Questions in this quiz: Why You Forget What You Study

Eight questions on how learning actually works — and why the way most people study doesn't. Based on the research in Make It Stick.

1. You have one hour before a test. Re-read your notes, or put them away and test yourself? — Options: Re-read the notes, Test yourself, Both work equally well, Depends on the subject
2. Re-reading makes material feel familiar. What does that feeling predict about what you'll remember? — Options: Almost nothing, It's a reliable signal, It predicts short-term recall only, It predicts long-term recall only
3. Same four hours of study. One night, or one hour across four nights? — Options: One night — momentum helps, Four nights, No real difference, One night, then re-read later
4. Practising problems: finish all of type A, then all of type B — or shuffle them together? — Options: One type at a time, Shuffle them together, One type at a time, then shuffle, It makes no difference
5. Learning feels smooth and effortless. What does that usually mean? — Options: It's working well, You've picked the right method, Less of it will stick, You're ready to move on
6. Being tested on material you haven't studied yet — useful, or a waste of time? — Options: A waste — you'll just get it wrong, Useful, Only if you're told the answers first, Only for factual material
7. Highlighting is the most popular study technique there is. How effective is it? — Options: Among the most effective, Moderately effective, Among the least effective, Effective only alongside notes
8. You've forgotten a bit since your last session. Good or bad? — Options: Bad — you've lost ground, Bad, unless you re-read straight away, Neither, it's just noise, Good