What is retrieval practice?
Retrieval practice means pulling information out of memory instead of putting it back in by rereading. Answering practice questions, explaining a concept with the book closed or writing everything you remember on a blank page are all retrieval practice. Because taking a test strengthens memory, it is also known as the testing effect.
- Also called
- Testing effect, test-enhanced learning
- Landmark study
- Roediger & Karpicke (2006)
- Core idea
- The act of recalling makes memories stronger
- Rating
- "High utility" in Dunlosky et al. (2013)
Rereading vs. recalling
Roediger and Karpicke (2006) had college students study short prose passages, then split them into two conditions.
| Condition | What students did | Test after 5 minutes | Test after 1 week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restudy | Read the passage again | Better | Worse |
| Retrieval practice | Wrote down what they could recall without the text | Slightly lower | Much better |
Students who reread felt they knew the material better, but they forgot more a week later. Those who practiced retrieval remembered far more on the one-week test than those who only reread, even though students themselves predicted rereading would work better.
Karpicke and Blunt (2011) reported that retrieval practice even beat concept mapping on tests requiring inference and understanding.
Why it works
- The act of retrieval strengthens and adds routes to a memory.
- It exposes gaps, showing you what to study next, which builds metacognition.
- It is a prime example of a "desirable difficulty": learning that feels harder often lasts longer.
Retrieval practice techniques
- Brain dump: Close the book and write everything you remember on a blank page, then check.
- Flashcards: Question on the front, answer on the back; recall before flipping.
- Self-quizzing: Do end-of-chapter questions and past exam papers first.
- Teach it: Explain the concept to a friend, or to an empty chair.
- Space it out: Recall over several days instead of many times in one sitting; combine with the spacing effect.
Low-stakes quizzes in class, such as quick exit tickets, apply the same principle without adding grading pressure.
Frequently asked questions
- What is retrieval practice?
- A study strategy in which you recall information from memory instead of rereading it; it is also called the testing effect.
- Is retrieval practice really better than rereading?
- In Roediger and Karpicke (2006), students who practiced retrieval remembered much more after a week than those who reread.
- How do I do retrieval practice?
- Use brain dumps, flashcards, practice questions and explaining concepts aloud, repeated over spaced intervals.
References
- Roediger, H. L., III, & Karpicke, J. D. (2006). Test-enhanced learning: Taking memory tests improves long-term retention. Psychological Science, 17(3), 249–255.
- Karpicke, J. D., & Blunt, J. R. (2011). Retrieval practice produces more learning than elaborative studying with concept mapping. Science, 331(6018), 772–775.
- Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J., Nathan, M. J., & Willingham, D. T. (2013). Improving students’ learning with effective learning techniques. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4–58.