Make It Stick: 8 key ideas
The core ideas of Make It Stick, each in under a minute, written in our own words. Want the full depth? Get the book.
- IDEA 1 OF 8
Rereading creates an illusion of learning
The authors argue that rereading and highlighting feel productive but often lead to weak learning.
Familiarity with text tricks students into thinking they know material, an illusion that breaks down in real tests.
- IDEA 2 OF 8
Testing yourself strengthens memory
Retrieval practice, recalling information from memory, is one of the most powerful learning tools.
The authors explain that each effortful recall strengthens memory more than passive review, so quizzes help learning, not just measure it.
- IDEA 3 OF 8
Spacing beats cramming
Practice spread out over time leads to longer-lasting learning than cramming.
The authors note that a little forgetting between sessions makes the next recall harder, and that difficulty helps build stronger memory.
- IDEA 4 OF 8
Mix up different kinds of problems
Interleaving means practising different types of problems together rather than one type at a time.
It feels slower, the authors admit, but it teaches learners to recognise which method fits each problem.
- IDEA 5 OF 8
Some difficulty helps learning
The authors use the term desirable difficulties for challenges that slow learning in the moment but improve it later.
Struggling a bit, rather than finding things easy, often means deeper understanding is forming.
- IDEA 6 OF 8
Try before being taught
Generation means attempting to answer a question or solve a problem before being shown how.
Even wrong attempts, the authors argue, prepare the mind to learn the right answer more deeply.
- IDEA 7 OF 8
Link new ideas to old
Elaboration means explaining new material in your own words and linking it to things you already understand.
The more connections you build, the easier it becomes to recall and use the knowledge.
- IDEA 8 OF 8
Check what you really know
The authors stress calibration: using tests and feedback to compare what you think you know with what you actually know.
Honest checking prevents overconfidence and shows where more practice is needed.
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