See how Anki flashcards work and build your own from class notes

How Anki flashcards work

Most people first hear about Anki flashcards when a classmate mentions reviewing a deck every morning. The core idea is simple: you see a question, try to recall the answer before flipping the card, then rate how easily you remembered it. Cards you know well are shown again after longer gaps, while shaky ones come back sooner. That scheduling, called spaced repetition, is what makes the method work better than rereading notes.

• Each card should test one fact, so you can grade your recall honestly.
• Write the question in your own words instead of copying a highlighted sentence.
• Review a little every day, since short sessions beat one long cram night.
• Export finished decks to Anki on a Plus plan if you want to keep studying there.