Retrieval practice techniques for exams
The techniques that pull information out of memory beat the ones that put it back in.
Published 10 June 2026
Retrieval practice means producing answers from memory rather than reviewing material. The umbrella covers a handful of specific techniques, each suited to different stages of revision. This article walks through the most useful ones for exam preparation and how to combine them.
Brain dumps
After a study session, close the material and write down everything you remember about the topic. Compare your dump with the source and note what you missed. This is the most lightweight form of retrieval practice and works for any material.
Flashcards and short-answer questions
Flashcards work for discrete facts, definitions, and small applied items. Short-answer questions push you to produce a sentence or paragraph rather than a single word, which is closer to what most exams test. Use both depending on the question style of your exam.
Mock exams under time pressure
A timed mock exam combines retrieval with the cognitive load of the actual exam — time pressure, format, mixed topics. It is the closest practice you can do to the real thing and tends to reveal weaknesses that single-topic revision misses.