25-minute active recall timer
A 25-minute active recall session: choose questions, answer from memory, check your answers, then plan the next attempt.
**3 minutes: choose questions.** Pick a small topic and write 3–5 questions. For a process, ask when and how to use it; for vocabulary, produce the word from its meaning instead of just recognising it.
**15 minutes: answer from memory.** Close the book and notes, and write or say your answers. Leave gaps where you are unsure.
**5 minutes: check answers.** Compare with the source and mark what you missed or got wrong.
**2 minutes: plan another attempt.** Turn mistakes into new questions and pick a date for the next self-test.
If you can’t answer at all, study a short section first. Don’t skip checking to finish on time.
Partly adapted from HowToLiveBetter by eternity4719 and contributors (CC BY 4.0); Todo & Timer rewrote the steps.
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Questions
What if I haven’t finished when a stage ends?
Pause, or give yourself a few extra minutes before the next stage. Checking and correcting matter more than finishing on time.
Can I change the stage lengths?
Yes. Click “Customize this countdown” to edit each stage.
When should I test myself again?
Retry what you couldn’t answer within a day or two; leave longer gaps for what came easily. See the article on spaced review plans.