4 ultimate study methods for success: Pomodoro, Feynman, blurting and spaced repetition

We’ve all been there. You spend hours reading your notes, feel like you’ve learnt loads, then sit down the next day and realise you’ve forgotten half of it.

The truth is, effective studying isn’t about how many hours you put in. It’s about making those hours count.

If you’re preparing for your exams, trying a few different study techniques could help you stay focused, remember more and feel more confident when exam day arrives.

Here are four popular study methods that are well worth adding to your revision toolkit.

Which study technique should you try?

The good news? You don’t have to pick just one. Many learners combine several techniques to create a study routine that works for them.

1. Pomodoro Technique: beat procrastination one timer at a time

Ever sat down to study, looked at the mountain of work ahead and immediately found yourself scrolling your phone instead?

The Pomodoro Technique helps break that cycle by making studying feel much less overwhelming.

Here’s how it works:

• Study for 25 minutes.
• Take a five-minute break.
• Repeat this four times.
• After your fourth session, take a longer break of around 20 to 30 minutes.

Rather than trying to concentrate for hours at a time, you’re only asking yourself to focus for 25 minutes. Suddenly, getting started feels much easier.

Why it works

Our brains aren’t designed to stay fully focused all day. Short, concentrated study sessions help reduce mental fatigue and make it easier to maintain your concentration.

The regular breaks also give your brain a chance to process what you’ve just learnt.

Give it a go

Choose one topic, switch your phone to Do Not Disturb and set a timer for 25 minutes. When the timer goes off, step away from your desk for a few minutes before diving back in.

You might be surprised how much you can achieve in just a couple of Pomodoro sessions.

2. Feynman Technique: explain it simply

It’s easy to think you understand something when you’re reading your textbook.

The real test is whether you can explain it without looking at your notes.

The Feynman Technique, named after Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman, is based on a simple idea: if you can explain a concept clearly enough for someone else to understand, you probably understand it yourself.

Imagine you’re explaining an accounting concept to a friend, a family member or even a 12-year-old.

If you find yourself getting stuck or relying on technical jargon, you’ve identified an area that needs a little more revision.

Why it works

Teaching forces you to organise your thoughts and process information instead of simply memorising it.

It’s also one of the quickest ways to spot gaps in your understanding before they catch you out in an exam.

Give it a go

Pick a topic you’ve recently studied and explain it out loud without looking at your notes.

If you can’t explain it simply, revisit your learning materials and try again. You’ll often find your confidence grows with each attempt.

3. Blurting: find out what you’ve actually remembered

Reading your notes over and over can feel productive, but recognition isn’t the same as recall.

That’s where blurting comes in.

Start by reading through a topic as normal. Then close your book, hide your notes and write down everything you can remember on a blank sheet of paper.

Don’t worry about making it neat or writing full sentences. Just get everything out of your head.

Once you’ve finished, compare what you’ve written with your notes. The areas you’ve forgotten become your priorities for revision.

Why it works

Blurting is a form of active recall, which means you’re forcing your brain to retrieve information rather than simply recognising it.

Research consistently shows that actively recalling information helps strengthen your memory much more effectively than passive reading.

Give it a go

Try blurting at the end of every study session.

Even if you only remember half the topic the first time, you’ll usually notice a big improvement after repeating the exercise a few days later.

4. Spaced repetition: stop cramming and start remembering

How often have you revised something, felt confident about it, then completely forgotten it a week later?

That’s perfectly normal. Our brains naturally forget information over time.

Spaced repetition helps tackle this by reviewing topics at carefully planned intervals before they’re forgotten.

For example, you might review a topic:

• later the same day
• the following day
• three days later
• one week later
• two weeks later
• one month later

Each review reinforces what you’ve learnt and helps move the information into your long-term memory.

Why it works

Instead of trying to relearn everything before your exam, you’re strengthening your knowledge little by little.

This often makes revision feel less stressful and helps information stick for much longer.

Give it a go

Build short review sessions into your weekly study plan rather than leaving everything until the last minute.

Even a quick 10-minute recap can make a real difference.

Can you combine these study techniques?

Absolutely.

In fact, many learners find they work best together.

For example, you could:

• use the Pomodoro Technique to structure your study sessions
• finish each session with a quick blurting exercise
• explain tricky topics using the Feynman Technique
• revisit everything you’ve learnt using spaced repetition over the following weeks

This approach keeps your revision varied, helps you stay engaged and gives your brain multiple opportunities to strengthen what you’ve learnt.

Final thoughts

There’s no such thing as the perfect study method.

What works brilliantly for one learner might not suit another, so don’t be afraid to experiment until you find a routine that fits your learning style.

Whether you start with Pomodoro, challenge yourself with blurting or build a long-term revision plan using spaced repetition, making even one small change to the way you study could have a big impact on your confidence and your exam performance.

The best study technique is the one you’ll actually use consistently. Start with one, stick with it for a week and see how much more productive your study sessions become.

Ready to put these study techniques into practice?

The right study methods can make a real difference, but having the right course and support is just as important.

Whether you’re just starting your AAT journey or taking the next step in your accounting career, Eagle Education gives you the learning materials, tutor support, and flexibility to study with confidence.

Explore our qualifications and find the course that’s right for you. And try any of them free for seven days!