What is active recall and how is it different from re-reading?
Short Answer
Active recall means testing yourself—trying to retrieve an answer from memory—rather than rereading or highlighting. Retrieval practice strengthens memory and reveals gaps that passive review can hide.
Why This Matters
Because the act of retrieval reinforces the memory pathway, repeated self-testing leads to better long-term retention than restudying. Rereading can feel fluent, but that familiarity often doesn’t translate into reliable recall when you need it.
Where This Changes
Active recall can feel discouraging if the material is too hard; start with hints or partial cues, then fade them. For open-ended subjects, mix recall with application and synthesis tasks so you’re not only memorizing answers.