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Spaced repetition:
The science of remembering

Why you forget what you study—and how to fix it with optimally-timed reviews.

The Forgetting Curve

Discovered by Hermann Ebbinghaus in 1885. Still true today.

Without review, here's how much you retain:

58%
20 min
44%
1 hour
33%
1 day
25%
1 week
21%
1 month

After 1 month, you've forgotten ~80% of what you learned. Unless you review strategically.

How spaced repetition fixes this

Review at increasing intervals, right before you'd forget

1
1st review
1 day after learning
~90%
2
2nd review
3 days after 1st review
~90%
3
3rd review
7 days after 2nd review
~90%
4
4th review
14 days after 3rd review
~90%
5
5th review
30+ days after 4th review
Long-term

Each review takes seconds, but the memory lasts months. That's the power of timing.

Compared to other methods

Method
Effort
Retention
Best For
Cramming
High (all at once)
Days
Last-minute panic
Re-reading
Low
Hours
Feeling productive
Spaced Repetition
Moderate (spread out)
Months/Years
Actual learning

Spaced repetition in Cruxly

Traditional spaced repetition apps (like Anki) are powerful but require you to manually create every card. That's hours of typing before you can even start.

Cruxly flips this: photo your notes → AI generates questions → spaced repetition handles the rest.

Our algorithm tracks what you know and schedules reviews at optimal times. You just open the app and study what it tells you to. Simple.

Want Anki's algorithm for long-term review? Export your Cruxly quizzes to Anki format with one tap (Student plan).

FAQ

How does spaced repetition work?

You review information right before you'd forget it. Each successful recall extends the time until next review. This exploits how memory works—difficulty at retrieval strengthens the memory.

Is Anki the best spaced repetition app?

Anki has the most customizable algorithm (FSRS/SM-2). But it requires manual card creation and has a steep learning curve. Cruxly offers simpler spaced repetition with automatic card generation.

How long until I see results?

You'll notice improved recall within 1-2 weeks. Long-term retention benefits build over months. The key is consistency—daily short sessions beat weekly marathons.

Can I overdo spaced repetition?

If you're spending hours daily on reviews, you may have too many cards. Start with fewer cards, well-learned, rather than many cards poorly remembered.

Remember what you learn

Spaced repetition made simple. Photo → Quiz → Remember.

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