Active Recall Techniques for Math-Heavy Exams

What Is Active Recall?

Active recall means retrieving information from memory without looking at your notes. Instead of rereading a chapter on survival models, close the book and try to write out the key formulas and relationships from memory. Research consistently shows that active recall produces stronger, longer-lasting learning than passive review methods like rereading or highlighting.

Applying It to Actuarial Math

After studying a topic, immediately test yourself by working practice problems without your notes. Write formulas from memory on a blank sheet before checking accuracy. Create "retrieval practice" sessions where you spend 20 minutes trying to reconstruct a topic's key concepts and formulas from scratch. Use flashcards that require you to produce the answer, not just recognize it. Combine active recall with spaced repetition by testing yourself on older topics at regular intervals. This approach is particularly effective for the many formulas and relationships tested on exams P, FM, and FAM.