Active Recall for Board Exams: Study by Testing Yourself
Re-reading feels useful because the page looks familiar. But knowing an answer when you see it is not the same as writing it in the exam hall. Active recall fixes that.
Short answer
Active recall means studying by pulling information out of your memory, with questions, flashcards or a blank-page summary, instead of just re-reading. Research reviews rate practice testing as one of the most useful study methods.
Why it works
Each time you pull an idea out of memory, you make it easier to find next time. A well-known 2013 review by Dunlosky and colleagues rated practice testing and spreading out your study as highly useful. It rated highlighting and re-reading as low.
Five ways to do active recall
- Blank page. After a chapter, close the book and write down everything you remember. Then check what you missed.
- Flashcards. One question per card. Say the answer out loud before you flip it. StudyTracker has flashcards built in.
- Questions first. Turn each heading into a question before you read the section.
- Past papers. Try questions without notes and with a timer. Then mark yourself strictly.
- Teach it. Explain the idea to a friend, or to an empty room. This is called the Feynman technique.
For numericals and Accountancy
Don't just read solved examples. Cover the solution, try it yourself, then compare. More in GSEB Accountancy study tips.
Add spacing
Recall works best when you repeat it with longer gaps. The spaced repetition schedule shows how.
Frequently asked questions
Is active recall harder than re-reading?
Yes, and that's the point. It feels slower at first, but you remember much more later.
How often should I do it?
Do a few minutes after every study block. Then repeat it at spaced gaps while you revise.