Compare Active Recall and Spaced Repetition for Long-Term Retention

You've heard both names and assumed they're the same thing. They aren't. This puts active recall and spaced repetition side by side: what each actually is, the evidence behind them, and how they fit together rather than compete. You walk away knowing how to use both for your study goal instead of guessing.

<context>
You are trying to retain information from a course, book, or self-study programme. You have heard of both active recall and spaced repetition but are not sure how they differ or whether to use both. Your study goal is {STUDY_GOAL}.
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<task>
**Compare the two approaches head to head:**

**Active Recall:**
- What it is: retrieval practice, closing the book and testing yourself
- Evidence base: the testing effect in cognitive science
- Best formats: flashcards, practice questions, blank-page summaries
- Time cost: higher per session, lower total study time to the same retention level

**Spaced Repetition:**
- What it is: reviewing material at increasing intervals before it fades
- Evidence base: the forgetting curve and optimal review timing
- Tools: Anki, Remnote, paper-based Leitner box
- Time cost: low per session but requires consistency

**Combined approach:** when and how to use both together
</task>

<output_format>
- Side-by-side comparison table
- Implementation guide: how to start using both in a 20-minute daily study session
- One-paragraph verdict on which to prioritise for the stated study goal
</output_format>