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The science

How FSRS makes you remember.

FSRS (Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler) is an advanced algorithm that schedules reviews at the best moment, right before you would forget. Anki offers it as an option too.
Fewer Reviews
20-30%
than SM-2 at the same retention, per the FSRS docs (simulation results) FSRS docs
Target Retention
90%
HireReady's scheduler setting (request_retention)
Max Interval
180 days
HireReady's scheduler setting (maximum_interval)

01 Loop

How it works

  1. 01

    You Practice

    Answer a question - coding, behavioral, or system design. Rate how well you knew it.

  2. 02

    Algorithm Calculates

    The algorithm adjusts how often you review based on how well you remember.

  3. 03

    Smart Scheduling

    We schedule your next review right before you would forget.

  4. 04

    Intervals Grow

    As you demonstrate mastery, intervals extend from days to weeks to months.

Intervals grow1dthen4dthen16dthen64dillustrative

02 Why

Why retention matters

Traditional interview prep focuses on volume - solve as many problems as possible. But when interview day comes, you've forgotten most of what you learned.

The forgetting curve

Without review, recall of new material drops quickly, as Ebbinghaus described in his forgetting curve (1885). Reviewing just before you would forget flattens that curve, which is why solving a problem once does not make you remember it.

01d4d16d32d100%

Illustrative curves. Individual results vary.

Without reviewWith FSRS

Method

How reviews are scheduled
  • Volume-Based Practice
    Solve many problems, revisit few
    No review loop
  • Fixed-Interval Review
    Simple schedules, such as SM-2 style steps
    The same intervals for every card
  • FSRS (HireReady)
    Scheduling from your own ratings
    Interval fitted to each question, targeting 90% recall

03 Settings

Technical details

FSRS parameters

read from the scheduler config
Target retention
90%
Max interval
180 days
Learning steps
1m, 10m
Relearning steps
10m

Rating scale

trains the algorithm
  • 1
    Again
    Didn't know it
  • 2
    Hard
    Struggled but got it
  • 3
    Good
    Knew it well
  • 4
    Easy
    Too easy, extend interval

Research background

  • Ebbinghaus forgetting curve (1885)
  • Pimsleur graduated intervals (1967)
  • SuperMemo SM-2 algorithm (1987)
  • FSRS modern optimization (2022)

04 Interviews

Why it matters for interviews

  1. 01

    Pattern recognition

    Coding interviews test pattern recognition. FSRS ensures you instantly recognize Two Pointers, Sliding Window, and other patterns when you see them.

  2. 02

    Less time, better results

    5-20 minute daily sessions beat 4-hour grinding sessions. Consistent, spaced practice creates stronger memories than cramming.

  3. 03

    Long-term retention

    Interview prep often takes months. FSRS ensures you remember what you learned in month 1 when your interview is in month 3.

  4. 04

    Reduced anxiety

    When you know you've actually retained the material, interview anxiety drops. Confidence comes from genuine competence.

Ready to stop forgetting?

Start practicing with FSRS today. Your future self will thank you when patterns click instantly in your interview.

Start Free Practice