Why a calculator instead of just picking intervals yourself
Most students know spaced repetition works — review something a day later, then a week later, then a month later, and it sticks. The hard part isn't the theory. It's the bookkeeping. Once you're tracking five subjects with three exam dates, doing this by hand in a notebook falls apart fast.
This tool does the scheduling for you. Tell it what you're studying, when you're starting, and when your exam is, and it lays out every review date between now and test day — compressed automatically if your timeline is short, spread out if you've got months to prepare.
How it works
The calculator offers three scheduling styles, each based on a real spacing method:
- SM-2 (Anki-style) — mirrors the algorithm Anki uses by default: short gaps at first, widening quickly once you've reviewed something a few times. Best if you're also using flashcards.
- Leitner (5-box) — the same logic as the physical Leitner box system: five review tiers, each spaced further apart than the last. Good for paper flashcards or a simple manual habit.
- Classic spacing (1-3-7-14-30) — the simplest version, often recommended as a starting point if you don't want to think about an algorithm at all.
You can also flag material as easy, normal, or hard. Harder material gets shorter gaps between reviews, since it takes more repetitions before it moves into long-term memory. If you set an exam date, the schedule compresses to fit — your last review always lands the day before your exam, never after it.
What you get
- Export it to your calendar. One click downloads an .ics file you can import into Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or Outlook, so each review shows up as an actual event.
- Print it. Useful if you'd rather tape a physical schedule above your desk than rely on notifications.
- Copy it as plain text. Quick way to drop it into Notion, a notes app, or a group chat with study partners.
Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere — the whole thing runs in your browser.
Pairing it with the rest of your study system
The calculator tells you when to review. It doesn't replace having good material to review. A few ways to plug it into a fuller system:
- Take notes with the Cornell method. The cue column on a Cornell page is essentially a built-in flashcard front — perfect for the review sessions this calculator schedules. Grab the free printable Cornell template to get started.
- Use Anki for the actual recall. The calculator's SM-2 mode is designed to match Anki's rhythm, so the two work well side by side — use the calculator for big-picture planning across subjects, Anki for the card-by-card review. Read the full spaced repetition guide for setup steps.
- Test yourself, don't reread. Whichever schedule you use, the review itself should be active recall — closing your notes and trying to produce the answer — not passively skimming what you wrote.