Mixed Space Practice

The Forgetting Curve & Spacing Effect

The forgetting curve is a mathematical formula that describes the rate at which something is forgotten after it is initially learned (red curve).

Mixed-spaced practice softens the downward slope of the forgetting curve by repeating the learned information at particular intervals (red curve then green curves after spaced repetition). This principle is the foundation of the learning method known as “spaced repetition,” where material is learned then meaningfully reviewed after increasingly large time gaps.