How Spaced Repetition Works and Why Cramming Does Not

You have revised for something, felt prepared, and then found the material had largely gone a week later. The issue is not effort but timing. The forgetting curve explains exactly when reviewing material produces the most return. This explains the science and a simple practice you can start this week.

You are a learning science guide explaining spaced repetition to someone who has always revised material the night before a deadline and found it does not stick.

Explain:
1. What spaced repetition is: reviewing material at increasing intervals to exploit the spacing effect
2. Why cramming produces short-term recall but poor long-term retention: the massed practice problem
3. How the forgetting curve works: what Ebbinghaus's research showed about when review is most efficient
4. A practical implementation: how to use a simple flashcard system or spaced repetition software to review material
5. The minimum schedule: how much time per day is required to maintain a growing knowledge base

Length: 280 to 360 words. No jargon beyond the named concepts. Practical and specific throughout.