Interleaving

Instead of practicing one type of problem until you master it (blocked practice), mix different topics and problem types in a single study session. A 2014 study found that interleaving improved test scores by 43% compared to blocked practice in math. It feels harder and slower — students consistently rate it as less effective even when it produces better results. The mechanism: interleaving forces your brain to continuously select the right strategy, building the discrimination skills that transfer to exams and real-world problem-solving.