Are you rubbish at committing things to memory? Is learning and then retaining that information something you really struggle with? Fear not - here's a great learning hack that means the next time you sit down to learn something, you'll remember it for good.

1. Graduated Interval Recall
This time it’s for ever!
By BrightCarbon

2. Have you ever tried to learn
something new…
3.14159…

3. …and been overwhelmed by the task?
3.14159265358979
32384626433832…

4. Perhaps you succeeded in
learning everything…
3.14159265358979
32384626433832…

5. …only to forget it all the next day

6. If only there was a better way…

7. If only there was a better way… well there is

8. It’s called:
Graduated Interval Recall

9. It’s called:
Graduated Interval Recall
I’ve forgotten
that already

10. GRADUATED

11. INTERVAL

12. RECALL

13. When we learn something new…
A B C D E …

14. …our brains tend to forget it very quickly

15. What comes
after ‘A’?

16. A …
If we were to plot what
it looks like on a graph

17. x
First time
you learn
something

18. But there’s good news!

19. The theory
goes that…

20. If you test yourself,
just as you’re about
to forget the thing
you’ve learnt

21. Your brain will hold
on to the information
for longer

22. Now, what would that look like on a graph…?

23. You read my mind

24. xx
First time
you test
yourself
250

25. Every time you test your new knowledge
your brain will hold on to it for longer…

26. Every time you test your new knowledge
your brain will hold on to it for longer…
...and longer

27. Every time you test your new knowledge
your brain will hold on to it for longer…
...and longer …and longer

28. PROBABILITY OF
CORRECT
RESPONSE
TIME (SECONDS)
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
0 125
x x x x
Second
Test

29. PROBABILITY OF
CORRECT
RESPONSE
TIME (SECONDS)
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
x x x x
Third
Test
0 125

30. I know what you're thinking:
That's all well and good, but how
do I know when to test myself if...

31. …I don’t know when I’m
going to forget it?

32. If only there was some
science to tell me when I
had to remind myself…

33. Perhaps even… an ALGORITHM

34. Algorithms
Rule!

35. As luck would have it, some super smart
guy in the 60s came up with the answer.

36. Suppose the first time you test
yourself on what you’ve learnt,
you remember it for 5 seconds
2

37. (or 5x5x5 = 125 seconds)
If you test yourself again
at 20-25 seconds you will
remember it this time for 5
3

38. This is mind
blowing!

39. And the good news is,
the time interval before you
need to test yourself again…

40. Gets longer…
5 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5

41. 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5
And longer…

42. 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5
nd longer…

43. Until…
5 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5

44. x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5
After the tenth time
You won’t need to test
yourself again for over a
year!

45. A YEAR!

46. ‘Respectful Silence’

47. So,

48. So, that leaves
you with just
one problem…

49. What to do with your new
super learning power!

50. For more powerpoint inspiration
visit BrightCarbon
Content:
Darren Smith
Design:
Shee Juma