I Memorized 2,000 Vocab Words in 3 Months. The Method Is Boring.
I needed to pass the JLPT N2 (Japanese proficiency test) in 3 months. That required knowing roughly 2,000 vocabulary words I didn't know. Everyone said it was impossible in that timeframe.
I used spaced repetition and passed. The method is incredibly effective and incredibly boring. Maybe that's why more people don't use it.
How spaced repetition works (30-second version)
You review information at increasing intervals. See a new word today, review it tomorrow, then in 3 days, then in 7 days, then in 14 days. If you get it wrong at any point, the interval resets. If you keep getting it right, the intervals keep growing.
The science: your brain consolidates memories during the "forgetting" period between reviews. By reviewing just before you'd forget, you strengthen the memory maximally with minimal time investment.
My actual daily routine
Every morning, 30 minutes: review whatever Anki (the spaced repetition app) put in my queue. Some days that was 50 cards, some days 200. I learned 20-30 new words per day and reviewed old ones. Total daily commitment: 30-45 minutes.
That's it. No tricks, no hacks, no "one weird study technique." Just 30 minutes of flashcards every single day for 90 days.
Why most people quit
Week one: exciting, you're learning fast. Week three: the review pile is growing, it feels like you're just repeating stuff. Week five: you want to die. The daily reviews feel pointless because you "already know" the words (you don't — that's the forgetting curve tricking you).
The people who stick with it are the ones who treat it like brushing teeth. You don't need motivation to brush your teeth. You just do it. Same energy.
What doesn't work (that I tried first)
Writing words 20 times: Waste of time. You remember the physical action of writing, not the word itself.
Reading without active recall: Your brain thinks "I recognize this" and confuses recognition with knowledge. You need to test yourself, not just re-read.
Cramming: Works for tomorrow's test, gone by next week. Spaced repetition is slower but the knowledge sticks for months or years.
If you're studying anything that requires memorization, try our AI Tutor to generate practice questions, then put the key facts into a spaced repetition system. Boring? Yes. Effective? Absurdly so.