Best Apps For A Level Revision: 7 Powerful Study Tools Most Students Don’t Use (But Should) – If you want to actually remember content and not just re-read notes, these apps will change how you revise.
Best apps for A level revision that actually make stuff stick using flashcards, spaced repetition and active recall – starting with Flashrecall as your go‑to.
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Why Flashrecall Is The Best App For A Level Revision (Start Here)
So, you’re hunting for the best apps for A level revision and don’t want to waste time testing a million tools. Honestly, start with Flashrecall – it’s one of the few apps that actually helps you remember stuff instead of just staring at notes. It makes flashcards instantly from photos, PDFs, YouTube links, text, or even audio, then uses built‑in spaced repetition and active recall so the content sticks. That’s way more effective than just rereading a textbook or scrolling notes. You can grab it here for iPhone and iPad:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
What You Actually Need From A Level Revision Apps
Before we run through the list, here’s the real problem with A level revision:
Most people:
- Re-read notes
- Highlight everything
- Watch “study with me” videos
…and then panic two weeks before exams.
The best A level revision apps fix that by helping you:
- Test yourself (active recall)
- Space out your revision automatically (spaced repetition)
- Turn your messy resources (photos, PDFs, slides) into something you can study quickly
- Stay consistent with reminders and structure
That’s exactly why Flashrecall is so useful – it hits all of those in one place.
1. Flashrecall – Best Overall App For A Level Revision
If you only download one app from this list, make it Flashrecall.
Why Flashrecall works so well for A levels
Flashrecall is built around how memory actually works:
- Instant flashcards from anything
Take a photo of your textbook page, past paper, or classroom whiteboard → Flashrecall turns it into flashcards for you.
You can also:
- Paste in text
- Upload PDFs
- Use YouTube links
- Use audio
- Or just type cards manually if you like control
- Built‑in spaced repetition (no effort from you)
It automatically schedules your reviews so you see each card right before you’d forget it. No need to track what to revise when – the app just tells you: “Hey, time to review these cards.”
- Active recall by default
Every time you study, you’re forced to pull the answer from your brain, not just recognise it. That’s exactly what exam conditions feel like.
- Study reminders so you don’t fall off
You can set reminders to nudge you to revise a bit each day. Perfect for building that “little and often” habit instead of cramming.
- Works offline
On the bus, in the library with bad Wi‑Fi, in school where the Wi‑Fi hates you – still works.
- You can chat with your flashcards
Stuck on a concept? You can literally chat with the flashcard content to get explanations or clarifications. Super handy for tricky topics like organic mechanisms or weird statistics questions.
- Great for any A level subject
- Biology: definitions, pathways, experiments
- Chemistry: reactions, conditions, mechanisms
- Physics: formulas, concepts, laws
- Maths/Further Maths: theorem statements, methods, key tricks
- Languages: vocab, phrases, grammar
- Psychology/Geography/History: key studies, case names, dates, essay points
- Fast, modern, easy to use
No clunky 2009 interface. You can make a full deck from your notes in minutes.
- Free to start on iPhone and iPad
Here’s the link again so you don’t scroll back up:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
If you’re trying to figure out the best apps for A level revision, Flashrecall should be your main “memory” app. Pair it with a good notes app and a past paper site and you’re basically set.
2. Notion – For Organising Your Entire A Level Life
Flashrecall is for remembering. Notion is great for organising.
You can use Notion to:
- Keep a dashboard for each subject
- Track topics you’ve covered vs still weak on
- Make a revision timetable
- Store links to resources, YouTube videos, and past papers
How it works well with Flashrecall:
- Plan your revision in Notion
- Actually learn and memorise content in Flashrecall
- Add a link in your Notion dashboard straight to your Flashrecall decks for each subject
3. GoodNotes / Notability – For Handwritten Notes & Past Paper Annotation
If you like writing things out by hand on an iPad, GoodNotes or Notability are perfect.
You can:
- Import PDF past papers and mark schemes
- Scribble notes during class
- Colour-code topics
- Screenshot key diagrams or pages
Then here’s the power move:
- Take a screenshot of your notes or past paper explanations
- Import that image straight into Flashrecall
- Let Flashrecall turn that into flashcards for spaced repetition
So your handwritten notes don’t just sit there – they become stuff you’ll actually remember.
4. Forest or Focus To‑Do – For Staying Off Your Phone
Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :
Doesn’t matter how good your revision apps are if TikTok wins every time.
- Set focused study sessions (e.g., 25–50 minutes)
- Stay off distracting apps
- Build a streak of concentrated sessions
Nice combo:
1. Open Forest / Focus To‑Do and start a 30-minute session
2. Open Flashrecall and smash through a deck or two
3. Short break
4. Repeat
You’ll be amazed how much content you cover in just a few focused cycles.
5. YouTube (But Used Properly)
YouTube can be a black hole or a lifesaver depending on how you use it.
For A levels, it’s amazing for:
- Quick explanations when your teacher’s notes aren’t clicking
- Visual demos (especially for sciences)
- Worked examples for maths questions
How to make YouTube actually help you revise:
- Watch a short video on a topic
- Pause and summarise the key ideas in your own words
- Turn those into flashcards in Flashrecall manually or paste the transcript / key points and let Flashrecall generate cards for you
- Or drop the YouTube link into Flashrecall and build flashcards from that
Now, instead of watching the same video again before exams, you’ve got cards that keep that info fresh.
6. Exam Board Websites & Past Paper Apps
Not as “fun” as other apps, but honestly, past papers are OP for A level revision.
Use:
- Your exam board’s official site (AQA, Edexcel, OCR, etc.)
- Or any app/site that bundles past papers and mark schemes
How to use them with Flashrecall:
- Do a past paper or topic question set
- Mark it with the mark scheme
- Every time you miss a mark because of a phrase, keyword, or step → turn that into a flashcard
- Take photos of trick questions and answers → import to Flashrecall and generate cards
Over time, your Flashrecall decks become a personalised list of “things I always mess up” – which is exactly what you want to fix before exams.
7. Language Apps (Duolingo, Memrise, etc.) – For Extra Practice
If you’re doing a language A level, apps like Duolingo or Memrise can help with extra exposure and practice.
But they’re not tailored to your exact spec or exam style.
So a good setup is:
- Use Duolingo/Memrise for casual vocab and listening
- Put your exam-specific vocab, phrases, essay structures, and grammar points into Flashrecall
For example:
- Essay phrases like “On pourrait soutenir que…” or “Es ist wichtig zu beachten, dass…”
- Topic-specific vocab from your textbook
- Irregular verb forms you keep forgetting
Flashrecall’s spaced repetition will make sure those phrases are ready to go in the exam, not just “I’ve seen this before somewhere…”
Why Flashrecall Beats Most Other Flashcard Apps For A Levels
You’ll see people talk about other flashcard apps like Anki or Quizlet, and they’re good, but here’s why Flashrecall is often better for A level revision:
- Way easier to get started
No confusing settings. Just make cards and start learning.
- Instant card creation from real study materials
Most students are revising from:
- Textbooks
- Class notes
- PDFs
- Screenshots
- YouTube videos
Flashrecall is built exactly for that. You don’t have to retype everything.
- Built-in reminders and spaced repetition
You don’t have to manually figure out when to review what. It just reminds you.
- Chat with your cards
Stuck on “Why is this answer like this?” – you can ask. That’s a huge upgrade over static flashcards.
- Clean, modern interface on iPhone and iPad
No ugly menus, no clunky syncing. Just open the app and revise.
If you want something that actually fits how A level students study today (screenshots, PDFs, photos, videos), Flashrecall just makes more sense.
Again, here’s the link to try it:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
How To Build A Simple A Level Revision System With These Apps
Here’s a straightforward setup you can copy:
1. Organise topics
- Use Notion (or even just Notes) to list all topics for each subject.
- Mark topics as: not started / learning / revising / exam ready.
2. Turn content into flashcards with Flashrecall
- Take photos of class notes or textbook pages
- Import PDFs or paste text
- Add YouTube links for tricky topics
- Let Flashrecall create cards, then tweak if needed
3. Daily review
- Open Flashrecall once or twice a day
- Do your due cards (the ones spaced repetition says to review)
- Keep sessions short and consistent
4. Past paper integration
- Do past papers weekly
- Turn every mistake into a flashcard
- Review those cards regularly in Flashrecall
5. Focus sessions
- Use Forest / Focus To‑Do to block out distraction time
- During that time, only: past papers + Flashrecall
Stick to that and you’ll walk into exams recognising questions, not panicking at new-looking content.
Final Thoughts
If you’re searching for the best apps for A level revision, you don’t need a hundred tools. You need a small stack that actually helps you remember and apply what you’ve learned.
- Use Flashrecall for memory and active recall
- Use a notes app / Notion for organisation
- Use past papers + YouTube for understanding and practice
- Use a focus app to actually sit down and do the work
Start by setting up just one deck in Flashrecall today – maybe your weakest topic. It’ll take 10–15 minutes, and future you (revision‑week‑before‑exam you) will be very grateful.
Grab Flashrecall here and build your first A level deck:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Is there a free flashcard app?
Yes. Flashrecall is free and lets you create flashcards from images, text, prompts, audio, PDFs, and YouTube videos.
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.
What is active recall and how does it work?
Active recall is the process of actively retrieving information from memory rather than passively reviewing it. Flashrecall forces proper active recall by making you think before revealing answers, then uses spaced repetition to optimize your review schedule.
Related Articles
- Revision Apps For A Level: 7 Powerful Study Tools Most Students Don’t Use (But Should) – If you want higher grades without doubling your study time, these A Level revision app tips will genuinely help.
- Apps For A Level Revision: 7 Powerful Study Apps To Learn Faster And Actually Remember Stuff – Flashrecall Turns Your Notes Into Smart Flashcards In Seconds
- A Level Revision Apps: 7 Powerful Study Tools To Actually Remember What You Revise (Most Students Don’t Know #3) – If you’re drowning in notes and past papers, these apps will seriously save you hours.
Practice This With Free Flashcards
Try our web flashcards right now to test yourself on what you just read. You can click to flip cards, move between questions, and see how much you really remember.
Try Flashcards in Your BrowserInside the FlashRecall app you can also create your own decks from images, PDFs, YouTube, audio, and text, then use spaced repetition to save your progress and study like top students.
Research References
The information in this article is based on peer-reviewed research and established studies in cognitive psychology and learning science.
Cepeda, N. J., Pashler, H., Vul, E., Wixted, J. T., & Rohrer, D. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354-380
Meta-analysis showing spaced repetition significantly improves long-term retention compared to massed practice
Carpenter, S. K., Cepeda, N. J., Rohrer, D., Kang, S. H., & Pashler, H. (2012). Using spacing to enhance diverse forms of learning: Review of recent research and implications for instruction. Educational Psychology Review, 24(3), 369-378
Review showing spacing effects work across different types of learning materials and contexts
Kang, S. H. (2016). Spaced repetition promotes efficient and effective learning: Policy implications for instruction. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 3(1), 12-19
Policy review advocating for spaced repetition in educational settings based on extensive research evidence
Karpicke, J. D., & Roediger, H. L. (2008). The critical importance of retrieval for learning. Science, 319(5865), 966-968
Research demonstrating that active recall (retrieval practice) is more effective than re-reading for long-term learning
Roediger, H. L., & Butler, A. C. (2011). The critical role of retrieval practice in long-term retention. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 15(1), 20-27
Review of research showing retrieval practice (active recall) as one of the most effective learning strategies
Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J., Nathan, M. J., & Willingham, D. T. (2013). Improving students' learning with effective learning techniques: Promising directions from cognitive and educational psychology. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4-58
Comprehensive review ranking learning techniques, with practice testing and distributed practice rated as highly effective

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