Hermann Ebbinghaus was a German psychologist who lived from 1850 to 1909. His main area of study was memory and his work led to what is known as the Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve, something which is very useful for all of us, and particularly for students when they are revising for exams.
Here is a diagram of how memory fades over time:
This varies between people, but as you can see, forgetting happens very quickly and many of us will forget more than 50% of information within the first few days after learning it.
So how can we prevent this happening? The answer is in regular reviewing, starting soon after the initial learning and then continuing on for subsequent occasions. Each time we review a topic then more stays in our brains and our overall memory of this information improves.
Here is a diagram of how the amount we remember can improve with lots of repetition:
The diagram shows us that each time we review the work it is likely that more will stay in our long-term memory. If we review this several times over a period of weeks or months then almost all information will be retained and remembered.
This is something important to discuss with your children, especially as exams are approaching. Even if a student has done a session of revision and thinks they have learnt something, ensure they return to it again a few days later. Even though students can LEARN something, it is even more important that they can REMEMBER it when they sit in the exam room.
Patrick Horne, Principal
You might have seen the trend going around - “If I could tell my younger self one thing…” - a moment to reflect, to offer advice we wish we’d heard earlier, or to remind ourselves of what truly matters.
As students prepare to cross some of the biggest milestones in school life, it feels like the perfect time to pause and join in that conversation. But it’s not just our students who are preparing — so are we, as parents. These milestones don’t just belong to them. We’re living every part of it too: the anticipation, the pride, the nerves, and the quiet hopes. Sometimes, it’s the hardest thing in the world — to watch them take these big steps, to stay strong when they wobble, to let go just a little more. It’s a milestone for us as much as it is for them — and we’re walking it together.
Finding the right school for your child is a big decision. Whether you’re new to Abu Dhabi, transitioning from another school, or simply looking for the best fit, we know it can feel overwhelming. At The British International School (BIS) Abu Dhabi, we’re here to make that journey as smooth and reassuring as possible. From your very first enquiry to your child’s first day (and beyond), we’ll be with you every step of the way. This article tackles the key concerns families face when transitioning to a new school, offering clear insights into our admissions process to ensure a smooth and informed journey.
Last term was brilliant for our BIS Abu Dhabi World Scholars!
Our 2025 season kicked off during the Winter Break, with 15 students competing in the Dubai Winter Global Round. In addition to taking part in the academic challenges of writing, debate and quizzing, students also enjoyed a fun-filled scavenger hunt at Global Village. We were thrilled that 12 of our scholars qualified for the Tournament of Champions at Yale University in November 2025 — an incredible achievement that we are all immensely proud of!
The season continued with our first Regional Round of the year, held in Dubai. We were delighted to see 21 students qualify for the next round. Two of our participants, Khlood in Year 7 and Anahita in Year 9, have written a personal report of the events:
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