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Surprising Science

Tests Enhance Retention

Taking a test is not just a passive way to assess how much people know, according to new research. It actually helps people learn, and works better than various other techniques.

Taking a test is not just a passive mechanism for assessing how much people know, according to new research. It actually helps people learn, and it works better than a number of other studying techniques. The research, published online Thursday in the journal Science, found that students who read a passage, then took a test asking them to recall what they had read, retained about 50 percent more of the information a week later than students who used two other methods.


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