The testing effect is a term used to describe the finding that taking a test on previously studied material leads to better long-term retention relative to study the material or not taking a test. Testing is often conceptualized as a neutral event in which the contents of memory are examined but left unchanged. However, the act of retrieving information from memory actually alters the retrieved memory by elaborating on the existing memory trace and/or creating additional retrieval routes. One consequence of these changes is that the probability of successful retrieval in the future is increased, making testing a potent mechanism for enhancing longterm retention.
