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Turn any PDF or slide deck into flashcards for students

Upload your readings, lecture slides or photos of notes. DeckOwl drafts flashcards you can review with spaced repetition, so you spend your time studying instead of typing cards.

Create flashcards nowFree · No credit card required

Drop files here or browsePDF, DOCX, PPTX, text or photos of your notes · several files with Plus

Free · First set needs no signup · Creates flashcards in seconds

Why flashcards work for studying your own material

Students often make the most progress when cards come from the exact readings and lectures they will be tested on. flashcards for students made this way skip the hours of copying terms by hand, and you can start from whatever file you already have.

Cards drawn from your own course material, not a generic list
Front-and-back cards you can edit before the first review
Free plan includes 3 generations per month, studied in the browser
Plus adds unlimited generations and export to PDF, DOCX, Anki and CSV

Example intro biology flashcards for students

MitochondriaOrganelles that produce most of a cell's ATP through cellular respiration.

OsmosisMovement of water across a semipermeable membrane from lower solute concentration to higher solute concentration.

Light reactions of photosynthesisLight energy splits water, releasing oxygen and producing ATP and NADPH that power the Calvin cycle.

DiploidA cell with two complete sets of chromosomes, one from each parent, written as 2n.

Enzyme active siteThe region of an enzyme where its specific substrate binds and the reaction is catalyzed.

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Works with your files

Upload PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text notes, or photos of pages. Photos are read with text recognition.

Spaced repetition

Cards come back at intervals that help you retain them, so reviews focus on what you are about to forget.

Quizzes and mind maps too

Turn the same material into multiple choice, true/false and short answer quizzes with explanations, or into a mind map.

How it works

Upload your material

Add a lecture PDF, slide deck, notes file or a photo of a textbook page.

Review the draft cards

Check the flashcards DeckOwl generates and edit any that need a clearer question or answer.

Study on a schedule

Work through the deck in your browser and let spaced repetition bring cards back when you need them.

Retrieval practice, where you pull an answer from memory before checking it, is what makes a card stick. Spaced repetition then spaces reviews out so you revisit each card just before you would forget it.

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Turn your own notes, slides or PDFs into free study flashcards with spaced repetition.

Flashcard Examples for Students

Sample flashcards for students, plus how to make your own from class notes and PDFs.

Flash cards for students from your notes

Make custom flash cards from your PDFs, slides or notes, with spaced repetition built in.

Flash cards for students

Turn class notes and PDFs into spaced-repetition flash cards with AI.

Flash Cards for Students From Your Notes

Turn your PDFs, slides or notes into flash cards for students with spaced repetition.

Flashcards for Teachers from Student Notes

Turn student notes and slides into flashcards for teachers with spaced repetition.

Frequently asked questions

How many flashcards should I make for a single lecture?

Most lectures give enough material for somewhere between 15 and 40 cards, depending on how many new terms and definitions appear. Focus on terms you will be asked to define or apply, and skip details you would not be tested on.

What is the best way to study flashcards?

Review cards in short sessions, try to answer each one from memory before flipping it, and rate how hard it felt. Spaced repetition handles the timing so harder cards come back sooner.

Can I export my flashcards to Anki?

Yes, the Plus plan lets you export to Anki, along with PDF, DOCX and CSV. The free plan lets you study in the browser but does not include exports.

Is there a student discount?

Students get 40% off with a school email address. You can start on the free plan without a credit card.

Generate free flashcards

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.