How to Study & Learn Using Active Recall | Dr. Cal Newport & Dr. Andrew Huberman, by Huberman Lab Clips on YouTube. 6 min 49 s.
- Video length
- 6 min 49 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes per study session
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Close your notes and textbook. Write down everything you already remember about the topic from memory, even if it is incomplete.
Open your notes and check what you missed. Mark the gaps and the parts you got wrong.
Turn each key fact, definition or process into a question. Write the question on one side of a flashcard and the answer on the back.
Set the cards aside for a few minutes, then quiz yourself. Say the answer out loud before you flip the card.
Sort the cards into two piles: ones you answered correctly and ones you missed. Restudy only the missed pile.
Repeat the quiz on the missed cards until you answer each one correctly without looking.
Come back the next day and quiz yourself on the full set again. Spacing the sessions out makes the recall stronger.
Before the exam, run through the whole deck once more and note any card you still miss for a final review.
Tips and common mistakes
Rereading notes feels productive but is weaker than pulling answers from memory, so spend most of your time on self-testing.
Keep questions specific, such as naming the parts of a brain structure, rather than broad topics.
If you get a card wrong, do not just flip it. Try again from memory first, then check.
Study in short sessions of 20 to 30 minutes with breaks instead of one long cram.
Questions
What is active recall?
It is the practice of retrieving information from memory instead of reviewing it passively. Testing yourself forces your brain to rebuild the answer, which strengthens the memory.
Can I use active recall with notes I already have?
Yes. Convert your existing notes into questions and answers. You do not need new material, just a way to quiz yourself.
How often should I do it?
Short sessions spread over several days work better than one long session. Quiz yourself the day after learning, then again a few days later.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
