![[image of study choice] Should You Review Old Material or Focus on New Stuff, soft abstract background with learning app icons](https://framerusercontent.com/images/5AYfoy6fBLQzxyonoRPdQDF7WE.png?width=1536&height=1024)
Introduction
You sit down at your desk. On your left, you have a stack of notes from last month that you barely remember. On your right, you have a textbook opened to a chapter you have never read before. The clock is ticking. You have an exam coming up, and you have to make a choice. Do you go back and fix the cracks in your foundation, or do you push forward to cover all the required topics?
This is the most common problem students face. It is not just about time management; it is about energy management. If you spend all your time reviewing, you might miss important new concepts. If you only focus on new stuff, you might forget everything you learned two weeks ago.
In this guide, we are going to solve this problem once and for all. We will look at:
Why your brain wants to trick you into studying the wrong things.
The "Forgetting Curve" and how to beat it.
Simple strategies to mix old and new material without feeling overwhelmed.
How to use AI tools to manage the load for you.
Let’s get your study plan sorted out so you can stop worrying and start learning.
Why You Feel Torn Between Old and New
It is completely normal to feel stuck when deciding what to study. This happens because of two competing feelings in your brain. First, there is the fear of missing out. You know there is material on the test that you haven't even looked at yet. This pushes you to keep turning pages and reading new chapters.
Second, there is the fear of losing what you have. You remember studying a topic last week, but when you try to recall a specific definition, your mind goes blank. This panic makes you want to stop everything and go back to review.
The truth is, both feelings are valid. You cannot pass a test if you don't know the new material, but you also cannot pass if you forget the old material. The goal isn't to pick one or the other. The goal is to find a system where you can do both without burning out.
Most students make the mistake of swinging back and forth. They spend three days only learning new things, then panic and spend three days only reviewing. This "yo-yo" effect kills your momentum. We need a steady balance.
The Trap of "Comfort Studying"
Have you ever found yourself re-reading a chapter you already know pretty well? It feels good, doesn't it? You read a sentence, and your brain says, "Oh yeah, I know this." You feel smart. You feel prepared.
This is called the Illusion of Competence.
When you just re-read old notes, you aren't actually strengthening your memory. You are just recognizing the text. It is like looking at the answer key while doing a math problem; it makes sense when you look at it, but that doesn't mean you can solve it on your own.
Many students choose to review old material because it is safe. Learning new, difficult concepts is uncomfortable. It requires brain power. It is frustrating. So, when you are tired, you naturally drift back to the old stuff. But be careful: comfort does not equal learning.
If you spend all your time polishing the 50% of the material you already know, you are guaranteed to get a zero on the other 50% you never touched.
External Source: Learn more about how to avoid the illusion of competence from Barbara Oakley on Coursera.
The Risk of "Cramming Forward"
On the flip side, some students refuse to look back. They treat studying like a race. They think, "I have to get to Chapter 10," so they rush through Chapters 1 through 9. They might understand Chapter 1 on Monday, but by the time they reach Chapter 10 on Friday, Chapter 1 is gone.
This happens because of something called the Forgetting Curve.
Discovered by a German psychologist named Hermann Ebbinghaus, the Forgetting Curve shows that we forget information exponentially over time. If you learn something today and don't review it, you might forget 50% of it by tomorrow and 90% of it by next week.
If you only focus on new material, you are essentially pouring water into a bucket with a hole in the bottom. You keep adding more water (new information), but the water level never rises because the old water (old information) keeps leaking out.
To fix this, you have to patch the hole. You have to periodically stop and check on the old stuff to make sure it is still there.
The Solution: Spaced Repetition
So, how do we fix the bucket? The scientific answer is Spaced Repetition.
Spaced Repetition is a fancy way of saying: "Review things just before you are about to forget them."
Instead of reviewing Chapter 1 every single day (which wastes time), you review it:
1 day after learning it.
3 days after that.
1 week after that.
1 month after that.
This method is powerful because it frees up your time. Since you aren't reviewing everything every day, you have plenty of empty slots in your schedule to learn new material.
You don't need to guess when to review. You can use tools to help you. For example, our Memory Coach prompt is designed exactly for this. It acts like a smart flashcard system that quizzes you on past topics while you focus on learning new ones. It helps you identify exactly what you are forgetting so you don't waste time reviewing things you already know. Try the Memory Coach Prompt to automate your study session.
Strategy 1: The Sandwich Method
If you don't want to use a complex schedule, you can use a simple daily routine called the Sandwich Method. This is a great way to structure a 2-hour study session.
Imagine your study session is a sandwich.
The Top Bun (Review - 20 minutes): Start your session by reviewing what you learned yesterday. Do not read your notes. Instead, try to write down everything you remember on a blank piece of paper. This wakes up your brain and connects yesterday's topic to today's topic.
The Meat/Veggie (New Material - 80 minutes): This is the main part of your meal. Spend the bulk of your time tackling new chapters, watching lectures, or solving new problems. This requires the most energy, which is why you do it while you are fresh (right after the quick warmup).
The Bottom Bun (Review - 20 minutes): End your session by reviewing something from last week or last month. This is a "far review." It ensures that the really old stuff doesn't fade away.
By using the Sandwich Method, you guarantee that every single day includes both progress (new stuff) and maintenance (old stuff). You never have to choose between them again.
Strategy 2: Interleaving Your Topics
Another great technique is called Interleaving.
Traditionally, students do "blocked practice." This means they study History for 3 hours, then Math for 3 hours. While this feels organized, it isn't always the best for retention.
Interleaving means mixing related topics together. Instead of doing all your multiplication problems, then all your division problems, you mix them up. This forces your brain to constantly switch gears. It has to look at a problem and ask, "Wait, which strategy do I use here?"
When you apply this to Old vs. New material, it looks like this:
Read 5 pages of the new chapter.
Do 3 practice questions from the old chapter.
Read 5 more pages of the new chapter.
Do 3 more practice questions from the old chapter.
This keeps you on your toes. It prevents you from getting bored with the new material, and it keeps the old material fresh in your mind. It stimulates the brain much more effectively than focusing on one thing for hours.
Check out this guide on Interleaving from Scientific American.
Using AI to Balance Your Schedule
Planning all of this can be a headache. Figuring out exactly when to review Chapter 3 while trying to learn Chapter 8 is a lot of mental work. This is where Artificial Intelligence can save you.
You can use AI to be your personal study manager. You can tell it: "I have an exam in 10 days. I have 10 chapters to cover. I have already done chapters 1-4. Create a schedule for me that mixes reviewing the old chapters with learning the new ones."
At Vertech Academy, we have built prompts specifically for this. If you are struggling to understand the new material you are reading, you don't need to spend hours staring at the page. You can use our Simplifier Specialist to break down the complex new text into easy language. This speeds up your "New Material" time, giving you more time to review.
Or, if you are worried about forgetting, sticking to the Memory Coach we mentioned earlier is your best bet. It takes the guesswork out of the equation. You just show up, do what the prompt says, and trust that your memory is being taken care of.
Explore our full Prompt Library to find tools that match your study style.
Choose the right strategy for your goals
When to Prioritize New Material
While balance is key, there are specific times when you should ignore the old stuff and go full speed ahead on the new stuff.
When you are drastically behind: If the exam covers 10 chapters and you have only read 2, you need to move. Reviewing those 2 chapters perfectly won't help you pass if you miss 80% of the questions. In this case, aim for "good enough" understanding of the new stuff.
When the topics are not connected: In some subjects, like History, Chapter 5 might not depend on Chapter 1. If you forgot Chapter 1, it won't stop you from understanding Chapter 5. You can safely push forward and review later.
When you have a "Project-Based" exam: If your grade depends on submitting a final project or essay, focus entirely on acquiring the skills needed to finish that project.
When to Prioritize Reviewing
On the other hand, there are times when moving forward is a waste of time, and you must stop to review.
When the subject is cumulative: In Math or Chemistry, Chapter 5 usually requires you to understand Chapter 1. If you don't know how to do basic algebra (old stuff), there is no point in trying to learn calculus (new stuff). You will just get frustrated. Stop and fix the foundation first.
When you are failing practice tests: If you try a practice quiz on old material and get less than 60%, stop. You are bleeding knowledge. You need to stop the leak before you add more water.
The day before the exam: Never try to learn complex new topics the night before. It is too late. Your brain needs sleep to process new info. The day before should be 100% review to boost your confidence.
Conclusion
Deciding between old and new material does not have to be a stressful choice. It is about balance. If you focus too much on the past, you won't finish the course. If you focus too much on the future, you will forget where you came from.
Remember these key takeaways:
Avoid the Illusion of Competence: Don't just re-read notes because it feels safe.
Respect the Forgetting Curve: Your brain naturally deletes info; you have to remind it that the info is important.
Use the Sandwich Method: Start with a review, feast on new material, and end with a review.
Leverage AI: Use tools like the Memory Coach to automate your schedule so you don't have to think about it.
Studying is a marathon, not a sprint. By mixing your review with your learning, you ensure that when you cross the finish line, you are carrying all the knowledge you need to get that A.
