Why does feedback matter so much for retrieval practice, and when should you get it?

Feedback reliably enlarges the testing effect and prevents you from consolidating a wrong answer — get it shortly after each attempt.

Retrieval without feedback still helps, but adding feedback makes the effect bigger and safer:

• Bigger: correcting near-misses and confirming shaky answers strengthens the correct memory.
• Safer: if you retrieve something wrong and never learn it was wrong, you can strengthen the error instead of the fact.

Best practice: attempt first (the effortful part), then check. This is why the app flips the card to the answer after you commit, and why duels reveal the correct option immediately.