geometry questions
10 questions
Calculus questions
Interleaving is a great way to train your brain to identify and apply different knowledge flexibility. Learners can compare and review the similarities and differences between various interconnected topics, thereby retaining the information more effectively. Additionally, switching and mixing different topics can help to prevent repetition and boredom during revision.
🏫 Classroom vs Self-Study Retrieval Practice Examples & Insights
Let's look at how retrieval practice can be applied effectively in the classroom setting 2 or during self-studying. Whether you are an educator or a student, you can benefit from these tips and insights.
🎓 In the Classroom
Classroom retrieval practice is usually conducted in a collaborative and collective engagement where educators encourage equal participation and different cognitive skills development from every student, individually. Students can receive immediate feedback from their educators and use this session as a supplementary revision method as soon as they are taught a new topic. Some examples include:
Low-stakes quizzes on apps or papers
- Encourage participation without being tied to performance; the goal is learning
Think-pair-share on a given topic
- Facilitates peer discussion and learn from each other's insights
Brain dumps with a time allocation
- Effective way to identify knowledge gaps (working memory vs long-term memory)
🎓 Self-Study
On the other hand, self-study is a bit more flexible in terms of time allocation and focuses on self-regulation. It is strictly dependent on the learner's motivation and self-discipline, and how he or she plans their revision strategies. Feedback will be present if they check the answers or do self-evaluation. Some examples include:
Physical or digital flashcards
- Test without looking and incorporate topics with different difficulty levels
Self-testing through learning apps
- Build retrieval strength and motivation through gamification
Doing past year papers collection
- Activate retrieval skills in a situation that mimics the actual assessment, and work well under pressure
Instead of sticking to one way, we highly recommend that you integrate retrieval practice anywhere and anytime, regardless of your learning settings. Consistent and creative retrieval practice can yield the best learning outcomes, especially in the context of lifelong learning3.
⚠️ Common Mistakes When Doing Retrieval Practice
Finally, let's review some of the frequent mistakes made by learners and how to fix them.
Solution: Always check your notes and correct your mistakes (if any)
Solution: Mix a selection of easy and difficult topics through interleaving in one revision seating
Solution: Cover your notes completely, and focus on writing what you can recall on blank paper
Solution: From using flashcards, quizzes, to even teaching someone for different subjects
✍️ Gain A Comprehensive Understanding of Retrieval Practice with Superprof
Now that you have looked at retrieval practice through different aspects and how you can apply them throughout learning, you might want to take things a bit deeper with the guidance of an experienced psychology tutor.
At Superprof, you can easily find a qualified and experienced tutor who matches your learning goals, learning preferences, current location, and even hourly rates. A private tutor can offer you personalised one-to-one tutoring where you can learn all things psychology at your own pace.
All you need to do is head to the Superprof UK homepage, indicate your desired subject (psychology), and location (London, for example) to start reviewing a wide selection of tutors' profiles.
From there, you can review the tutors' essential information in terms of their years of experience, academic qualifications, subject specialisation, tutoring methodology, and online reviews of their past students.
After reviewing them, you can book your first lesson with them through the messaging feature.
Have fun learning and exploring the beauty of psychology with Superprof!
Like all science, psychology is knowledge; and like science again, it is knowledge of a definite thing, the mind.
James Mark Baldwin
References
- Retrieval practice. (n.d.). https://psychology.ucsd.edu/undergraduate-program/undergraduate-resources/academic-writing-resources/effective-studying/retrieval-practice.html
- Sherrington, T., & Stafford, S. (2025, September 2). What is retrieval practice and how can I use it in the classroom? : My College. My College. https://my.chartered.college/research-hub/what-is-retrieval-practice-and-how-can-i-use-it-in-the-classroom/
- Howley-Rouse, A. (2021, March 1). Retrieval practice and its benefits for long-term learning. THE EDUCATION HUB. https://theeducationhub.org.nz/retrieval-practice-and-its-benefits-for-long-term-learning/
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