Some people swear by rote learning.

Others dislike this approach to learning with a vengeance.

They even get dramatic, calling rote repetition…

“Drill and kill.”

What gives? 

And how specifically is learning by this deadly form of repetition defined? 

We’ll get into everything on this page so that you can make an informed decision about how to learn based on science, not opinion. I’ve always felt doing so was important, from when I first learned about science and critical thinking as an undergrad to when I taught it as a professor at York, Rutgers and the University of Saarland in Germany.

In addition to thinking scientifically and critically about what makes rote learning so problematic, I’ll share with you an alternative approach to learning that never feels boring.

Sound good?

Let’s get started!

What Is Rote Learning?

Rote learning takes place when you repeatedly expose yourself to information until it enters your long term memory without adding any other creative or strategic element.

Raw repetition like this definitely can work, but it takes a lot of time. And in areas like language learning, studies like this one show that alternatives to rote simply don’t work as well as the memory techniques I feature on this blog.

More broadly, this study demonstrates how rote learning can actually harm your ability to learn, and it’s not the only one showing these effects.

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So, if rote’s so bad, why do people use it?

Typically, people use rote learning because it’s the main learning technique they’ve been taught. It has applications in music, for example. Rote memorization can also happen on autopilot in a certain way. For example, when you learn to ride a bike, your procedural memory uses the repetition to form deep neural pathways that ensure you’ll remember the skill for life.

Examples of rote learning include:

• Flipping through flashcards


• Using spaced repetition software


• Mentally repeating the same information


• Meditations or spiritual practices in which you repeat prayers

I also repeated my TEDx Talk several times for practice giving the speech. This is a great example of when a small amount of rote repetition makes sense. 

The Real Reason Behind Why Rote Memorization Is So Terrible

For thousands of years, many people have sought out memory techniques as an alternative to rote learning for a few reasons:

• Rote is almost always boring and discouraging


• It takes more time than people want to spend


• It’s not nearly as effective as alternatives like active recall, a technique that engages all the senses.

If rote memorization is truly this terrible, why do so many people use it instead of mnemonics?

According to Carla Hannaford in Smart Moves: Why Learning Is Not All In Your Head, part of the success of the drug ritalin is easily explained. It helps students put up with the tedious nature of repeating information without any kind of multi-sensory engagement.

In other words, societies have preferred drugging children instead of tackling the real problem of making learning fun.

But is repetition itself bad? 

Absolutely not.

Again, let’s take the music example. It’s really important to repeat songs if you want to commit lyrics to memory. Repetition is also a huge part of ear training, and general instrumentation a form of rehearsal musicians sometimes call “dedicated practice.”

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