The effects of retrieval practice and prior topic knowledge on test performance and confidence judgments

•Retrieval practice eliminated differences in performance as a function of prior topic knowledge.•For non-tested items, students performed better on chapter content for which they possessed high prior topic knowledge.•Students possessed better monitoring accuracy for items which were practice-tested, and reduced overconfidence, especially in cases where students possessed high prior topic knowledge.•Students perceived retrieval practice as beneficial as a strategy for remembering information over time and as an aid to inform future study sessions.