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🧠 Spaced Repetition Calculator

Understand the SM-2 algorithm, visualize the forgetting curve, and calculate how many flashcards you need per day to reach your vocabulary goal.

Interactive SM-2 Demo

hola
Spanish β†’ English  |  Click to reveal
hello / hi
Ease Factor
EF: 2.50

Review History

#RatingIntervalEase FactorNext Review
Rate the card above to see history...

Cramming vs Spaced Repetition

The forgetting curve shows how quickly memories decay without review. Spaced repetition resets the curve at optimal intervals, dramatically improving long-term retention.

Cramming (no review) 1 review 3 reviews (spaced)

Retention at Various Ease Factors

Ease Factor (EF) determines how quickly intervals grow. Higher EF = faster interval growth = fewer reviews needed.

Ease FactorAfter 5 reviewsInterval growsWeekly reviews (1000 cards)
1.3 (minimum)~30 daysSlowly~85/week
2.0~60 daysModerately~55/week
2.5 (default)~100 daysWell~40/week
3.0~180 daysQuickly~28/week

Daily Cards Calculator

words
months
min/day

Your Plan

New cards per dayβ€”
Reviews per day (mature deck)β€”
Total daily cardsβ€”
Seconds per card neededβ€”
Estimated retention~90%

Deck Size Planner

How many new cards per day do you need to add to reach a vocabulary target by a specific date?

words
words

Language Vocabulary Benchmarks

Basic survival (A2)~1,500 words
Everyday conversation (B1)~3,000 words
Comfortable reading (B2)~6,000–8,000 words
Near-native fluency (C1)~10,000–15,000 words
Native speaker (C2)~20,000–35,000 words

SRS App Comparison

Anki
Full SM-2 SRS
Gold standard for spaced repetition. Fully customizable, free on desktop/Android. Uses SM-2 by default but supports plugins. Steep learning curve. Best for serious learners.
Duolingo
Gamified
Gamified approach with streaks and XP. Has some SRS elements but prioritizes engagement over optimal review scheduling. Great for beginners and motivation.
Memrise
Partial SRS
Uses spaced repetition with mnemonic images. Good balance of SRS and engagement. Allows user-created decks. Less customizable than Anki but more user-friendly.
Babbel
Subscription
Structured courses with grammar integration. Some review scheduling but not pure SRS. Focus on practical conversation. Good for structured beginners.

SRS Effectiveness by Use Case

Vocabulary memorizationAnki (best)
Staying motivatedDuolingo
Grammar + vocab togetherBabbel / Memrise
Kanji / Chinese charactersAnki + RTK deck
Medical / professional vocabAnki (premade decks)

How the SM-2 Algorithm Works

SM-2 (SuperMemo 2) was developed by Piotr Wozniak in 1987. Each card has an ease factor (EF) starting at 2.5. When you review a card, the next interval is calculated as: interval Γ— EF. Rating "Again" resets the interval; "Easy" gives a bonus multiplier.

The first two reviews use fixed intervals (1 day, then 6 days for "Good"). After that, the algorithm uses the EF to grow intervals exponentially. This matches Ebbinghaus's forgetting curve research β€” reviewing just before you forget is the most time-efficient way to learn.