The science of effective learning

What cognitive psychology says students should actually do

For years, students have been told they are “visual learners”, “auditory learners”, or “kinaesthetic learners”. Whilst lots of students do fit into those learning styles, cognitive psychology has shown something far more important: it’s not the style that matters, but the strategy.

The most effective learners aren’t the ones who highlight beautifully or reread their notes over and over. They’re the ones who use strategies based on how memory really works.

This blog breaks down four of the most powerful, evidence-based techniques students can use to learn faster, remember more, and feel genuinely confident before exams.

1. Spaced practice: Learn less at a time, remember more

Spaced practice (also called spaced repetition) means revisiting information over increasing intervals - days, then weeks, then months.

It works because memory strengthens each time your brain has to retrieve information after a delay. Cramming forces everything into short-term memory, but spaced practice moves it into long-term storage.

How students can use spacing

• Break revision into small sessions across weeks, not hours in one day.

• Revisit topics regularly, even when you feel you “know” them.

• Use a revision timetable that cycles topics rather than blocks them.

Why it works

Spacing creates “desirable difficulty” - your brain has to work slightly harder to remember, which strengthens learning.

2. Retrieval Practice: Test Yourself Instead of Rereading

If students do one thing differently this year, it should be this: Stop rereading. Start recalling.

Retrieval practice involves pulling information from memory rather than re-exposing yourself to it. Testing is not just assessment - it’s a learning tool.

Ways to use retrieval

• Use flashcards and flip them to recall, not recognise.

• Cover your notes and rewrite what you remember.

• Attempt exam questions without checking the textbook first.

• Teach the topic to someone else.

Why it works

Each retrieval attempt strengthens neural pathways, making information easier to access later - especially in exam conditions.

3. Dual Coding: Combine Words and Visuals

Dual coding uses two channels - verbal and visual - to strengthen memory. The trick is not to choose one or the other, but to combine them.

Examples of dual coding

• Turn notes into diagrams, mind maps, or timelines.

• Pair definitions with sketches or icons.

• Label diagrams from memory.

• Use flow charts to simplify processes in science or history.

Important note

Dual coding is not the same as “being a visual learner”. It’s about enhancing recall by presenting concepts in multiple ways that reinforce each other.

4. Interleaving: Mix up topics instead of studying one thing for hours

Interleaving means alternating between different topics or question types during a study session.

For example, instead of a full hour of algebra, you might do:

• 20 minutes algebra

• 20 minutes geometry

• 20 minutes fractions

Or in English Literature:

• Analyse a character

• Then a theme

• Then a quotation technique

Why it works

Interleaving improves problem-solving because it forces students to:

• Identify which method to use

• Spot patterns

• Adapt to unfamiliar questions

• Avoid autopilot learning

This mirrors real exam conditions, where questions jump between topics.

Cognitive science shows that learning styles don’t predict academic performance.
Students feel like rereading notes, highlighting, or rewriting neat copies works - but that doesn’t necessarily make it effective.

The four strategies above work because they:

• Strengthen long-term memory

• Mimic exam conditions

• Activate deeper thinking

• Encourage struggle (the good kind)

Students who use these methods perform better in exams, learn faster, and retain knowledge far longer.

Start today with a simple three-step routine that can transform revision:

1. Review a topic using spaced practice
A short, regular session is more effective than a long one.

2. Apply retrieval practice
Flashcards, self-quizzes, and past questions.

3. Mix in interleaving and dual coding
Revise multiple topics and convert notes into visuals.

The students who do best are often the ones who understand how learning works! Spacing, retrieval, dual coding, and interleaving are backed by decades of research, and they are practical, efficient, and easy to start using today.

For more information or help with your revision, Contact Us today!