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Study science

Active recall vs rereading: stop highlighting

4 min read · 20 Apr 2026

Highlighting and rereading feel like studying because they're easy and your eyes are moving. But every meta-analysis on study technique puts them near the bottom for retention.

Active recall — trying to retrieve a fact from memory before checking the answer — is what actually moves a fact from 'I've seen it' to 'I know it'.

Practical version: cover the page, write what you remember, then check. Or use flashcards. Or do a practice quiz.

If it feels harder than rereading, that's the point. Difficulty during practice is what builds retention.

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