Hermann Ebbinghaus was a German psychologist who lived from 1850 to 1909. His main area of study was memory and his work led to what is known as the Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve, something which is very useful for all of us, and particularly for students when they are revising for exams.
Here is a diagram of how memory fades over time:
This varies between people, but as you can see, forgetting happens very quickly and many of us will forget more than 50% of information within the first few days after learning it.
So how can we prevent this happening? The answer is in regular reviewing, starting soon after the initial learning and then continuing on for subsequent occasions. Each time we review a topic then more stays in our brains and our overall memory of this information improves.
Here is a diagram of how the amount we remember can improve with lots of repetition:
The diagram shows us that each time we review the work it is likely that more will stay in our long-term memory. If we review this several times over a period of weeks or months then almost all information will be retained and remembered.
This is something important to discuss with your children, especially as exams are approaching. Even if a student has done a session of revision and thinks they have learnt something, ensure they return to it again a few days later. Even though students can LEARN something, it is even more important that they can REMEMBER it when they sit in the exam room.
Patrick Horne, Principal
As exam season unfolds, there's a special kind of stillness that settles over the school. In the quiet hum of the examination hall, behind the rustle of papers and the soft clicking of keyboards, is a profound truth: we are witnessing a moment that our students will carry with them forever. It is the culmination of years of learning, growth, and perseverance, a chapter closing and a new one ready to be written.
A few weeks ago, as part of our IB DP Language programme, Year 12 students in the French Ab Initio and French B classes united to celebrate Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday). Originally a catholic event welcoming the ritual fasting of Lent, Mardi Gras is celebrated in France with festive parades and sumptuous public celebrations.
At BIS Abu Dhabi, students came together to not only recognize the festivity but rejoice at the opportunity to share and learn about the international traditions fostered within our community. With the help of Monsieur Depose and Mademoiselle Merchadier, the French DP classes baked tasty treats, including crepes, waffles, brownies, and traditional beignets!
As a teacher at BIS Abu Dhabi, I have the privilege of watching students grow — not just academically, but as young people finding their path in a complex world. One thing I’ve learned time and again is this: success doesn’t come from rare moments of brilliance — it comes from the quiet power of habits.
Research tells us that up to 40% of what we do each day is driven by habit, not active decision-making. That means the routines our students form — the way they begin their morning, how they handle a setback, whether they choose to read or scroll — are shaping who they become.
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