As a student, I was always looking for ways to study smarter, not harder. I wanted to be able to retain important information, but I also didn’t really want to spend endless hours studying. That’s when I started to use flashcards.
Flashcards are a simple but effective tool that can help you remember information easily. They’re also a great way to make studying a little less horrifying! (Just a little).
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about flashcards, including how to create them, how to use them effectively and how to maximize their benefits for academic success.
Table of Contents
Benefits of Flashcards
Flashcards can be an amazing study resource if you know how to use them well! One of the great reasons you should use Flashcards is because they are super portable, and can be carried anywhere. Usually, they will be no bigger than the palm of your hand, which makes them easy to carry with you anywhere.
For that reason, if you’d like to get some last minute revision done before your exam starts, this is a great option for you. Just pull them out and go through them quickly until you need to start!
Another reason to use this amazing technique is how well they truly work. By using a technique known as active recall, flashcards engage your brain into searching for an answer.
This is different to simply reading from a page full of information, as you have to turn the flashcard around to find out the answer.
Once you learn how to use flashcards, you can make the most complicated topic make sense in about 2-3 flash-cards! They are also much less overwhelming to look at than 3 full pages of notes.
So, let’s dive right in!
Creating Effective Flashcards
The first step to success with flashcards is creating effective ones. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
1. Make flashcards in a question/answer style
As I mentioned earlier, active recall is one of the most important advantages to using flashcards. The more that you use active recall, the more your brain will be able to remember information!
If you’d like to know more about active recall, I’ll explain it in this paragraph! The way this technique works is by pushing your brain to actually find the answer from something you’ve already learned.
If I write a question such as ‘What is the major theme in To Kill a Mockingbird’, I’ve already started using active recall! Before I turn over the flashcard for the answer, I will already be trying to think of the answer myself!
So, the general formula for all of your cards should be a question on one side and the answer on the other! This is the best method to get the most out of your flashcards, trust me!
2. Keep it Simple
Don’t make the mistake of over-complicating your flashcards. Remember that you will be using these for a quick revision, after you’ve already studied your topic. Therefore, they are not meant to be a substitute for your textbook or notes.
The best practice for making flashcards for studying is to use short and simple statements to reveal important information. This will help you focus on the most important concepts and avoid overwhelming yourself with too much information.
You have to imagine that you’re writing an answer as if you were explaining it to a 5 year old. Really, the simpler the better. Look at the images to understand more about what I mean.
3. Make it visual
The beauty of using flashcards lies behind the ability to make them aesthetically pleasing. Incorporating pictures or diagrams can actually help you remember stuff more easily, which makes this a great addition to your flashcard technique.
In fact, there there is a phenomenon known as the Picture Superiority Effect. This basically means that as humans, we tend to remember images far better than words. Our brain is practically like a sponge, and it loves to absorb anything which attracts our visual senses.
I’ll give you an example, let’s say your flashcard is about coelenterates. That really long word I just wrote happens to be the same group which jellyfish are in! How am I supposed to remember that?
Simple, I placed a small drawing of a jellyfish in my flashcard and wrote the description underneath it. That way, I will be reminded of that specific flashcard and its answer. I’ve provided a picture of what I mean to help you out a little.
4. Colour code your Flashcards
If you’ve read my other articles, you’ll know how many times I mention this. Colour coding is your best friend; it will get you through the hardest moments. Truly.
I’ll show you exactly what I mean.
Both pictures above have the exact same text. Let’s pretend you had to choose which photo you would study from, which one would you pick?
Most people will pick the second picture because colours make things instantly easier to read! The picture with the text with no colour is bland and it’s easy to miss some of the important key words. This is precisely the reason why you should also include colour when you are creating your flashcards.
Since you will be writing very small questions and answers, it would be a good idea to only colour code one or two words so that you will not overwhelm your card with colour.
However, you could go an extra step and assign a colour to each category of a topic! The more you differentiate the important categories and words, the better.
If you’d like to know more about Colour Coding click here for my ultimate guide!
Using your flashcards efficiently
Once you’ve created a beautiful deck of cards, it’s time to start using them.
5. Use Active Recall
Now that we’ve mentioned active recall a few times, it’s time to use it!
The best way to go about this would be to cover one side of the flashcard and try to remember the answer on the other side. You can then check the answer on your flashcard by uncovering the other side! It’s a much more effective way of studying compared to simply reading the information.
This allows you to reinforce your understanding of the material, allowing you to identify areas where you may need more practice.
Give it a try, you’d be surprised how well this works!
6. Review Consistently
If you aim to use flashcards for studying, then you need to make use of them often. You cannot expect to go through them once and retain all of the information!
Aim to review your cards for a few minutes each day to maximise their benefits. Consistency is key when it comes to memorising things, which is exactly why this step is so important!
7. Shuffle your Cards
A great way to challenge yourself whilst studying is breaking the chronological order of the cards.
If you learn all of the flashcards in a specific order, it might be a good idea to break the cycle a little bit! Randomising the order of your flashcards can help prevent memorisation based on the order of the cards and ensure you truly understand the material.
In fact, shuffling your cards will also make studying more challenging and engaging, which can help you keep motivated and focused!
Conclusion
Flashcards are a simple, but powerful tool that can help you succeed in your studies. By creating effective flashcards and using them well, you can reinforce your understanding of the material and retain important information.
Remember to stay consistent! With these tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to acing your exams and achieving your academic goals.
What works for you when using flashcards? Let us know in the comments!
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