How Do Spaced Repetition Flashcards Work?

Spaced repetition is a scientifically proven study technique that optimizes when you review information. Instead of cramming, it spaces your reviews at increasing intervals so you see difficult material more often and easy material less frequently.

The Science

Research shows that memory fades over time following a predictable curve (the "forgetting curve"). Spaced repetition fights this by scheduling reviews right before you are likely to forget. Each successful review strengthens the memory and pushes the next review further into the future.

How It Works on learn.tuxcode.net

Every flashcard in our system has an internal schedule. When you review a card, you rate your confidence:

• Again — You did not know the answer. The card will reappear in the same session.
• Hard — You remembered, but it was difficult. The card will reappear soon (within 1–2 days).
• Good — You remembered with moderate effort. The card is scheduled for a comfortable interval (3–7 days).
• Easy — You knew it instantly. The card is pushed out to a longer interval (1–3 weeks or more).

Each time you successfully recall a card, the interval grows. A card you consistently rate "Good" or "Easy" might eventually appear only once a month.

Daily Reviews

Each day, the system calculates which cards are due for review. Your dashboard shows the number of cards due today. We recommend reviewing all due cards daily — this typically takes 10–15 minutes and is the single most effective thing you can do for long-term retention.

New Cards vs. Review Cards

• New cards are ones you have never seen before. The system introduces a fixed number of new cards per day (default: 10) to avoid overwhelming you.
• Review cards are ones you have seen before and are due for another review based on their schedule.

Tips for Success

1. Be consistent. Review your cards every day, even if it is just for 10 minutes.
2. Be honest with your ratings. If you had to think hard, rate it "Hard" — not "Good." Accurate ratings lead to better scheduling.
3. Do not skip days. Missed days create a backlog that can feel overwhelming. Short daily sessions are better than long weekly ones.

See Flashcard Ratings Explained for more details on how ratings affect scheduling.