GRE Vocabulary Flashcards 2022: 7 Proven Ways To Actually Remember Words And Boost Your Score Fast – Stop random word lists and start using smart flashcards that actually stick.
gre vocabulary flashcards 2022 still work—if you use spaced repetition, active recall, and smarter card design. See how modern apps beat old-school word lists.
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What Are GRE Vocabulary Flashcards 2022 (And Do You Still Need Them)?
Alright, let’s talk about GRE vocabulary flashcards 2022: they’re basically digital or physical cards with a GRE word on one side and the definition, example sentence, and maybe synonyms on the other. The whole point is to make memorizing all those annoying GRE words faster and less painful. Instead of staring at a giant word list, you quiz yourself, see what you got wrong, and repeat those more often. Apps like Flashrecall take this to the next level with spaced repetition and active recall built in so you aren’t just “seeing” words—you’re actually remembering them long-term.
If you want to skip the boring part and start making smart GRE flashcards right away, you can grab Flashrecall here:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Why Vocabulary Still Matters A Lot For The GRE
Even with all the test changes over the years, vocab is still a big deal on the GRE:
- Text Completion = you need to know subtle word meanings
- Sentence Equivalence = you need to spot two words with similar meanings
- Reading Comprehension = vocab makes the passages less confusing
You don’t just need to “sort of” recognize words—you need to know them well enough to feel confident picking them in weird sentence contexts.
That’s exactly where flashcards shine: they force you to pull the meaning out of your brain (active recall) instead of just rereading a list and thinking “yeah yeah I know that.”
Why 2022-Style GRE Flashcards Are Different From Old-School Ones
So, what makes “GRE vocabulary flashcards 2022” different from the old index cards people used to carry around?
1. They’re Digital And Always With You
You’re not carrying a shoebox of cards to the coffee shop. You’ve got them on your phone, ready to go while waiting in line, commuting, or procrastinating on Instagram.
2. They Use Spaced Repetition
Modern apps don’t just show cards randomly. They:
- Show you hard words more often
- Push easy words further apart in time
- Automatically schedule reviews for you
Flashrecall does this automatically with built-in spaced repetition and study reminders, so you don’t have to think, “What should I review today?” It just tells you.
3. They’re Faster To Create
Instead of typing every single card by hand, you can:
- Paste text from a GRE word list
- Use PDFs or screenshots from vocab books
- Even pull from YouTube videos or notes
Flashrecall lets you make flashcards instantly from images, text, audio, PDFs, YouTube links, or typed prompts, plus you can still create them manually if you like full control.
How To Build GRE Vocabulary Flashcards That Actually Work
Let’s break down how to make good GRE flashcards—not just a giant messy deck you never use.
1. One Card = One Clear Idea
Bad card:
> “Obdurate, obstinate, intransigent = stubborn”
You’ll mix them up and forget which is which.
Better cards:
- Front: obdurate
Back: stubborn; refusing to change one’s opinion; “The judge remained obdurate despite the emotional plea.”
- Front: intransigent
Back: unwilling to compromise; “The two sides were so intransigent that negotiations collapsed.”
In Flashrecall, you can type the word on the front, and on the back add:
- Short definition
- Example sentence
- Maybe 1–2 synonyms
2. Always Use Example Sentences
Definitions alone are dry. Your brain remembers context way better.
Example card:
- Front: laconic
- Back: using very few words; “Her laconic reply made it clear she wasn’t interested in talking.”
You can grab example sentences from:
- Official GRE material
- Vocab books
- Articles / blogs
- Or just make your own (which is often better)
With Flashrecall, if you’re unsure about a word, you can chat with the flashcard to get more explanations and examples—super handy when a definition still feels fuzzy.
3. Add Personal Hooks
Make the word “stick” to something in your life.
For example, for profligate (wasteful with resources), you could add:
> “Like my friend who orders food and never eats half of it.”
You can toss little notes like that in the back of your Flashrecall card. Silly connections = better memory.
Using Flashrecall For GRE Vocabulary (Step-By-Step)
Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :
Let’s walk through how you could actually use Flashrecall for your GRE vocab grind.
Step 1: Get Your Word List In
You can start with:
- Popular GRE word lists (Magoosh, Manhattan, Barron’s, etc.)
- Words you keep missing on practice tests
- Words from reading practice (NYTimes, The Economist, etc.)
In Flashrecall, you can:
- Paste text directly and quickly turn it into cards
- Import from PDFs (like vocab lists or prep books)
- Snap a photo of a page and auto-generate cards from it
No more typing 500 words manually unless you want to.
Step 2: Build Smart Card Templates
For each word, add:
- Front: the word (and maybe part of speech)
- Back:
- Short definition
- Example sentence
- 1–2 synonyms or a quick personal note
You can also create cards the other way around:
- Front: definition
- Back: word
This is great once you’re more advanced and want to test deeper recall.
Step 3: Let Spaced Repetition Handle The Scheduling
Flashrecall has built-in spaced repetition with auto reminders, so it:
- Shows you new words a few times close together
- Spreads out easy ones over days/weeks
- Brings back the ones you keep forgetting more often
You don’t have to track “last reviewed” dates or build your own schedule. Just open the app and do your reviews.
Step 4: Use Active Recall (No Cheating)
When a card shows up:
1. Hide the answer with your hand or just mentally
2. Say the definition out loud or in your head
3. Flip and rate how well you knew it
Flashrecall is built around active recall, so every review is a tiny test, not passive reading.
How Often Should You Study GRE Flashcards?
You don’t need marathon sessions. Consistency beats cramming.
A solid routine:
- 10–20 minutes per day
- Maybe 1–2 longer sessions per week for new words
Flashrecall helps here because:
- It has study reminders so you don’t forget
- It works offline, so you can review on the subway, plane, or in bad Wi-Fi spots
- It’s fast and modern, so you can squeeze in a quick 5-minute session anytime
Example: Turning A Word List Into Flashcards (2022-Style)
Let’s say your word list has:
- abate
- chicanery
- equivocate
- misanthrope
In Flashrecall, you might create:
- Front: abate
- Back: to become less intense or widespread; “The storm finally abated after three hours of heavy rain.”
- Front: chicanery
- Back: trickery or deception, usually to achieve a political/financial/legal purpose; “The candidate won through chicanery rather than honest debate.”
- Front: equivocate
- Back: to speak vaguely or ambiguously, usually to avoid committing; “When asked about the scandal, the CEO equivocated instead of giving a clear answer.”
- Front: misanthrope
- Back: a person who dislikes and distrusts other people; “After years of disappointment, he became a misanthrope who avoided social events.”
You can build a deck like this in Flashrecall in minutes, especially if you’re pulling from a PDF or text list.
Why Use Flashrecall Instead Of Old-School Flashcards Or Random Apps?
There are tons of flashcard apps out there, but for GRE vocab specifically, Flashrecall hits a sweet spot:
- Super fast card creation
- From text, PDFs, screenshots, YouTube links, or manual input
- Smart review system
- Built-in spaced repetition and active recall
- Study reminders
- You actually remember to review instead of forgetting your deck for a week
- Offline support
- Study anywhere, no data needed
- Chat with your flashcard
- Not sure about a word? You can ask for more explanations, examples, or clarifications right inside the app
- Works on iPhone and iPad
- Sync across your devices
- Free to start
- You can test it out without committing to anything
Plus, it’s not just for GRE:
- Languages (French vocab, Spanish verbs, etc.)
- Medicine, law, business terms
- School or university courses
- Basically any subject where you need to memorize stuff
Link again if you want to try it now:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
7 Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your GRE Vocabulary Flashcards
Let’s wrap this up with some quick, practical tips:
1. Don’t Add 500 Words In One Day
Start with 20–40 new words per day. Let spaced repetition handle the rest.
2. Mix Old And New
Each session, review:
- Mostly old words (spaced repetition)
- A smaller batch of new words
3. Say The Words Out Loud
Helps with pronunciation and memory. You’re going to see some of these in reading passages, but it’s still nice to know how they sound.
4. Tag Tricky Words
If some words keep tripping you up, mark them or mentally flag them. In Flashrecall, you’ll naturally see them more often thanks to the algorithm.
5. Use Your Own Example Sentences
Make sentences related to:
- Your life
- Your friends
- Funny situations
The weirder and more personal, the better.
6. Review In Short Bursts
Instead of one giant 2-hour session, do:
- 10 minutes in the morning
- 10 minutes in the afternoon
- 10 minutes at night
Flashrecall is perfect for this quick-hit style because it’s fast and lightweight.
7. Keep Going After Test Day (Optional But Smart)
A lot of GRE vocab is just…good vocabulary. It helps with:
- Academic reading
- Writing
- Professional communication
You can keep your decks and use Flashrecall for new stuff you learn later—books, courses, work terms, whatever.
Final Thoughts
If you’re searching for GRE vocabulary flashcards 2022, what you really want is a simple, effective way to actually remember a big pile of words without burning out.
Flashcards are still one of the best ways to do that—especially when they’re:
- Digital
- Spaced out intelligently
- Easy to create from the materials you already have
If you want an app that does all of that without being clunky or overwhelming, try Flashrecall here:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Build your deck, let spaced repetition do its thing, and your GRE vocab will stop feeling like random noise and start feeling…manageable.
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.
What's the best way to learn vocabulary?
Research shows that combining flashcards with spaced repetition and active recall is highly effective. Flashrecall automates this process, generating cards from your study materials and scheduling reviews at optimal intervals.
Related Articles
- GRE Flashcards 2022: The Best Study Tricks Most Test Takers Still Don’t Use – Boost Your Score Faster With Smart Flashcard Strategies
- GRE Word Flashcards: 7 Powerful Tricks To Learn Vocabulary Faster And Actually Remember It – Stop memorizing word lists the hard way and use flashcards that finally stick.
- Arabic Vocabulary Flashcards: 7 Powerful Ways To Learn Faster And Actually Remember Words – Stop Forgetting New Arabic Vocab And Turn It Into Long-Term Memory With Smart Flashcards
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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