Interleaving Practice Guide

Gain a clear understanding of what interleaving practice is. Interleaving involves mixing different topics or types of problems together during a study session. It contrasts with blocked practice, where one focuses on a single topic or type of problem at a time.

Plan your study sessions. Determine the subjects or types of problems you want to interleave. Identify the key concepts or skills from each topic that you wish to understand better.

Organize your study materials. Gather textbooks, practice problems, and any other resources you need for your study session. Organize them in a way that you can easily switch between topics while studying.

Decide on a schedule for your study sessions. Allocate specific time blocks for studying and include short breaks to help maintain focus. Make sure to alternate between the subjects or problem types within each study session.

Execute your interleaving study session. Begin with the first topic or problem type, spend some time working on it, then switch to a different topic or problem for the next block of time. Continue to alternate throughout the study session.

After each study session, take some time to reflect on what was learned. Make note of areas that were challenging and might need more focus in future sessions. Reflecting on the practice helps consolidate learning.

Adjust your approach as needed. If you find certain topics are not being retained as well, or the transitions are too abrupt, modify your strategy. Interleaving should be flexible to accommodate your learning pace and needs.

The variety of subjects and problems within a single study session helps prevent mental fatigue and keeps the brain actively engaged in the learning process.

Interleaving practice may feel more difficult than blocked practice; however, this challenge is often a sign of deeper learning taking place.