The 2/3/5:7 revision rule is a spaced repetition method for reviewing study materials, like flashcards, mindmaps, and Cornell notes, to improve retention. This method advocates revisiting your materials at specific intervals to move them into your long-term memory.
How the 2/3/5:7 Rule Works:
The core principle involves revisiting the material at the following timeframes after the initial learning:
| Revision | Timeframe | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| First | Next Day | Reinforce the initial learning and address immediate memory fade. |
| Second | After 3 days | Re-engage with the material to strengthen understanding. |
| Third | After 5 days | Further consolidate information. |
| Fourth | After 7 days | Embed the information into your long-term memory, ready for tests or exams. |
Practical Steps:
- Initial Study: First, learn the material using your chosen method (flashcards, mindmaps, Cornell notes etc.).
- First Revision: The next day, review all the material you studied the previous day.
- Subsequent Revisions: Review all the material again after three days, then again after five days, and one final time after seven days.
- Regular Testing: Throughout these revisions, actively test yourself or ask a friend or family member to test you on the material. This could include doing practice questions or using your revision tools.
Why This Approach Works:
- Spaced Repetition: Spacing out your revisions leverages the forgetting curve. By reviewing the material just before you would likely forget it, you reinforce it more effectively.
- Enhanced Retention: This method moves information from short-term to long-term memory by requiring repeated recall.
- Active Recall: This forces your brain to actively retrieve the information, leading to better understanding and retention, compared to passively rereading your notes.
- Preparation for Tests/Exams: Regular revision ensures the information is embedded into your long-term memory for effective recall during tests or exams.
Example:
Let’s say you created flashcards on Monday about the different stages of mitosis.
- First Revision: You would review those flashcards on Tuesday.
- Second Revision: Then again on Thursday.
- Third Revision: Followed by a review on Saturday.
- Final Revision: And lastly, review them on the following Monday.
The 2/3/5/7 rule, as mentioned on various platforms like www.tiktok.com, is a structured approach to optimizing study habits and long-term retention through consistent and well-timed revisions.
