Kaplan GRE Flashcards: Are They Enough To Get A 320+? The Honest Guide Most Students Don’t Get Told

What Kaplan GRE Flashcards Actually Are (And What They’re Good For)

So, you’re looking at Kaplan GRE flashcards and wondering if they’re actually worth using for a high score. Kaplan GRE flashcards are pre-made vocab and concept cards designed to help you memorize common GRE words and some test content. They’re helpful for building a solid vocabulary base and getting quick practice on the go, but they’re not a full study system by themselves. The big thing missing is personalization and smart review timing—stuff that actually makes the difference between “I kind of know this” and “I can’t get this wrong on test day.” That’s where using an app like Flashrecall alongside (or instead of) Kaplan can seriously level you up.

By the way, if you want a modern flashcard app that builds in spaced repetition, active recall, reminders, and super-fast card creation, check out Flashrecall here:

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

Kaplan GRE Flashcards: What You Actually Get

Let’s break down what Kaplan GRE flashcards usually give you:

• A big set of pre-made vocabulary cards (physical or digital, depending on the version)
• Standard front: word | back: definition, maybe example sentence
• Sometimes extra decks for math formulas or concepts, depending on the product

They’re good for:

• Getting started fast if you don’t want to build your own deck
• Having a curated list of “GRE-ish” words
• Quick review sessions when you don’t feel like planning anything

But here’s the catch: the GRE isn’t just about memorizing definitions. It’s about:

• Knowing precise word usage in context
• Remembering things weeks later, not just the day you review them
• Focusing more on the words you personally keep forgetting, not the ones you already know

Kaplan GRE flashcards alone don’t really adapt to you. They’re static. You either know the card or you don’t, and then… that’s kind of it.

The Big Problem With Just Using Pre-Made GRE Flashcards

Here’s the thing: pre-made decks (Kaplan, Barron’s, Magoosh, whatever) all have the same weaknesses:

1. They’re not tailored to your weak spots

You waste time reviewing words you already know well, instead of hammering the ones that keep tripping you up.

2. No built-in spaced repetition (or very basic)

The GRE is usually weeks or months away. If you don’t have a smart system that brings back cards right before you forget them, you’ll constantly feel like you’re starting over.

3. You’re stuck with their format

Maybe you’d remember “laconic” better if you had your own funny sentence or an image. Pre-made cards don’t know how your brain works.

4. They don’t integrate with your other study materials

You read a tough passage in a practice test? You should be turning that into cards instantly, not hoping Kaplan covered that exact word or idea.

That’s why a lot of people start with Kaplan GRE flashcards and then plateau. The cards are fine; the system is weak.

How Flashrecall Fixes What Kaplan GRE Flashcards Miss

Instead of relying only on Kaplan’s static deck, you can use Flashrecall as your GRE flashcard engine—with or without Kaplan.

Flashrecall:

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

Here’s what it does better:

1. Smart Spaced Repetition Built In

Flashrecall automatically spaces your reviews so you see hard cards more often and easy cards less often.

• No manual scheduling
• No guessing what to review today
• It brings back cards right before you forget them

Compared to Kaplan GRE flashcards, where you just shuffle and hope you’re reviewing the right stuff, Flashrecall actually manages your memory for you.

2. Super-Fast Card Creation From Anything

GRE studying isn’t just vocab lists. You’ve got:

• Reading comp passages
• Quant problems
• Practice test explanations
• PDF guides and notes

Flashrecall lets you turn all of that into cards instantly:

• From images (screenshot a vocab list or question → instant cards)
• From PDFs (upload a GRE vocab PDF or notes)
• From YouTube links (GRE strategy videos → auto-generated cards)
• From text or typed prompts
• From audio if you like listening and want to capture stuff

You can still manually make cards if you want total control, but the speed boost is huge. This is something Kaplan GRE flashcards just can’t do—they’re fixed.

3. Custom GRE Vocab That Actually Sticks

You can absolutely start with a Kaplan word list if you like, but instead of being locked into their format, you can:

• Add your own example sentences that actually make sense to you
• Add synonyms / antonyms to one card
• Add images or mnemonics that trigger your memory
• Group words by tone, meaning, or frequency (e.g., “negative tone words,” “argument words”)

Flashrecall supports all that, and then uses spaced repetition so you see:

• “Obsequious” 10 times if you keep missing it
• “Abate” maybe 2–3 times if you nail it every time

That’s way more efficient than flipping through the same 500 Kaplan GRE flashcards in a loop.

4. Active Recall + “Chat With Your Flashcard”

GRE success is all about active recall—forcing your brain to pull the answer out, not just recognize it.

Flashrecall is built exactly around that:

• You see the front of the card
• You answer from memory
• Then you rate how well you knew it
• The app adjusts future reviews automatically

And if you’re unsure or confused, you can chat with the flashcard:

• Ask, “Can you give me another sentence with this word?”
• Or, “Explain this math concept more simply.”
• Or, “Compare ‘mitigate’ vs ‘ameliorate’.”

Kaplan GRE flashcards can’t answer back. Flashrecall can actually help you understand the card, not just flip it.

5. Study Reminders So You Don’t Fall Off

Consistency is everything with GRE prep.

Flashrecall gives you study reminders, so you get a nudge when it’s time to review. No more “oh yeah, I forgot to do vocab this week.”

Plus:

• Works offline – perfect for subway, flights, dead Wi-Fi zones
• Works on iPhone and iPad – review anywhere
• Free to start – you can test it out without committing

Kaplan GRE flashcards are great to throw in your bag, but they won’t tap you on the shoulder and say, “Hey, time to review those hard words again.”

Kaplan GRE Flashcards vs Flashrecall: Quick Comparison

So honestly, Kaplan GRE flashcards are fine as a word source. But Flashrecall is the study system that actually makes those words stick.

How To Use Kaplan GRE Flashcards + Flashrecall Together (Best of Both Worlds)

If you already have Kaplan GRE flashcards, don’t ditch them. Here’s a simple way to combine them with Flashrecall:

Step 1: Use Kaplan as Your “Word Source”

• Go through a small batch of Kaplan cards (like 20–30 at a time)
• Pick the words you don’t know or always hesitate on
• Ignore the ones you already know perfectly

Step 2: Move Only the Important Words Into Flashrecall

• Type them into Flashrecall
• Or take a photo of the page and let Flashrecall generate cards from the image
• Add your own:
• Example sentence
• Synonyms/antonyms
• Short note like “sounds like ___, reminds me of ___”

Now you’ve turned generic Kaplan GRE flashcards into your personalized GRE deck.

Step 3: Let Spaced Repetition Handle the Rest

• Open Flashrecall daily (even 10–15 minutes helps)
• Review what’s due
• Rate how well you knew each card
• The app will automatically:
• Show hard words more often
• Space out easy ones

You can still casually flip Kaplan’s physical cards if you’re bored, but Flashrecall becomes your main memory engine.

Don’t Forget Quant & Reading: Make Cards For Everything

A lot of people think “GRE flashcards = vocab only.” Huge mistake.

Use Flashrecall for:

• Quant
• Common question types (rate, probability, inequalities)
• Tricky formulas
• Mistakes you keep repeating (e.g., “Always check if it’s asking for x², not x”)
• Verbal / Reading
• Common argument structures
• Transition words and what they imply
• Trap answer patterns you fall for

Kaplan GRE flashcards mostly focus on vocab. Flashrecall lets you cover the whole exam in one place.

So… Are Kaplan GRE Flashcards Enough?

Short answer: they’re a decent starting point, but not enough for a top score by themselves.

They’re useful if:

• You want a ready-made vocab list
• You like physical cards in your hand
• You’re just getting familiar with GRE-style words

But they fall short on:

• Long-term retention
• Personalization
• Integration with the rest of your study materials
• Flexibility and explanations

If you want to actually remember words months later, fix your weak spots, and make the most of your study time, pair (or replace) Kaplan GRE flashcards with a smarter system like Flashrecall.

You can grab it here and start building your GRE deck right now:

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

Build your own GRE brain, not just someone else’s deck.

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'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.

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