Massed Practice
What is Massed Practice?
Massed practice is a learning strategy in which individuals repeat the same skill or study material in a single concentrated session—often referred to as cramming. Unlike spaced practice, which spreads learning over time, massed practice leads to short-term performance gains but poor long-term retention.
The Basic Idea
In the days leading up to his biology final, Jacob clears his schedule and dedicates an entire afternoon to studying. He sits down with his textbook, a stack of flashcards, and a large coffee, determined to power through everything in one go. For hours straight, he reviews diagrams, memorizes terms, and quizzes himself. By the end of the session, he feels confident—exhausted, but sure he’s prepared.
The next day, after a good night’s sleep, Jacob scores well on the test. The effort seemed worth it. But when a follow-up quiz comes around a week later, words and concepts that felt automatic during the exam now seem like a distant fog, with definitions blurred together. Some terms feel familiar, others are gone completely. He remembers studying them—he just can’t retrieve them anymore.
Jacob’s approach is typical of massed practice, the cramming of high volumes of information or training in one go. Repeating something over and over in a single sitting can create the illusion of mastery. In reality, though, this method puts strain on working memory and doesn’t give the brain enough time to consolidate the learned material. Massed practice might lead to quick wins and passed tests, but it leaves little to draw on later, once the pressure is off.
But concerning the ideas themselves…those that are oftenest refreshed (amongst which are those that are conveyed into the mind by more ways than one) by a frequent return of the objects or actions that produce them, fix themselves best in the memory, and remain clearest and longest there.
— John Locke, English philosopher1
About the Author
Joy VerPlanck
Dr. VerPlanck brings over two decades of experience helping teams learn and lead in high-stakes environments. With a background in instructional design and behavioral science, she develops practical solutions at the intersection of people and technology. Joy holds a Doctorate in Educational Technology and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership, and often writes about cognitive load and creativity as levers to enhance performance.
