Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, Mark A. McDaniel
Most of what you believe about studying is wrong, as popular methods like rereading only create illusions of mastery. True learning requires embracing desirable difficulties that reshape how knowledge is retained.
Actively retrieving information from memory through self-quizzing is far more effective for long-term retention than passively rereading texts or reviewing notes.
Distributing practice sessions over time allows the brain to consolidate memories, whereas cramming only produces fleeting knowledge that is quickly forgotten.
Mixing different problem types during study sessions improves your ability to identify underlying principles and choose the correct solutions in real-world scenarios.