Best Way To Make Anki Cards: 7 Proven Tricks Most Students Don’t Use To Learn Faster – Fix your boring decks, remember more, and stop wasting time on bad flashcards.
The best way to make anki cards isn’t typing forever in Anki. Use Flashrecall to auto-generate simple, spaced-repetition cards from notes, PDFs, and screensh...
How Flashrecall app helps you remember faster. It's free
So, What’s Actually The Best Way To Make Anki Cards?
So, you’re trying to figure out the best way to make Anki cards without spending your whole life typing tiny details, right? Honestly, the best move is to stop doing everything manually and use a smarter flashcard app like Flashrecall that can generate high‑quality cards for you from your notes, PDFs, and screenshots in seconds. It still uses active recall and spaced repetition like Anki, but it’s way faster, easier to use, and actually reminds you to review. If you’re tired of clunky decks and syncing issues, grab Flashrecall here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085 and start turning your study material into good cards instantly.
Anki-Style Learning, But Without The Pain
Alright, let’s talk real for a second.
Anki is powerful, but the best way to make Anki cards is honestly… not to suffer through making them the slow, old-school way.
The method behind Anki is what matters:
- Active recall
- Spaced repetition
- Short, focused cards
- Consistent review
Flashrecall takes that same system and makes it way less annoying:
- You can create flashcards instantly from images, PDFs, text, YouTube links, audio, or typed prompts
- It has built-in spaced repetition with automatic reminders
- You can chat with your flashcards if you’re confused about something
- It’s free to start, works on iPhone and iPad, and even works offline
Here’s the link again if you want to try it while you read:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Now let’s break down what actually makes a “good Anki card” – and how to do it faster.
1. Keep Cards Stupidly Simple (One Idea Per Card)
If your card looks like a mini essay, it’s already bad.
> One question → one clear answer.
Bad example
Explain the causes, symptoms, and treatment of iron deficiency anemia.
– Long paragraph with causes, symptoms, treatment, labs, etc.
You’ll forget half of it, and reviewing that card will feel like a chore.
Better way
Split that into multiple cards:
- Front: Main cause of iron deficiency anemia?
- Front: Key symptoms of iron deficiency anemia?
- Front: First-line treatment for iron deficiency anemia?
In Flashrecall, you can literally paste your whole paragraph or screenshot your notes, and it will auto-generate multiple simple cards like this for you. No need to manually split everything.
2. Use Questions That Force You To Think (Active Recall)
The best way to make Anki cards isn’t just “copy your notes into Q&A.”
You want questions that make your brain work a little.
Weak card
You’ll just memorize the first words and blank on the rest.
Stronger card formats
- “What” questions
- What is the main purpose of photosynthesis?
- What are the two main stages of photosynthesis?
- “Why” questions
- Why do plants need chlorophyll for photosynthesis?
- Fill-in-the-blank (but short)
- Photosynthesis converts ______ energy into ______ energy.
Flashrecall is built around active recall and spaced repetition automatically, so every card you make (or it makes for you) gets tested in a way that actually sticks.
3. Make It Personal And Concrete
You remember things better when they’re tied to examples, stories, or images, not just abstract definitions.
Example: Language learning
Instead of:
- Front: “to go” in Spanish
Try:
- Front: How do you say “I go to school” in Spanish?
Or:
- Front (with image of a school): How do you say “I go here every day” in Spanish?
With Flashrecall, you can:
- Take a photo of your textbook or worksheet and turn it into cards
- Add images straight into your flashcards
- Use YouTube links or PDFs and let the app pull out key points as cards
Perfect for languages, medicine, exams, or any subject where examples matter.
4. Don’t Cram Everything On The Back
The back of the card should be clear and readable in 1–3 seconds.
Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :
If you need extra detail, put:
- The core answer at the top
- Then supporting info below (optional)
Example: Med student version
- Core: SSRIs (e.g., sertraline) or SNRIs
- Extra: CBT also first-line; benzodiazepines not first-line due to dependence.
In Flashrecall, when you generate cards from a PDF or notes, it usually pulls out the main idea first, so your backs don’t turn into walls of text. You can still edit them manually if you want to clean them up.
5. Use Images And Context When It Actually Helps
For some stuff, text-only is fine. For others, images = game changer.
Great use cases:
- Anatomy diagrams
- Maps (geography, history)
- Chemical structures
- Graphs and charts
- UI screenshots (coding, design, tools)
With Flashrecall, you can:
- Snap a photo of a diagram
- Let the app auto-create flashcards based on that image
- Add labels or questions like “What structure is labeled A?”
That’s way faster than manually importing images into Anki and typing everything.
6. Don’t Overthink Tags And Decks (Keep It Simple)
People get stuck worrying about the “perfect deck structure.”
Honestly, that’s not the best way to make Anki cards or any spaced repetition cards.
Basic setup that works for most people:
- One deck per big topic
- “Biology”
- “Spanish”
- “USMLE Step 1”
- “Business / Marketing”
If you want to get a bit more organized:
- Use tags like `#cardio`, `#neuro`, `#vocab`, `#grammar`
In Flashrecall, you can just:
- Create sets for each subject
- Toss related cards into the same set
- Let the app handle the spaced repetition schedule automatically
No need to tweak a million settings like in classic Anki.
7. Automate As Much As Possible (This Is Where Flashrecall Beats Anki)
Here’s the real secret:
The best way to make Anki cards is to spend more time learning and less time typing.
Anki is powerful but very manual. Flashrecall gives you the same learning method but with way less friction.
What Flashrecall can do that makes life easier
- Instant flashcards from almost anything
- Images (class slides, whiteboards, textbook pages)
- PDFs (lecture notes, ebooks, handouts)
- Text (copy-paste from websites or notes)
- Audio
- YouTube links
- Or just type a topic and let it generate Q&A for you
- Built-in spaced repetition
- You don’t have to configure anything
- It automatically schedules reviews for you
- You get study reminders so you don’t forget to review
- Active recall by default
- Cards are structured as questions/answers
- You see the question, think of the answer, then reveal it
- Chat with your flashcards
- Stuck on a card? You can literally chat with the content to get it explained in a simpler way
- Super useful for tricky concepts in medicine, math, or science
- Works offline
- Perfect for trains, planes, or dead Wi‑Fi zones
- Fast, modern, easy UI
- No clunky menus or confusing add-ons
- Just open the app and study
You can try it here:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
How Flashrecall Compares To Anki (And Why You Might Switch)
Since you literally searched for the best way to make Anki cards, let’s compare.
Where Anki is strong
- Super customizable
- Huge community
- Tons of shared decks
Where Anki is painful
- Card creation is slow and manual
- Mobile experience can feel clunky
- You have to manage settings, syncing, add-ons, etc.
- No built-in “explain this card to me” feature
Where Flashrecall is better for most people
If you just want to learn faster without fighting the app, Flashrecall wins on:
- Speed: Auto-creates cards from your actual study material
- Simplicity: Spaced repetition is built-in, no config needed
- Modern features: Chat with cards, import from almost anything
- Everyday use: Great for school, uni, medicine, languages, business, exams – pretty much anything you’re trying to remember
You still get the same learning science behind Anki (active recall + spaced repetition), but with a smoother experience.
Practical Workflow: Best Way To “Make Anki Cards” Using Flashrecall
Here’s a simple flow you can copy:
For lectures or PDFs
1. Upload the PDF into Flashrecall
2. Let it auto-generate flashcards
3. Skim through, delete junk, tweak a few cards
4. Start reviewing with spaced repetition
For textbooks or handwritten notes
1. Take photos of key pages or notes
2. Import into Flashrecall
3. The app turns them into question/answer cards
4. You review a bit every day
For languages
1. Paste a vocab list or sentences
2. Generate flashcards automatically
3. Add images or example sentences if you want
4. Review daily with reminders
This is honestly the “best way to make Anki cards” in 2025: same concept, but using a tool that does 80% of the work for you.
Final Thoughts: Stop Overbuilding, Start Reviewing
If you remember nothing else from this:
- Keep cards short and focused
- Ask questions that force active recall
- Use examples and images when it helps
- Don’t obsess over perfect settings
- Let automation handle the boring parts
And if you want all the benefits of Anki without the setup headache, try Flashrecall. It’s free to start, fast to use, and honestly makes studying feel way less painful:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Build better cards, spend less time making them, and finally use spaced repetition the way it was meant to be used.
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.
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
- AnkiMobile Flashcards: The Best iOS Alternative To Learn Faster, Remember More, And Actually Stick To Studying – Here’s What Most Students Don’t Realize
- Anki Cards: Smarter Flashcard Hacks Most Students Don’t Know (And a Better Alternative) – Stop wasting time making clunky decks and learn how to upgrade your flashcards for faster results.
- Anki Software Download: The Best Alternative To Learn Faster On iPhone & iPad (Most Students Don’t Know This)
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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