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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 we draw this academic year to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has been a truly remarkable journey for The British International School Abu Dhabi. This year has been defined by so much more than achievement, it has been a year of resilience, creativity, compassion, and bold ambition.
Read on to discover the unforgettable highlights, proud achievements, and inspiring moments that made this year at BIS Abu Dhabi truly remarkable.
The penultimate week of term always brings a mix of energy and reflection. Lessons are still purposeful, but there is also a sense of looking back, recognising just how far our students have come.
This year, we have seen strong academic success across the school. Students have worked hard, and the outcomes reflect that effort. But just as important have been the achievements beyond the classroom in music, sport, language, technology, and the arts. Our curriculum is broad for a reason, and it has been clear this year that our students are thriving in many ways.
Celebrating Our Shared Success: A Year of Partnership and Recognition
As we approach the end of a vibrant academic year filled with events, achievements, and memorable moments, I am delighted to share some fantastic news with you all. Our school has been honoured with not one, but two prestigious awards in recognition of our commitment to parent engagement: the MENA Parent Partnership Award and the ADEK Best Parent Engagement Award.
Read on to discover how these awards celebrate our collaborative culture, highlight parent-school partnerships, and support meaningful improvements for our students.
It’s something I’ve believed for a long time — that learning isn’t predetermined by our genes. It’s about growing, persevering, and learning through the process. I was really mindful of this idea at this week’s wonderful Primary Summer Concert, after which I found myself reflecting on whether these amazing children have an innate talent, or whether they have achieved so much because of hard work and practice.
I believe it’s the latter. These children, their parents, and their teachers all seem to share the belief that by trying and working hard, they will get better at what they do. This is what we call a growth mindset.