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Quiz yourself from the answer side using flashcards from your notes

Upload your PDFs, slides, notes or page photos, get flashcards with spaced repetition, then export a CSV and flip the columns so the answer shows first.

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

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Making reversed flashcards from your own material

Reverse recall is a useful drill: you read the definition first and have to name the term, which is closer to how many exams phrase questions. Getting Quizlet-style flashcards that start on the other side is mostly a matter of which column is the prompt, so it helps to build the deck from your own source material first and handle the flip afterward.

Generate cards from your own lectures instead of copying terms by hand.
Swap the columns in a spreadsheet so the definition is the prompt.
Study both directions so you can name the term and describe it.
Check each card against the source before you rely on it.

Example biology flashcards with the definition on the front

Organelle that produces most of a cell's ATPMitochondrion

Movement of water across a membrane toward higher solute concentrationOsmosis

Site where amino acids are joined into a protein chainRibosome

Enzyme that unwinds the DNA double helix during replicationHelicase

Phase of mitosis where sister chromatids separateAnaphase

Generate the full set

Reads your own material

Works from PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text notes and photos of pages, which are read with text recognition.

Spaced repetition

Reviews are scheduled over time so cards you miss come back more often. Included on the Plus plan.

CSV export

On Plus, export your deck as a CSV, swap the front and back columns in any spreadsheet, then import the sheet wherever you study.

How it works

Upload your material

Add a PDF, slide deck, set of notes or photos of a textbook page.

Review the generated cards

Check the terms and definitions and edit anything that is off before you study.

Export and flip the sides

Export the CSV on Plus, swap the front and back columns, and import the file into the app you use for reverse recall.

The simplest route is to generate the deck in DeckOwl, then export it as a CSV on the Plus plan, which costs $39/year or $7.99/month. Open the file in any spreadsheet, swap the two columns, and import it into the study tool you prefer. Plus also includes spaced repetition, so your review schedule carries on from the same deck.

Reversing the sides does not replace the original material, so keep the source open when you check a card that seems wrong. Cards generated from your own notes match the wording of your course, which makes the answers easier to verify.

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Frequently asked questions

How many flashcards should I make for an introductory biology unit?

Start with the key terms and processes from each lecture, usually one card per term or per step of a process. Most units can be covered with a few dozen focused cards, and you can add more as new material appears.

Does reverse recall actually help with exam questions?

Reverse recall makes you produce the term from its definition, which matches exam questions that describe a concept and ask for its name. Practicing both directions makes recall more flexible than one-way review.

Can I make reversed flashcards for free in DeckOwl?

The free plan includes 3 generations per month and studying in the browser, but exports are not included. Exporting the CSV you need to swap the sides requires the Plus plan at $39/year or $7.99/month.

Does DeckOwl export to Anki or PDF?

Yes, the Plus plan includes PDF, DOCX, Anki and CSV export along with unlimited generations and spaced repetition. The Pro plan adds Moodle XML and QTI 2.1 export.

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Keep exploring the topic

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