When it comes to studying, many students rely on repetitive practice, focusing on one type of problem until they’ve mastered and understand it.

While this method, known as blocked practice, has its place, research shows that a more efficient approach is interleaved practice. The benefits of interleaved practice are enormous.

This technique involves mixing different topics or types of problems within a single study session, and it has been shown to improve retention and problem-solving skills.

Builds flexibility

Interleaved practice works by forcing the brain to constantly switch between different concepts or problem types.

This shift helps you learn to apply knowledge more flexibly and boosts your ability to recognize patterns across different areas.

For instance, if you’re studying math, you might alternate between algebra, geometry, and calculus problems.

Each switch challenges your brain to decide which method to apply, enhancing your understanding of when and how to use different techniques.

Improves long-term retention and master complex skills

It does enhance our memory to remember such things.

Interleaved practice has gained significant attention in educational psychology for its effectiveness in improving long-term retention and mastery of complex skills.

Traditional study methods, such as blocked practice, involve focusing on one topic at a time, which often leads to short-term gains but poor long-term retention.

In contrast, interleaving challenges the brain by mixing different topics or skills during a single study session.

This variation enhances learning by encouraging the brain to make connections between concepts, improving the ability to transfer knowledge to new situations.

Deeper cognitive processing

The key advantage of interleaved practice is its ability to promote deeper cognitive processing.

When learners encounter mixed topics, they are forced to identify differences and similarities between them, which enhances their understanding.

This contrasts with blocked practice, where learners may be lulled into a false sense of mastery by repeated practice on a single topic.

By continually switching between different topics, learners are prompted to actively retrieve and apply knowledge, strengthening their memory and problem-solving abilities over time.

Reinforce problem-solving techniques

Interleaved practice is particularly beneficial in subjects that require complex problem-solving or the application of multiple skills, such as mathematics, science, and language learning.

In mathematics, for instance, a student may alternate between practicing algebra, geometry, and calculus problems in a single study session.

This helps to reinforce different problem-solving techniques and enhances their ability to recognize which method to apply in varying contexts.

Similarly, in language learning, practicing vocabulary, grammar, and conversation simultaneously can lead to more effective language acquisition and fluency.

Leads to more durable learning

Despite its advantages, interleaved practice can feel more challenging and less satisfying in the short term compared to blocked practice.

The initial difficulty can discourage learners, but research consistently shows that the effort required during interleaving leads to more durable learning in the long run.

As such, incorporating interleaved practice into study routines may require a shift in mindset, as it involves embracing difficulty and trust in the process of improving one’s learning efficiency over time.

Easier to retrieve information in the long run

One of the biggest benefits of interleaving is that it improves memory retention.

By revisiting topics periodically in an interleaved fashion, you engage in active recall, which strengthens memory pathways.

Unlike blocked practice, where you focus on a single topic for a long stretch, interleaving helps your brain encode information in a way that makes it easier to retrieve later on.

This results in better long-term retention of the material.

Uncomfortable but results speak for themselves

Incorporating interleaved practice into your study routine doesn’t require a drastic overhaul.

Simply mix different topics or types of problems into each study session.

For example, if you’re studying for an exam, try alternating between chapters or different types of questions.

Over time, you’ll notice improvements in both your understanding of the material and your ability to apply it flexibly.

Interleaved practice may feel uncomfortable at first, but the results speak for themselves.