How to Study With Flashcards
(and How to Make Good Ones)
Flashcards work because they make you remember instead of re-read. This guide explains why, what a good card looks like, and how to fit them into a study routine you can keep up.
Why flashcards work
Most students study by re-reading. It feels productive, but it mostly trains you to recognize the page, not to recall the answer. A flashcard flips that: you see a prompt, you try to answer from memory, and only then you check.
That one change brings in two techniques that learning research rates highly. Practice testing means quizzing yourself instead of re-reading. Distributed practice means spreading your reviews over days and weeks instead of cramming. In a large review of study techniques, both were rated as high-utility, which is the top rating the reviewers gave.
Source: Dunlosky, Rawson, Marsh, Nathan & Willingham (2013), “Improving Students’ Learning With Effective Learning Techniques,” Psychological Science in the Public Interest.
Flashcards give you both almost by accident, because a small deck is easy to carry, easy to review for a few minutes, and easy to repeat the next day.
What makes a good flashcard
- One idea per card. If a card needs a paragraph to answer, split it.
- Ask something you can answer. A term, a rule, a step. Not a topic.
- Add an example. A rule is easier to recall when you have seen it used.
- For exams, add the exam angle. A short tip about how the idea tends to be tested saves time later.
Here are three real cards from our own decks, in three very different subjects:
hepat/o
Liver. Origin: Greek ‘hepar’ meaning liver. Example: Hepatitis, where ‘hepat/o’ refers to the liver and ‘-itis’ to inflammation, indicating inflammation of the liver.
Absolute Value Equations
Equations that contain an absolute value expression, such as |x| = a. Solve by setting up two cases: x = a and x = -a. Example: |x| = 5 leads to x = 5 and x = -5.
Manage Conflict
ScenarioDuring a project, two team members have differing opinions on approaches to a design. As a project manager, you facilitate a meeting where both parties can present their perspectives and collaboratively explore a mutually acceptable solution.
Exam tipOn the exam, favor solutions that involve direct communication and collaboration over avoidance or escalating the issue immediately.
Our cards are generated with AI and reviewed by a person before delivery. Treat any study aid as a supplement and check anything important against your course or exam materials.
Three ways to study with them
The same deck can be used in different ways. Pick the one that matches how you study, or mix them.
Printed cards
Print on cardstock and cut them out, or print several to a page for quick review on the go. Good if you like writing on cards, sorting them into piles, or keeping your phone away while you study.
Anki
Anki is a free flashcard app that schedules your reviews for you: cards you know come back later, cards you miss come back sooner. A basic card has a question on the front and the answer on the back. A cloze card hides a word or phrase in a sentence and asks you to fill it in.
An interactive app
An interactive flashcard app in your browser lets you flip cards, filter by category, shuffle and take a quiz, without installing anything. Good for quick sessions on a laptop or phone.
Every custom bundle we make includes all three: printable PDF layouts, Anki decks (basic and cloze) and an interactive app. New to Anki? Read our guide to studying with Anki and importing a deck.
A simple routine you can keep up
- Start small. Choose a number of new cards you can really finish each day. Consistency beats a big first week.
- Say the answer before you flip. If you only read the back, you are re-reading again.
- Bring missed cards back. Put them in the pile for tomorrow, and again a few days later.
- Keep sessions short. Ten to twenty focused minutes a day, most days, adds up.
- Mix in practice questions. Cards build knowledge; practice questions show you how you use it.
When flashcards are not enough
Flashcards are excellent for terms, rules, formulas, vocabulary and processes. They are weaker for skills that need working through full problems, such as long math problems or essay writing. For those, use the cards to cover the facts, and spend the rest of your time on practice problems and real past questions.
Subject guides
Studying for a specific exam or subject? These guides look at what makes each one hard and how flashcards help.
PMP Exam Questions Feel Impossible? How Flashcards Can Help
PMP questions feel ambiguous, time is short and most study material is generic. Here is how to fix each problem with the right flashcards.
Read the guide →Exam PrepPSAT Prep: Where to Start (and How Flashcards Help)
Not sure whether to study for the PSAT, what to focus on, or if practice tests are accurate? Here is how to fix each problem with the right flashcards.
Read the guide →Exam PrepStruggling With Medical Terminology? How Flashcards Can Help
Medical terminology feels like a new language. Here is how to learn it without drowning, by breaking words into parts and reviewing them in short daily sessions.
Read the guide →Exam PrepNCMHCE Prep Feeling Overwhelming? How Flashcards Can Help
Nervous about the NCMHCE? Here is how to break the exam into topics, review in short daily sessions and use flashcards alongside official materials.
Read the guide →Exam PrepStudying ICD-10-CM Guidelines for the CPC? How Flashcards Can Help
Running out of time, slow lookups and outdated books are common ICD-10-CM study problems. Here is what each one looks like and how flashcards fit in.
Read the guide →Common questions
Can I use flashcards for any subject?
Almost. They work best for material that can be broken into small, separate pieces: terms, definitions, rules, formulas, dates and steps. For subjects built on long problem-solving, pair them with practice problems.
How many cards should I study a day?
As many as you can finish without dreading the next session. Many learners start with a small batch of new cards each day and add reviews of older ones. Adjust after the first week.
Do I need Anki, or are printed cards fine?
Printed cards are fine. Anki is useful because it schedules reviews for you, which is the hardest part to do by hand. If you are unsure, try both with the free samples.
Can I make flashcards from my notes or a PDF?
Yes. Pull out one question and one answer for each important idea instead of copying whole paragraphs. If you would rather not make them yourself, we can build a deck from your topic.
Are your flashcards written by AI?
They are generated with AI and then reviewed by a person before delivery. They are study aids, so always check anything important against your course or official exam materials.
Make studying easier
Try the free sample files to see how the printable cards, Anki decks and interactive app look. If you want a deck built around your own topic, we can make it.
Want a deck made for you? Order custom flashcards on our Fiverr gig.