The blurting method is a very effective study technique where you freely write down everything you know about the subject you’re trying to study.
You are given full freedom to write in your own words. The only goal is to remember as much information as possible first, and polish it later.
All you need is a piece of paper and a pen, and if you want to make it even more effective and organized, a well-thought-out error-checking system. You will find below our downloadable blurting technique template that includes everything you need + a few other resources.
Below, I’ll walk you through more info about how this method works, its effectiveness, and how to make the best of it.
Key notes
- Blurting, also called free recall, is a method where you write down everything you remember about a topic after studying it.
- It strengthens memory by actively retrieving information rather than passively reviewing notes.
- Process: Write freely, then check your notes to identify gaps and areas for improvement.
- Timing: 5–10 minutes per chapter or subtopic is usually enough.
- Effectiveness: Supported by research and widely used in modern study communities like TikTok and YouTube.
- Best used: At all stages of learning, from initial understanding to refining recall and mastery.
What is the blurting method?
Blurting is a modern name for a long-standing revision technique also known as free recall.
It’s based on retrieval practice, a method of actively using the informaton you are learning instead of passively repeating concepts. The psychology behind the method is that it activates the practical area in your brain, helping new notions stick better and for a longer period of time.
As its name suggests, the process is simple: all you have to do is write down everything you remember. No filters, no overthinking, no editing. After that, you go back to your books and notes and check how you did.
This helps you quickly identify knowledge gaps, whether we’re talking about concept clarity, actual understanding, density of information retrieved, depth of vocabulary, or topic-specific jargon.
Having a clear map of what you did well and what needs improvement right in front of you makes it easy to know what to focus on in the next revision session.
For example, if you got the main idea right, but your concepts and vocabulary are unprofessional and a little rough, maybe paying more attention to the language next time would be a wise choice.
Besides that, it’s a great way to tell if you really know a subject or are still in that funny spot where you can recognize it but not really use it actively.
Is the blurting method effective?
Yes, the blurting method is one of the most effective active recall revision methods out there.
A 2013 study found that if you test yourself using free recall (aka blurting tests) after the very first revision, the information will stick better in the following session.
The experiments also found that using the blurting method helps you store information in your brain in a more organized and clearer way.
That makes sense, considering you have to put it out in the world and make sure it’s understandable.
Besides formal studies, blurting has been having a moment for a few years now. TikTok and YouTube study communities are full of people who share how much it has helped them.
How to do blurting correctly?
While it’s pretty difficult to mess up blurting, there are a few key things to do to make sure it is effective.
First, it’s better to break down the material into smaller chunks. I recommend chapters or even subchapters if the book is dense.
Second, it’s best to start writing the information right after you study. Don’t wait too much, because your short-term memory is also quite crucial at this stage. Being able to work with new concepts quickly strengthens your ability to remember them.
Lastly, an important thing to keep in mind is to be honest with yourself. Don’t cheat. Don’t blurt with the notes open, and be thorough when you revise your notes and hunt for mistakes. Otherwise, you’re missing the whole point and just wasting time.
How long should you spend blurting?
Most people recommend 5-10 minutes. That should be enough to cover the information you remember from a particular chapter or subtopic.
Because you have the freedom to write the first things that come to mind, never mind language and style, up to 10 minutes should be more than enough.
In fact, something that really helps me step into that working memory zone is setting up a timer. Knowing I have to come up with something meaningful in just 5 minutes really helps me drop the overthinking and only focus on actually retrieving information.
This is also a cool trick if you’re a procrastinator or perfectionist. You make yourself do it, do it imperfectly, and face how much you know right away.
It might be more painful than just mindlessly reading, but you know for sure it’s working.
When should you use the blurting method?
As for the best time to use the blurting method, the honest answer is that it depends. Generally, it can be useful at any stage of the revision process
When you’re just starting and dealing with a lot of new information that you’re trying to make sense of, blurting can be useful for organizing your thoughts and helping you see rather quickly which part of the material needs the most attention.
However, it is also very helpful to do when you’re already pretty familiar with the topic as a method to check what the necessary tweaks are that you need to make to make a leap from pretty good to really good recall.
A thing to keep in mind:
While blurting can be useful at all stages of learning, keep in mind that it can be tiring and mentally taxing. A balanced approach is to have a significant break between blurting sessions. If you’re into testing, there are other less taxing methods that you can do more frequently, such as quizzes.
Pros and cons of the blurting method
The biggest con of the blurting method is that it can become tiring. Because you constantly have to pull information from your mind, it’s best you do it in shorter, but focused sessions.
Otherwise, it can get mentally draining.
Another thing to look out for is that it might become time-consuming. Writing everything down on paper does take longer than other forms of revision.
However, the pros outweigh the cons.
Long term-memory activation is a good system to quickly spot weaknesses and improve, plus it’s easy, simple, and you can do it pretty much anywhere, at any time. You do not need anything fancy to get started.
Blurting method templates
If you want to start using the blurting method and make sure you keep track of how you’re doing, I have good news.
You can download our simple, yet very effective blurting template. On just one simple sheet of paper, you, of course, have the space for blurting out what you remember, but on top of that, there’s also a space where you can jot down what you recalled correctly, confused, or missed. You also have a space to keep track of the subject and a particular topic that will help you stay organized.
It’s nothing fancy, but really useful. You can use it either digitally, on your phone or PC, or print it out if you’re more of a pen-and-paper person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Neither is strictly better – they’re both very effective active recall (aka retrieval practice) methods, and each has its time and place. Blurting is best for understanding larger chunks of information and getting the big picture. Flashcards are more effective when you have to memorize details and concepts. Combining both methods is the better approach than choosing one or another.
Active recall is the umbrella term that defines all the methods in which you can revise actively, while blurting is one of those many concepts.
Yes. It is possible to use blurting and the Feynman technique together. In fact, if you do blurting effectively and start remembering more and more, you will probably naturally graduate to something resembling the Feynman technique – more formal, more conceptually dense, and more focused on details and understandability.
