In this blog, I hope to provide some tips and tricks on how to make excellent flashcards! Flash cards are a great tool to utilize in nearly every subject. Whether studying for a test or exam, or maybe prepping for a big presentation- they are effective in helping retain information. In this post, I hope to highlight how to make great flash cards according to your own learning style, and how to use them most effectively!
Tip #1: Make them well in advance!
Making and using flashcards is a fundamental part of my own study process, and over the years I have established what is and what is not effective. I used to wait to make them until the day before a test or exam and spend so much time making them (and finding the information to put on them from notes), that I barely had time to actually use them. The best flashcards are made days, even weeks before a big test or exam! This way, you can study with them for a little bit each day or night, further instilling that information into your brain much more effectively than in a rushed time-crunch. Another tip is that if you make flashcards for your tests throughout a course, save them for final exam study so all you have to do is mix them all up and practice with them!
Tip #2: Keep it Simple
When it comes to making great flashcards, of course the most effective are the simplest. The less words used on the back of a flashcard to communicate the concept, the easier to remember. Try to summarize the point as concisely as possible before writing it on the card.
Tip #3: Colour Coding
If you identify as more of a visual learner, it may be helpful to split the content you are studying into various subgroups and assign each a colour. This could mean dividing them by units, types, names, level of importance, etc. You may be able to recall the content easier when writing the test if you can recall the colour. It can also help to organize your flashcards so that you can divide study sessions by subgroups, or just know which category each card is coming from.
Tip #4: Different Types of Flashcards
It is important to note that there are many types of flashcards you can experiment with, rather than just the classic definition-based ones. For example, you can write phrases in terms of “fill in the blank” that can help with your memory retention. You can phrase them in ways that make you feel like it’s more of a game.
Instead of one side saying the name of a famous scientist, and the other saying a brief definition of them, it may be helpful to phrase it more like a game/game show. Try something like this:
“This person studied ___ and discovered this ____ and famously said this ____”. These types of flashcards may make it easier when having to retain the discoveries or descriptions of many different people or things. It also will use a different part of your brain than simply remembering exact definitions.
Alternatively, you could opt to make true/false statements. This will also make sure you really understand the material enough to answer correctly!
Tip #5: Study with a Buddy!
One of the most valuable aspects of a good set of flashcards is the ability to study with someone else. If you can, find someone taking the same class and review with one another. They may have extra information that you missed, and vice versa. Also, going back and forth quizzing each other helps hold yourself and each other accountable to learning the content! And it makes it more fun!
Hopefully some of these tips and tricks will improve your study sessions.
