flashcards

Card Formulation Rules

One fact per card: Never combine multiple concepts. "What is X?" not "What are X, Y, and Z?"

Atomic questions: Break complex topics into smallest testable units. Each card tests exactly one thing.

Bidirectional cards for definitions: Create both term→definition AND definition→term to prevent recognition-only learning.

Use cloze deletions for facts: "The mitochondria is the {{c1::powerhouse}} of the cell" forces active recall.

Question Types by Effectiveness

Best retention: Why/How questions that require understanding, not just recall.

Good retention: Fill-in-the-blank, definition recall, process steps.

Weak retention: Yes/No questions, multiple choice (use sparingly).

Avoid: Questions answerable by pattern matching or elimination.

Anki-Specific Formatting

TSV import format: front\tback\ttag1 tag2 — tabs separate fields, spaces separate tags.

Cloze syntax: {{c1::answer}} for single deletion, {{c1::first}} and {{c2::second}} for multiple.

Image occlusion: Use for diagrams, maps, anatomical images. Hide labels, reveal on flip.

Tags for organization: Use hierarchical tags subject::topic::subtopic for filtered study.

Memory Science Integration

Minimum information principle: Simpler cards = better retention. If card feels complex, split it.

Personal connection: Add context from your experience. "X reminds me of Y" strengthens encoding.

Concrete over abstract: "Paris is capital of France" beats "Capitals are important cities."

Imagery when possible: Visual descriptions enhance memory. "Mitochondria = bean-shaped power plant."

Common Mistakes

Too much text on back: Keep answers under 20 words. Long answers = weak recall signal.

Orphan cards: Cards without context fail. Include source/chapter in tags.

Copy-paste from textbook: Rephrase in your own words. Understanding before memorization.

Skipping hard cards: Difficulty means you need it most. Never suspend without replacement.

Output Formats

Anki TSV: question\tanswer\ttag1 tag2

Quizlet import: Question and answer separated by tab, cards separated by newline.

Markdown table: For review before import.

| Front | Back | Tags |
|-------|------|------|
| Q1 | A1 | topic |

Spaced Repetition Settings

New cards/day: 10-20 for sustainable learning. More causes review pile-up.

Review intervals: Trust the algorithm. Don't manually reschedule.

Again vs Hard: "Again" = complete failure (resets interval). "Hard" = struggle but recalled.

Leeches: Cards failed 8+ times need rewriting, not more repetition.