THE PAPER-BASED VARIANT OF THE SUPER-MEMO METHOD

                 Copyright (c) 1991 SuperMemo World

If you want to apply the SuperMemo method in the process of learning
and you do not have access to a computer then you can use the
paper-based variant of the method. Although not as effective as the
software application, it should ensure a great increase in the
effectiveness of your work.
You should follow the steps of the algorithm presented beneath:

1. Split the memorized knowledge into smallest possible pieces later
   called items.
   All items should be composed of a question and answer and be as
   simple as possible.
   Example:
     if you want to learn the vocabulary of Esperanto then your
     items could look like this:

       Question: to learn
       Answer: lerni

       Question: a school
       Answer: lernejo

       Question: related to learning
       Answer: lerna

     if you want to learn biology then your items could look like this:

       Question: What is the increase in the risk of lung cancer in a
           20-fags-a-day smoker?
       Answer: 30 times
2. Write your items into an exercise book grouping them into pages.
   One page of your book should contain 10-40 items.
3. Repetition of a page will consist in trying to answer questions placed
   on the considered page. All questions that were not answered correctly
   should be marked and asked again in the second pass of the repetition.
   A given repetition should consist of as many passes as necessary to
   answer correctly all questions.
4. Repetitions of pages should be done in strictly specified intervals.
   This intervals are described by the function:
        I(1)=4
        I(n)=I(n-1)*1.7
   where:
        I(n) - interval after the n-th repetition expressed in days.
   (if you don't understand mathematics then look further)
   Fractional intervals should be rounded to the nearest integer.
   The above formula does not specify when the first repetition should
   take place. You can memorize a given page (perform the first page
   repetition) whenever you want.
   But since then you must repeat the page in the intervals determined
   by the formula, otherwise the knowledge will be forgotten.
   The formula indicates that the following intervals should have the
   following lengths: 4, 7, 12, 20 days, then 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 16 months,
   then 2, 4, 6, 11, 18 years etc.
   Therefore if you memorize the page on Jan 1, 1990 (the first repetition)
   then the second repetition should follow in 4 days i.e. on Jan 5, 1990.
   The third repetition should be separated from the second one by one week
   interval i.e. it should be done on Jan 12, 1990.
   The subsequent repetitions should come on Jan 24 (12-day interval),
   Feb 13 (20 day interval), March 13 (1-month interval), May 13, Aug 13
   (all dates in 1990), Jan 13, 1991, Oct 13, 1991, Feb 13, 1992 etc.
5. If you cannot repeat a page on an assigned day then choose the nearest
   date available.
6. If you forget some of the items (i.e. you give a wrong answer in the
   first pass of the repetition) and the repetition number is greater
   than four (i.e. you repeated the page at least four times before)
   then put the forgotten items on newly created pages, which will be
   later memorized in a standard way and subject to the routine process
   of repetitions.
   Do not cross out forgotten items from the original pages, i.e. keep
   them both on the old and new page.
   Items forgotten twice should have three copies in your exercise book,
   those forgotten thrice should have four copies etc.
7. Keep in mind the following advice:
     - do not repeat pages between the scheduled repetitions,
     - try to simplify items which are forgotten more than twice,
     - avoid changing the repetition dates,
     - items that are similar or mutually suggest the correct answer
       should be separated, i.e. put on different pages.

Do not delay! Start using the SuperMemo method as of today! Good luck!

To order SuperMemo software and/or publications contact:

       SUPER-MEMO WORLD
       Os Przyjazni 15-165
       61-688 Poznan
       POLAND
       tel (48) 61 203157

All rights reserved. SuperMemo World, June 1991.