Studying

Flashcards are a useful tool to remember facts, terms and basic concepts. Learning how to count in a new language and memorizing terminology are well-suited to the flashcard technique. Below are a few tips about how to use them well.

The Benefits of Using Flashcards

Flashcards are a form of retrieval practice and the positive effects on long-term memory of retrieval practice is established fact.

Retrieval practice as the best way to study is well-documented. It is the method of recalling information without looking and it directly lets you know what you know. Research consistently shows that retrieval practice strengthens long-term memory. Studying by using flashcards is retrieval practice. Many students prefer to reread their notes or textbook or rewatch recorded lectures probably because it’s easier. However, doing this is much more likely to lead to what some researchers call the illusion of knowing (Brown, Roediger III and McDaniel, 2014). That is, the material looks familiar, so we think we know it. Retrieval practice in general, and using flashcards specifically, requires you to actively think about and recall information and this is how we can strengthen our long-term memory.

Flashcards can help you accurately gage your learning. They give you feedback about what you know.

Flashcards give us immediate feedback. We get the answer correct, partially correct or some flavor of wrong to know right away. This in turn will inform us what to do next. Should we keep studying this topic or have we mastered it? We may feel that reading over our notes or rewatching a video helps us to learn but we are not receiving feedback through this process. The illusion of knowing could make us stop studying because we think we know the material when really, we don’t. To perform well on an exam, accurately judging what we truly know is important. Overconfidence can lead to poorer performance as we may stop studying before we should. Using flashcards supply us with immediate and accurate information which in turn helps us to know whether we need to keep studying in earnest or that we are largely ready for that exam.

Best Practices for Using Flashcards

Using flashcards might seem very simple, but there are favorable and unfavorable ways to use them. Below you’ll find several tips for using flashcards well.

Flashcards are best used for simple facts or basic knowledge. Flashcards that have a lot of information on them tend to be less effective than cards with more straightforward answers. Limit each card to one fact or one piece of information. Keep answers short and specific.

It's important to think through the answer completely before looking at the answer. It’s common to want to get through a lot of flashcards quickly which can lead to looking at the answer before you should. If you do this, your feedback (right or wrong) may not be accurate. To slow yourself down and truly practice recall, say or write your answer before looking at the answer on the card. Even just moving your lips silently before looking is effective if you are in a crowded space.

What should you do if you get the answer right or wrong? It’s best to get at least several successful retrievals spaced out over multiple days and weeks before retiring a flashcard. Many flashcard apps (such as Anki) will keep track of this for you. If you are using paper index cards, you can use the Leitner system which has you create three piles.

Use the Leitner System. Put new or missed cards into a “frequent” use pile, cards you partially know into a “moderate” use pile and mastered cards into a “review periodically” pile. Move cards forward when you answer them correctly and move them back when you answer incorrectly.

Space Out Your Study. To increase efficiency, space out your practice depending on your knowledge level. That is, cards in the “frequent” pile should be practiced closer together, maybe every day but not more than that. The “moderate” pile should be reviewed farther apart, about every couple of days. The “review periodically” pile should be reviewed a week or weeks apart.

Use practice problems, not just flashcards, when you need to apply or analyze information. If you need to be able to use the information at a deeper level, such as applying the information to solve a problem or using the information to assess a clinical situation, alternative methods of studying will work better. Most of the time, students need to be able to transfer information they learn from one type of problem to another. For example, you may need to memorize vocabulary to learn a language, but you will also need to know how to use that vocabulary in a sentence and be able to understand it when someone else uses it in a sentence. A good rule of thumb is to make sure to practice for the test in the way you will be tested (e.g., you wouldn’t practice for a driving test by reading a book about how to drive).

To Summarize

Flashcards are a useful tool to commit information to memory assuming you use the tool well. Use them for straightforward, basic information, make sure you answer the question before looking at the answer, and repeat as needed to master the information. To learn about other ways to implement retrieval practice into your study time, check out our website for more blogs and printable resources. Also consider making an appointment with one of our Academic Success Coaches to help you implement flashcards effectively into your study routine.

Sources

• Brown, P. C., Roediger III, H. L., and McDaniel, M. A. (2014). Make it stick: The science of successful learning. Harvard University Press.
• Karpicke, J. D., and Roediger III, H. L. (2008). The critical importance of retrieval for learning. science, 319(5865), 966-968.
• Nebel, C. and Kaminski, A.N. (2025, July 24). Flashcards and the Science of Retrieval Practice [Webinar]. TrueLearn.
• Study and revision: a practical guide [for using] The Leitner system,(2025, Dec 12). Library subject guide, University of York, https://subjectguides.york.ac.uk/study-revision/leitner-system