Learning after 45: the first two months are the hardest (and the numbers prove it)

Note. No affiliate links here. I mention Pandarine, my own product, because building it is how I got these numbers. More practical resources are in my Tech section.

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"My memory isn't what it was at 20"

I've thought it a hundred times. First while learning to code, then while learning Chinese.

Turns out the problem usually isn't your memory. It's your method.

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Rereading isn't learning

Spaced repetition rests on one simple idea: information you leave alone fades, but if you recall it just before you forget it, it comes back stronger.

Two consequences:

• the effort of remembering matters more than rereading: rereading makes you feel like you know it, testing yourself is what actually builds the memory;
• what you already know well doesn't need daily review: your time goes first to whatever's still giving you trouble.

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The numbers that reassured me

For Pandarine, we simulated the path to HSK 3 (1,000 words) at 20 new words a day:

• you've seen all 1,000 words within 50 days;
• the workload climbs to about 32 minutes a day;
• months 1 and 2 hover around 20 to 25 minutes a day;
• after month 4, maintenance drops below 5 minutes a day.

In other words: two tough months, then light maintenance.

And the most surprising part: whether you add 10, 20 or 30 words a day, the total number of reviews over the year is almost the same (around 18,000). Only the distribution changes. Going faster doesn't cost you more effort overall: it just front-loads it.

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Why this speaks to every career changer

It's exactly the curve of a career change. The first weeks of JavaScript, Security+ or AWS, everything is new and everything feels heavy.

That's where a lot of people quit: at the top of the curve, right before it gets lighter. Not because they can't do it, but because nobody told them the peak was normal (and often, a little voice whispers that they're "not cut out for this" — I wrote about that in Imposter syndrome when AI writes the code for you).

If you're still on the fence about learning to code, here's why I think it's still worth it: Becoming a developer after 40 when AI already codes.

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My three rules

1. 20 minutes a day beats 3 hours on Sunday

Consistency gives your brain time to forget a little, then recall. Three hours straight on a Sunday is mostly rereading.

2. Test yourself instead of rereading

Flashcards, mini-exercises, explaining out loud what you just learned. If it feels a bit uncomfortable, that's a good sign: the effort of recalling is what locks it in.

3. Accept the peak

If it's hard, that's normal: that's when the learning is happening. It's not a sign you're failing, it's a sign you're getting there.

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This is the logic I coded into Pandarine

Pandarine uses FSRS, an open-source spaced repetition algorithm, to bring back each HSK word at the right moment, straight from Chinese to French. To be upfront: the app is built for people who learn in French. If you want the backstory, I tell it here: At 48, I coded the Chinese-learning app I'd been looking for for 2 years.

The three rules above, though, work for anything you're learning — whatever your language.

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Frequently asked questions

Is it harder to learn after 45?

More often than not, the sticking point is the method rather than age. Passive rereading gets weak results at any age. Testing yourself regularly, at well-chosen intervals, makes a real difference.

What is spaced repetition?

It's a method where you review information just before you'd forget it, with intervals that grow longer as it sticks. You review fragile items often and solid ones rarely.

How much time a day does it take to reach HSK 3?

In our simulation at 20 new words a day: roughly 20 to 25 minutes a day for the first two months, peaking around 32 minutes, then under 5 minutes of daily maintenance after month 4.

Is it better to learn 10, 20 or 30 words a day?

Over a year, the total number of reviews stays almost the same (around 18,000). The more words you add per day, the steeper the early peak, but the sooner you've seen everything. Pick the pace you can keep up every single day.

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Want to try spaced repetition on Chinese (in French)? HSK 1 and 2 are free: create your account and run your first review in a few minutes. → Try it for free on pandarine.fr

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What about you: when in your career change did you almost quit, right before it got easier? You'll find more guides and field reports in the Tech section.