How to learn a list of words quickly (for tomorrow or for next week)

To learn a list of words quickly, break it up, test yourself instead of rereading it, focus on the words you miss, and do several short passes rather than one long one. With this method, a list of 20 words can be learned in three or four ten-minute sessions. Here's how to do it, whether it's for tomorrow or for next week.

If the test is in a week

That's the ideal situation. You have time to use spaced repetition, the most effective way to remember.

1. Day 1: enter the list in an app or on cards. Do a first pass with flashcards.
2. Day 2: test yourself in writing on the whole list. Note the words you miss.
3. Day 4: work mainly on the words you missed, then do a full test again.
4. The night before: one last quick test. If everything is right, go to bed.

This schedule takes less than 40 minutes in total.

If the test is tomorrow

Don't panic. You won't remember it for as long, but you can definitely be ready.

1. Break up the list into batches of 5 to 8 words.
2. Batch by batch: flashcards until you recognize everything, then writing until you can spell everything.
3. Every 20 to 30 minutes, go back over the batches you've already done. It's a fast-forward version of spacing.
4. Before going to sleep, a full test. Then one last test when you wake up.

Sleep helps consolidate what you learned in the evening: don't sacrifice it for "one last read-through".

Time-saving tips

• Start with the hard words. The easy ones will come on their own.
• Look for a connection. A word that looks like a word you already know, a mental image, a rhyme. Window makes you think of thewindblowing through it.
• Say them out loud. You hear and you pronounce: two more memory traces.
• Never reread without hiding the answer. Rereading gives you the illusion of knowing.

With MemoCard.io

• You type your list (one line = a word and its answer) or youimport it with a copy and paste.
• The flashcards to recognize, the Learn mode to write with spell-checking.
• The reviews are scheduled automatically, and the words you miss come back more often.
• You can alsoprint it as a table, as flashcards to cut out or as a paper quiz so someone can test you.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to learn a list of 20 words?

Usually three or four ten-minute sessions spread over a few days. In one evening, allow about an hour, with breaks.

Is it better to write or to recite?

For a written test, write. Reciting out loud is faster for the first passes, but only writing checks your spelling.

What about a list of dates or definitions?

The method is the same: question on one side, answer on the other, test, then spaced reviews. See also our guide to study cards.