Anki MCAT: The Complete Flashcard Strategy Most Pre-Meds Get Wrong (And What To Do Instead) – Learn how to actually *remember* your MCAT content instead of drowning in decks.

Anki For MCAT: Helpful… But Also Kind Of A Trap

If you’re studying for the MCAT, you’ve definitely heard:

“Just use Anki. Do your cards every day. You’ll be fine.”

But here’s what nobody tells you:

• Building good MCAT decks in Anki is extremely time-consuming
• Syncing, add-ons, and clunky UI can slow you down
• If you fall behind on reviews, your deck becomes a guilt graveyard
• And honestly… most people don’t know how to write good cards

Anki is powerful, but it’s not exactly friendly.

That’s where Flashrecall comes in – it does the same core thing (spaced repetition flashcards), but in a way that actually fits real life, especially if you’re juggling classes, work, and MCAT prep.

You can grab it here (free to start):

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Let’s break down how to study MCAT-style with Anki and why a modern alternative like Flashrecall can make your life way easier.

What MCAT Studying With Anki Is Supposed To Look Like

The basic idea behind using Anki for the MCAT is solid:

• Spaced repetition: See hard cards more often, easy ones less often
• Active recall: You’re forced to pull the answer from memory
• Long-term retention: Perfect for content-heavy stuff like bio/biochem, psych/soc, orgo, and equations

In theory, your routine looks like this:

1. Watch a video / read a chapter (Kaplan, Princeton, Khan Academy, whatever)

2. Make flashcards on the key concepts

3. Review every day using Anki’s spaced repetition algorithm

4. Slowly lock in everything before test day

Sounds great. But in practice?

• Making cards takes forever
• Anki’s interface is… let’s say not 2025
• It’s easy to fall behind and feel crushed by 800+ “due” cards

You want the method (spaced repetition + active recall), not necessarily the tool that makes your life harder.

The Biggest Problems With Using Anki For The MCAT

Let’s be honest about the usual Anki struggles:

1. Deck Creation Is a Time Sink

You either:

• Spend hours making your own cards
• Or download giant premade decks that don’t match how you think

For the MCAT, that’s dangerous. You want cards that:

• Match your sources (Kaplan, UWorld, AAMC, etc.)
• Reflect your mistakes from practice questions
• Use wording that makes sense to you

2. The Interface Feels Like Homework On Top Of Homework

Anki works, but it also:

• Looks outdated
• Needs add-ons for basic quality-of-life stuff
• Can be annoying to sync between devices
• Isn’t exactly “tap and go” on mobile

When you’re already exhausted from content review and practice exams, fighting your flashcard app is the last thing you need.

3. Falling Behind = Instant Overwhelm

Miss a day or two? Suddenly you’ve got:

• 500+ reviews
• A wave of guilt
• The urge to just hit “bury” or “suspend” and pretend it’s fine

The method is good. The experience? Not always.

A Better Approach: MCAT Flashcards Without The Anki Headache

You don’t need to marry Anki to use spaced repetition.

👉 App link again so you don’t scroll back up:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Here’s why it works especially well for MCAT prep.

How Flashrecall Makes MCAT Flashcards Way Easier

1. Instant Cards From What You’re Already Studying

Instead of manually typing every single card like in Anki, Flashrecall can create cards from:

• Images – snap a pic of a textbook page, passage, or diagram
• Text – paste notes or key points from your MCAT books
• PDFs – turn sections of Kaplan/Princeton/Khan notes into cards
• YouTube links – watched a great MCAT video? Turn it into cards
• Audio – record explanations or notes and turn them into questions
• Typed prompts – tell it what topic you’re on, and it helps generate cards

You can still make cards manually if you want full control, but for big content-heavy topics (like glycolysis, endocrine system, behavioral theories), auto-generating cards saves an insane amount of time.

2. Built-In Spaced Repetition (Without You Micromanaging It)

Like Anki, Flashrecall uses spaced repetition:

• You rate how well you remembered a card
• The app automatically schedules the next review
• Hard stuff shows up more, easy stuff less

But you don’t have to understand or tweak any settings.

You just open the app, and your “due today” cards are ready.

Plus, there are study reminders, so you actually get nudged to review instead of just “meaning to.”

3. Active Recall Baked In

Every card forces you to think first, then reveal, which is exactly what you want for MCAT:

• “What hormone does the anterior pituitary release in response to TRH?”
• “What’s the difference between classical and operant conditioning?”
• “What happens to blood pressure if arterioles constrict?”

You’re constantly testing yourself the same way the MCAT will.

4. You Can Chat With Your Flashcards When You’re Confused

This is something Anki just doesn’t do.

In Flashrecall, if you don’t understand a card or need more context, you can chat with the flashcard:

• Ask it to explain in simpler terms
• Get a quick analogy (“Explain this like I’m 12”)
• Ask for another example or a step-by-step breakdown

This is insanely helpful when you’re stuck on stuff like:

• Enzyme kinetics
• Fluid dynamics
• Psych theories
• Experimental design questions

You’re not just memorizing; you’re actually understanding.

5. Works Offline For Library / Coffee Shop / Airplane Study

No Wi-Fi? No problem.

Flashrecall works offline, so you can:

• Review cards on the train
• Grind through a set at the library
• Study on flights without stressing about connection

Everything syncs when you’re back online.

6. Simple, Fast, And Actually Pleasant To Use

MCAT studying is already painful enough. Your app shouldn’t be.

Flashrecall is:

• Clean and modern
• Fast and responsive
• Easy to use on iPhone and iPad

You open it, tap into your MCAT deck, and start. No add-ons, no weird settings, no friction.

How To Use Flashrecall As Your “Anki For MCAT” Replacement

Here’s a simple, realistic way to structure your MCAT study with Flashrecall.

Step 1: Pick Your Primary Content Source

Whatever you’re using:

• Kaplan books
• Princeton Review
• Khan Academy
• UWorld / AAMC explanations
• Your class notes

Flashrecall doesn’t care which one — it just helps you extract the important stuff.

Step 2: Turn Content Into Cards As You Go

While you study:

• Snap pics of key diagrams (nephron, heart, endocrine axes)
• Copy-paste important definitions and high-yield facts
• Turn tricky UWorld/AAMC explanations into cards
• Use typed prompts like:
• “Make flashcards about the different types of memory (working, short-term, long-term)”
• “Create cards on the main psych disorders and their key features”

This way, your deck is personalized and built directly from what you’re actually getting tested on.

Step 3: Do Short Daily Review Sessions

Instead of 2-hour Anki marathons, aim for:

• 2–4 shorter blocks of 15–25 minutes
• Morning session: quick review of due cards
• Afternoon/evening: another round + new cards from what you studied

Flashrecall’s spaced repetition + reminders keep you consistent without you having to think about scheduling.

Step 4: Add Cards From Practice Exams

This is huge for MCAT success.

After each practice exam:

• For every question you miss or guessed on, make at least 1–3 cards:
• One on the concept you missed
• One on any formula/equation
• One on why the wrong answer choices were wrong (super underrated)

Over time, your deck becomes a map of your weaknesses, which is exactly what you want.

Step 5: Use Chat To Patch Your Understanding Gaps

For cards you keep missing:

• Open the card in Flashrecall
• Ask it to explain the concept more deeply
• Ask for another example or a simpler explanation
• Then turn that into a new, clearer flashcard

This turns confusion into active learning, not just frustration.

Is Flashrecall Better Than Anki For MCAT?

If you love tweaking settings, building elaborate templates, and installing add-ons, you might still enjoy Anki.

But if you want:

• Less time building decks and more time studying
• Automatic spaced repetition and reminders
• Easy card creation from images, PDFs, YouTube, and text
• A clean, modern, fast interface on iPhone/iPad
• The ability to chat with your flashcards when you’re stuck
• Offline studying anywhere

Then Flashrecall is honestly a better fit for most MCAT students.

You still get the core science-backed methods (active recall + spaced repetition), just in a way that doesn’t burn you out or bury you in overdue cards.

Final Thoughts: Use The Method, Not Just The Hype

“Anki or nothing” is kind of a myth.

What actually matters for the MCAT is:

• Testing yourself actively
• Reviewing on a smart schedule
• Focusing on your weak spots
• Staying consistent for months

Flashrecall gives you all of that, without the clunky overhead.

If you want an “Anki for MCAT” that’s faster, more flexible, and way easier to live with every day, try Flashrecall while you’re still early in your prep (or even mid-prep — you can import concepts quickly).

Grab it here (free to start):

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Build your deck around your MCAT journey, and let spaced repetition do the heavy lifting in the background.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Anki good for studying?

Anki is powerful but requires manual card creation and has a steep learning curve. Flashrecall offers AI-powered card generation from your notes, images, PDFs, and videos, making it faster and easier to create effective flashcards.

What's the fastest way to create flashcards?

Manually typing cards works but takes time. Many students now use AI generators that turn notes into flashcards instantly. Flashrecall does this automatically from text, images, or PDFs.

How do I start spaced repetition?

You can manually schedule your reviews, but most people use apps that automate this. Flashrecall uses built-in spaced repetition so you review cards at the perfect time.

How can I study more effectively for this test?

Effective exam prep combines active recall, spaced repetition, and regular practice. Flashrecall helps by automatically generating flashcards from your study materials and using spaced repetition to ensure you remember everything when exam day arrives.

Related Articles

• Anki Revision: 7 Powerful Tricks To Study Smarter (And a Better Alternative Most Students Don’t Know) – Stop wasting hours reviewing the wrong way and use these proven strategies to actually remember what you study.
• Brainscape To Anki: The Complete Guide To Switching Flashcard Apps (And The Smarter Alternative Most People Miss) – Learn a faster way to move your decks and upgrade your whole study workflow.
• Anki Flash Cards: The Powerful Alternative Most Students Ignore (And How To Learn Faster With Smarter Flashcards) – Discover why classic Anki decks aren’t your only option anymore and how a modern app can save you hours.