Spaced repetition vocab schedule for 30/60/90 days
A commonly effective spaced repetition schedule for vocabulary learning over 30, 60, and 90 days involves increasing intervals between review sessions to maximize long-term retention. A general template that works well is:
- Day 0: Initial learning
- Day 1: First repetition (within 24 hours)
- Day 6-7: Second repetition (about one week)
- Day 14: Third repetition (two weeks)
- Day 30: Fourth repetition (one month)
- Day 60-66: Fifth repetition (two months)
- Day 90-150: Sixth repetition (around three to five months)
This schedule can be adjusted by multiplying the previous interval by about 2.2 after the second repetition to space reviews increasingly farther apart. About 5 to 7 repetitions usually suffice for long-term vocabulary retention.
For a 30-day focused plan, repetitions might concentrate mostly on Day 1, Day 6, Day 14, and Day 30. For 60 or 90 days, subsequent reviews around Days 60 and 90 help consolidate memory. Intermediate intervals like Day 3 can be added for more intensive reinforcement early on if needed.
This approach is backed by research into the spacing effect and retrieval effort, which enhance memory consolidation by spacing reviews to just before the point of forgetting and making recall effortful enough to strengthen neural connections. It’s important to adapt the schedule according to personal learning pace and goals, especially if preparing for an exam or aiming for lifetime vocabulary retention. 1, 2, 3, 4