The Leitner system organises flashcards into groups that you revisit at different intervals. Cards that need practice receive attention more often; cards you answer successfully can move into groups with longer gaps. WordPlus represents these groups as five jars.
The useful idea is simple enough to apply with paper cards. A digital version handles the organisation, but your answers still need to reflect what you recalled.
Follow a single card through the system
Imagine a card with Spanish diez on one side and ten on the other. Attempt the answer before turning it. A successful recall allows it to progress according to the review rules. A miss means it needs more attention.
On a later review, you may miss a card you previously answered correctly. That is feedback about recall after a delay. It is not evidence that the earlier session had no value.
| Group | Purpose in a five-box routine |
|---|---|
| Box 1 | New material and words needing close attention |
| Box 2 | Words you have begun to recall |
| Box 3 | A later check after earlier successful reviews |
| Box 4 | A longer-gap check |
| Box 5 | Continued review of more familiar material |
Exact intervals and movement rules depend on the implementation. In WordPlus, use the schedule shown for your set rather than copying a timetable from a generic article.
Review meaningfully
A box change only reflects the answers given to the system. Revealing the answer first, then marking it as known, makes the schedule less useful. Start with active recall, correct mistakes, and use context where several answers are possible.
If a word repeatedly causes trouble, inspect the card. A vague prompt or incorrect translation cannot be fixed by scheduling alone. Our Angry Words guide shows how to distinguish these problems.
How this differs from Anki
Current Anki supports FSRS as well as legacy scheduling options. It is inaccurate to describe all Anki scheduling as SM-2. The official Anki manual explains its available controls. A visible box system and a configurable scheduler offer different ways to organise practice; neither label guarantees a learning result.
Return after missed sessions
Resume with due reviews and reduce new vocabulary while you catch up. Work in a session you can sustain rather than treating the backlog as a reason to restart everything.
Reaching a later jar is progress within a review system, not proof that a word is permanently mastered. Try the word in fresh reading, writing or conversation too. For a plan that leaves room for those activities, see the weekly vocabulary routine.
