The most important steps in the development of the present form of the SuperMemo method:

• Application of the recall principle, which states that active recall rather than passive recognition makes the basis of successful learning
• Application of regular repetitions
• Application of the minimum information principle, which states that repeated pieces of knowledge (items) should be as simple as possible
• Application of the function of optimal intervals (Algorithm SM-0)
• Application of E-Factors (Algorithm SM-2)
• Representing the function of optimal intervals as the matrix of optimum intervals, which is modified during repetitions (Algorithm SM-4)
• Representing the function of optimal intervals as the matrix of optimum factors (Algorithm SM-5)
• Introduction of near-optimum factors (interval dispersion)
• Fine-tuning of the predetermined shape of the matrix of optimal factors
• Application of the propagation of changes across the matrix of optimal intervals (smoothing)