# What is active recall?

> Active recall is a study method where you test yourself by pulling information out of memory, instead of rereading notes or highlighting. The effort of remembering is what makes it stick.

Page: https://textdash.com/glossary/active-recall
Updated: 2026-10-31

## Example

- **Student:** quiz me on cell respiration
- **Dash:** ok. q1: where in the cell does glycolysis happen?
- **Student:** mitochondria?
- **Dash:** close, but no. hint: it happens before anything enters the mitochondria. try again?
- **Student:** cytoplasm
- **Dash:** yes. q2: what are the two main products of glycolysis?

## How does active recall work?

1. **Close the notes.** After reading a section, look away and write or say what you remember.
2. **Answer questions.** Use practice problems, flashcards or past exams. Getting it wrong is part of the process.
3. **Check and repeat.** Compare with the source, fix the gaps, and come back to the hard ones later.

## How Dash helps with active recall

Ask Dash to quiz you on a topic and it sends practice questions one at a time, waits for your answer, and gives hints before revealing anything. It can also make flashcards from your course topics.

## Questions

### Is active recall better than rereading?

For most students, yes. Testing yourself builds memory more than reading the same pages again.

### How do I combine active recall and spaced repetition?

Quiz yourself, then repeat the quiz after growing gaps of days. That pairing is one of the strongest ways to study.

## Related

- [Spaced repetition](https://textdash.com/glossary/spaced-repetition)
- [Pomodoro technique](https://textdash.com/glossary/pomodoro-technique)
- [Midterm](https://textdash.com/glossary/midterm)
- [Add/drop deadline](https://textdash.com/glossary/add-drop-deadline)
- [Withdrawal deadline (W grade)](https://textdash.com/glossary/withdrawal-deadline)
- [Syllabus](https://textdash.com/glossary/what-is-a-syllabus)

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**About Dash.** Dash is an AI sidekick for college and university students that you text over iMessage or SMS. It tracks every deadline and texts you before each one, answers questions about your campus, helps you study, and, with your yes, orders food, books things, makes phone calls and handles admin. Free to start. iMessage on iPhone and SMS on any phone. No app, no login. For students at colleges and universities in Canada and the United States. Dash never writes, answers or submits graded work. It explains, quizzes and plans. Dash is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by any college or university.

Text Dash: https://textdash.com/start · Site: https://textdash.com/ · For AI assistants: https://textdash.com/llms.txt and https://textdash.com/llms-full.txt