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Turn your notes into Anki flashcards with AI

Upload PDFs, slides, notes or photos of pages and get flashcards with spaced repetition, ready to study in the browser or move into Anki.

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How to build a deck that works in Anki

Think of this as an Anki flashcards guide for students who have lecture slides, chapter PDFs or messy notes and want a deck they can review every day. The hard part is rarely the app. It is deciding what belongs on each card, and that is where most decks go wrong.

Keep each card to a single fact so a missed answer tells you exactly what to review.
Put the cue on the front and the answer on the back, not a paragraph copied from your notes.
Review daily in short sessions, since spaced repetition depends on steady practice.
Retire a card only after several correct reviews in a row, not after one lucky guess.

Example Anki flashcards for intro biology

What is the difference between mitosis and meiosis?Mitosis makes two genetically identical diploid cells, while meiosis makes four genetically varied haploid gametes. Meiosis is needed for sexual reproduction.

Which organelle makes most of a cell's ATP?The mitochondrion. It produces most ATP through oxidative phosphorylation across its inner membrane, which is why active cells contain many of them.

What is the net ATP yield of glycolysis per glucose molecule?2 ATP. Glycolysis produces 4 ATP but uses 2, and it also yields 2 NADH.

What does the Hardy-Weinberg equation test?Whether a population is at genetic equilibrium, meaning allele frequencies stay the same from generation to generation without evolutionary forces acting on them.

True or false: DNA replication is semiconservative.True. Each new double helix keeps one original strand and one newly synthesized strand, as shown by the Meselson-Stahl experiment.

Generate the full set

Spaced repetition built in

Cards come back at the intervals your memory needs, so review time goes to what you are about to forget.

Works from your own material

Upload PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text notes or photos of pages and get cards drawn from what you actually need to learn.

Anki export on Plus

Plus exports to Anki, PDF, DOCX and CSV, so your deck can move into the app you already use.

How it works

Upload your notes

Add a PDF, slide deck, text file or a photo of a page.

Generate and review

Get flashcards, then edit or delete any that are unclear or too broad.

Study or export

Review in the browser on the free plan, or export to Anki on Plus.

Start with the material your course actually tests, then write cards that ask for one fact at a time. A card that asks you to define osmosis and list three examples gives you two chances to fail, so split it into two cards. Keep the cue on the front short and the answer on the back brief.

Once the deck exists, review it in short daily sessions rather than long weekend cram blocks. Spaced repetition only works when you keep showing up, and the intervals will do the scheduling for you.

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Frequently asked questions

How many flashcards should I make for one biology chapter?

Aim for one fact per card and cover the terms your instructor stressed. A smaller set of sharp cards is easier to keep up with than a long deck you skip.

What makes a good card for an Anki deck?

Write one question with one answer, avoid yes or no prompts where you can, and add enough context that you recall the concept rather than the wording.

Can I export my flashcards to Anki?

Yes, Anki export is a Plus feature, which costs $39 per year or $7.99 per month. The free plan lets you study flashcards in the browser with 3 generations per month.

Is spaced repetition included with the free plan?

Spaced repetition is part of Plus, which also gives unlimited generations. You can try the free plan first, and no credit card is needed to start.

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Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.