How I Boosted My Math Retention with Spaced Repetition: Real Technique That Work

Hey everyone 👋

I’ve been diving deep into math revision and realised something: traditional cramming just doesn’t cut it anymore — especially when you’re juggling complex concepts like calculus, linear algebra, or discrete structures.

That’s when I started using Anki for spaced repetition and built a custom workflow that mixes active recall, short practice bursts, and real-world examples. Over the past few months, my retention rate skyrocketed — and I spend less time reviewing now.

Here’s what worked for me:

🧩 Break down concepts into micro cards — not just definitions, but applications (e.g., “When to use chain rule vs. product rule?”).

🔁 Interval settings — tweak the Anki algorithm to suit your study rhythm (I prefer slightly shorter intervals for proofs).

🧠 Connect concepts visually — sometimes I’d drop a visual reference or even link it to a real-life scenario.

End every study block with 5 rapid-fire problems — Anki first, then apply instantly.

I recently wrote a more structured breakdown of this approach, including a few sample card types and math-specific decks. You can view the setup on this dedicated study resourceon this dedicated study resource where I document efficient learning strategies (hidden gem content for self-learners, too).

Would love to hear how others are using Anki for STEM — are you customising your card types for math? Have you figured out a system that avoids “passive review syndrome”?

Let’s share ideas — might help a lot of self-taught learners here!