Understanding Spaced Repetition and Why It Works
Spaced repetition is a learning technique that involves reviewing information at gradually increasing intervals. Instead of cramming all your SHRM study material into marathon sessions, you review concepts just before you would naturally forget them. This approach leverages the psychological spacing effect, which research has consistently shown to produce stronger, longer lasting memories.
For SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP candidates, spaced repetition is particularly valuable because the exam covers an enormous breadth of material. From employment law to talent acquisition, organizational development to risk management, you need to retain hundreds of concepts and be ready to apply them to realistic scenarios. Spaced repetition makes this manageable.
The Science Behind the Spacing Effect
When you first learn something new, your memory of it decays rapidly. This is described by the forgetting curve, first documented by Hermann Ebbinghaus in the 1880s. Without review, you might forget up to 70 percent of new material within 24 hours. However, each time you successfully recall the information, the forgetting curve flattens, meaning you retain it longer before needing another review.
Spaced repetition exploits this pattern by scheduling reviews at the optimal moment: just as you are about to forget. The slight difficulty of recalling information at the edge of forgetting strengthens the memory trace far more than easy, frequent reviews would.
Why Cramming Fails for the SHRM Exam
Many SHRM candidates fall into the cramming trap, especially in the final weeks before the exam. While cramming can create a temporary sense of familiarity, it does not build the deep understanding needed for situational judgment questions. The SHRM exam requires you to apply concepts to novel scenarios, which demands genuine comprehension rather than surface level recognition.
Implementing Spaced Repetition for SHRM Study
Step 1: Identify Your Core Material
Begin by organizing the SHRM BoCK content into discrete, reviewable units. Each unit should represent a single concept, definition, legal principle, or competency behavior. Good examples include:
- Key employment laws and their provisions (FMLA, ADA, Title VII, FLSA)
- SHRM behavioral competency definitions and sub-competencies
- HR metrics and their formulas (turnover rate, cost per hire, time to fill)
- Strategic HR concepts (workforce planning, succession planning, change management)
- Compensation and benefits frameworks
Step 2: Choose Your Spaced Repetition Tool
Several digital tools implement spaced repetition algorithms automatically. Anki is the most popular free option and allows extensive customization. Quizlet offers a simpler interface with a learn mode that incorporates spacing principles. SuperMemo pioneered the technique and remains a powerful option for dedicated users.
You can also implement spaced repetition manually using a calendar and a set of flashcards organized into review intervals: daily, every 3 days, weekly, biweekly, and monthly.
Step 3: Set Your Review Schedule
A typical spaced repetition schedule for SHRM preparation might look like this:
- Day 1: Learn new material and do an initial review
- Day 2: First spaced review
- Day 4: Second review
- Day 7: Third review
- Day 14: Fourth review
- Day 30: Fifth review
Items you struggle with should return to shorter intervals. Items you recall easily can move to longer intervals. The goal is to keep every concept just within your recall ability.
Spaced Repetition Strategies Specific to SHRM Content
Legal Concepts and Compliance
Employment law is one of the most fact-heavy areas of the SHRM exam. Use spaced repetition to drill the key provisions of major laws, the agencies that enforce them, the thresholds for coverage, and common compliance scenarios. Create separate review items for each law rather than trying to review all employment laws as a single block.
Behavioral Competencies
The SHRM behavioral competencies require a different approach. Instead of memorizing definitions, create scenario based review items that ask you to identify which competency is being demonstrated or which competency would be most relevant in a given situation. This builds the application skills the exam tests.
HR Metrics and Calculations
For quantitative content, practice the calculations repeatedly at spaced intervals. Include both the formula and a sample problem in your review items. Over time, the calculations will become automatic, freeing your cognitive resources for the analytical aspects of exam questions.
Combining Spaced Repetition with Other Study Methods
Spaced repetition works best as part of a comprehensive study plan. Use it alongside:
- Practice exams to build test taking stamina and identify weak areas
- Study groups to discuss complex scenarios and share perspectives
- The SHRM Learning System for initial content learning
- Real world application through your daily HR work
Think of spaced repetition as the retention engine of your study plan. Other methods introduce and deepen your understanding of the material, while spaced repetition ensures you do not forget what you have already learned.
Tracking Your Progress
Most spaced repetition apps provide statistics on your review accuracy and upcoming workload. Monitor these metrics to ensure you are making progress. If your accuracy on a particular domain drops below 80 percent, consider spending additional study time on that area before your next review session.
Aim to have all SHRM content in your spaced repetition system at least 6 to 8 weeks before your exam. This gives you enough review cycles to move most items into the longer interval categories, which is a strong indicator that the material is well retained.