Myth: SuperMemo repetitions waste too much time

Myth

SuperMemo repetitions take too much time to make it worthwhile. Many users struggle with an increasing load of repetitions and may conclude that the effort is not worth the outcome.

Fact

Just 3 well-selected items memorized per day may produce a better effect than a hundred crammed facts. This means that even a minute per day will make a world of difference, as long as you pay close attention to what you learn. Not all knowledge is worth the effort of 99% retention. High retention should be reserved only for mission-critical facts and rules. Knowledge formulating skills may cut the learning time for beginners by a wide margin. Finally, incremental reading employs knowledge darwinism that helps select most effective pieces of knowledge worth long-term retention

Myth busting is an important mission at SuperMemo Guru. We tackle myths about memory, learning, creativity, SuperMemo, and incremental reading. Please write if you want a myth busted or if you disagree