Effortful memory is described as which of the following?

• A. More rehearsal time increases learning
• B. Longer sessions reduce memory
• C. Distractions improve recall
• D. Cramming is the best strategy

Answer: (A)

Effortful memory is about deliberate, attentive practice that strengthens encoding and consolidation. When you allocate more rehearsal time, you give your brain repeated opportunities to encode the material and to create robust retrieval cues, which leads to better learning and easier recall later. The other options don’t fit because distractions break concentration and hinder encoding, longer sessions without breaks can cause fatigue and don’t inherently improve memory, and cramming tends to produce shallow processing with poorer long-term retention compared with distributed rehearsal.