How often should the material be repeated? How does the algorithm plan repetitions?

Each language course we offer is based on the proprietary SuperMemo algorithm, which intelligently schedules repetitions to optimise the memorisation process. The algorithm analyses your answers and adjusts your learning schedule so that you review material at the ideal moment—right before you forget it. By default, SuperMemo schedules the next repetition for the day on which the probability of remembering a given piece of information drops to 90%. This allows you to minimise the time spent learning while maximising the durability of what you remember.

What do the first repetitions look like?

If you are just beginning your learning or introducing new material, the system sets successive intervals according to the forgetting curve:

• First repetition: usually after 2–3 days
  (this is the point where memory begins to weaken slightly, but the information is still easy to recall)
• Second repetition: after about one week
• Subsequent repetitions: after several days, then after a month, a few months, and eventually even after a year or longer
• Next repetition if the item is forgotten (“I don’t know” rating): usually after 1 to a few days

These values are approximate. For each user and each course, the algorithm adapts individually. No two learning processes are identical, because each of us has our own predispositions, associations, and prior knowledge. All of this affects the shape of the forgetting curve for every new piece of information we learn. The SuperMemo algorithm estimates and updates these curves based on the data generated during each user’s learning.

If a given item is easy for you (you select the “I know” rating), the interval grows more quickly. If it was difficult (“Almost” or “I don’t know”), the next repetition will appear sooner. This approach ensures that you do not repeat too early (when you still remember perfectly) or too late (when the material has already faded from memory).

Many users assume that the first repetition should appear the next day. In reality, the algorithm works differently—it seeks the optimal, not the intuitive, moment for repetition. If you still remember the information very well, the system recognises that you don’t need to review it so soon. This can reduce learning time by up to half compared to traditional methods.

What if you take a long break from learning?

If you return after weeks or months of inactivity, it may seem that the system should schedule repetitions immediately. However, the algorithm continues to follow one key rule: it checks whether you remember the material.

• If your answer after the break is correct and easy, the system assumes the knowledge has been well consolidated and will schedule… another very long interval.
  (This often surprises users who expect a repetition the next day but instead see the next one scheduled weeks or months later.)
• If recalling the information is difficult or incorrect, the algorithm will shorten the interval and bring repetitions closer together to help you rebuild the knowledge.

In short: a break in learning does not reset your progress—the system simply re-evaluates what you know and adjusts the plan accordingly.

Tip: If you don’t want to focus on the number of days until the next repetition, or if you simply want to speed up your learning in the app, you can turn off this option in the settings. Instruction: How to disable information about the number of days until the next repetition?

With just 15 minutes of learning a day, you can permanently remember thousands of words, sentences, and rules in far less time than with traditional methods. SuperMemo not only accelerates your learning but also allows long-term knowledge retention without having to return to the same content repeatedly.

For the curious: In the Leaderboard tab in the SuperMemo app’s Statistics section, you can check what percentage of information (cards) in your courses SuperMemo estimates you currently remember. Since repetitions are triggered when the probability of remembering drops to 90%, statistically 1 in 10 repetitions should receive an “I don’t know” rating—assuming honest assessment and completing repetitions on time.

At the same time, the repetitions currently proposed concern the items with the lowest probability of being remembered. Therefore, if you have no backlog in your repetitions, your overall memory level across your courses will be higher—between 90% and 100%.