We learn by testing ourselves, not by reading. Familiarity is not Comprehension

Effective learning occurs when we test ourselves on the material rather than merely reading it. The process of testing promotes better learning outcomes, even when done before learning the material or immediately after studying it. Testing oneself is more beneficial than repetitive reading, summarizing, or creating mind maps. Contrary to popular belief, learning is about retrieving information from our brains rather than inputting it. Re-reading or summarizing can create a false sense of familiarity, which does not equate to true comprehension. Emotional reactions to recognizing information through re-reading are similar to successfully recalling information from memory. Despite the common practice of revising by re-reading or reviewing notes, studies prove that testing ourselves is the most effective method for learning, as familiarity only pretends to be comprehension.