Kaplan MCAT Flashcards App Alternatives: The Best Way To Actually Remember Everything For Test Day – Stop flipping random cards and start using smarter MCAT flashcards that focus on what *you* forget most.
Kaplan MCAT flashcards app is fine, but it’s static. See why serious MCAT scorers layer it with Flashrecall’s AI flashcards, spaced repetition, and custom de...
How Flashrecall app helps you remember faster. It's free
Why The Kaplan MCAT Flashcards App Isn’t Enough (And What To Use Instead)
So, you’re looking for a Kaplan MCAT flashcards app and trying to figure out what’s actually worth your time. Honestly, the best move right now is to use a smarter flashcard app like Flashrecall instead of relying only on the standard Kaplan deck. Flashrecall lets you create MCAT flashcards from your own notes, PDFs, screenshots, and even YouTube links, then automatically uses spaced repetition so you actually remember stuff by test day. It’s free to start, fast, and way more flexible than a fixed Kaplan deck—and you can grab it here:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Let’s break down how Kaplan fits into your MCAT prep, what it does well, what it doesn’t, and how to combine it with Flashrecall so you’re not just “studying” but actually retaining.
Kaplan MCAT Flashcards: What They’re Good For (And What They Miss)
Kaplan’s MCAT flashcards (whether physical or in an app) are:
- Well-written and accurate
- Nicely organized by subject (Bio, Chem, Psych/Soc, etc.)
- Good for quick content review
But here’s the problem:
- They’re static – you get a fixed deck, not tailored to your weak areas
- No real personalization – everyone sees the same cards, whether they struggle with amino acids or physics
- Often no built-in spaced repetition that actually adapts to you
- Hard to mix Kaplan content with your class notes, Anki-style cards, and exam mistakes in one place
For MCAT, you don’t just need “good cards.”
You need the right cards, shown at the right time, based on your memory, not a generic deck.
That’s where using something like Flashrecall on top of (or instead of) a Kaplan MCAT flashcards app makes a huge difference.
Why Flashrecall Works Better For MCAT Than Just Kaplan’s Deck
1. You’re Not Stuck With One Company’s Cards
Kaplan’s cards are fine, but the MCAT pulls from everywhere: class notes, AAMC materials, UWorld, random YouTube videos, Reddit tips, etc.
With Flashrecall:
- You can create flashcards instantly from:
- Images (screenshots from Kaplan books, AAMC explanations, lecture slides)
- Text (copy-paste from notes, PDFs, websites)
- PDFs (Kaplan books, review sheets, lecture PDFs)
- YouTube links (e.g., Khan Academy, MCAT YouTubers)
- Typed prompts (your own questions and mnemonics)
- You can also make cards manually if you like full control
So instead of being locked into “Kaplan’s version of the content,” you build a deck that reflects what YOU actually see on practice tests and in your notes.
👉 Download Flashrecall here and start building your MCAT deck in minutes:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
2. Spaced Repetition Is Built In (No Extra Setup)
The biggest issue with a basic Kaplan MCAT flashcards app?
Usually: no real adaptive spaced repetition.
Flashrecall has spaced repetition baked in:
- It automatically figures out when to show each card again
- Cards you keep missing come back more often
- Cards you know cold show up less often
- You get study reminders, so you don’t randomly forget to review for 5 days
You don’t have to build a fancy Anki setup or tweak algorithms. You just:
1. Add cards
2. Review
3. Let Flashrecall handle the timing
That’s exactly what you want during MCAT prep: your brain power goes to content, not “what should I review today?”
3. Built-In Active Recall (The Thing That Actually Makes You Remember)
Kaplan’s flashcards help, but a lot of people end up just reading them instead of actually testing themselves.
Flashrecall is designed around active recall:
- You see the question / prompt
- You answer from memory
- Then you flip and rate how well you knew it
This constant question → recall → check loop is what wires MCAT content into your long-term memory.
You can make cards like:
- Front: “What’s the difference between competitive and noncompetitive inhibition?”
- Front: “Name all 20 amino acids + which are essential.”
Every time you see them, Flashrecall forces you to think before seeing the answer, which is way stronger than passive reading.
4. You Can Literally Chat With Your Flashcards
This is something Kaplan’s MCAT flashcards app usually can’t touch.
In Flashrecall, if you’re confused by a card, you can:
- Chat with the flashcard and ask:
- “Can you explain this in simpler terms?”
- “Give me another example of this concept.”
- “How would this show up in an MCAT passage?”
Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :
It’s like having a mini tutor built into your deck.
So if you have a card about, say, Le Chatelier’s principle, you can ask:
> “Show me how this applies to hemoglobin and oxygen binding.”
And get a tailored explanation instead of just rereading the same line 10 times.
5. Perfect For On-The-Go MCAT Study
MCAT prep is a grind, and you’re not always at your desk with a Kaplan book open.
Flashrecall is:
- Fast and modern – no clunky 2005-looking interface
- Works on iPhone and iPad
- Works offline – perfect for the bus, the gym, or random 10-minute breaks
- Free to start – so you can test it without committing to anything
You can turn dead time into high-yield flashcard reps instead of scrolling social media.
How To Use Kaplan Content + Flashrecall Together (Best Of Both Worlds)
You don’t have to choose Kaplan or Flashrecall. You can use both smartly.
Step 1: Use Kaplan To Learn, Flashrecall To Lock It In
- Watch Kaplan videos / read the Kaplan books
- As you go, screenshot key tables, diagrams, and explanations
- Import those into Flashrecall as images → turn them into flashcards
- Add your own questions on top, like:
- “What’s the main takeaway from this diagram?”
- “What’s the equation used here?”
Now your Kaplan content lives in a smart spaced repetition system instead of just sitting in a book.
Step 2: Turn Practice Test Mistakes Into Flashcards
This is huge. The MCAT punishes you on the same concepts over and over.
Whenever you miss a question on:
- AAMC practice
- Kaplan full-lengths
- UWorld, Blueprint, etc.
Do this:
1. Screenshot the explanation or copy the key line
2. Drop it into Flashrecall
3. Turn it into a card like:
- Front: “Why was answer C wrong in that passage about enzyme inhibition?”
- Back: “Because the inhibitor was noncompetitive, so Vmax decreases, Km stays the same…”
Now every mistake becomes a card you’ll see again until you truly get it.
Step 3: Build Subject-Specific Decks
Instead of one giant chaotic deck, you can create:
- “MCAT – Biochem”
- “MCAT – Psych/Soc”
- “MCAT – Physics/Math”
- “MCAT – High-Yield Equations”
- “MCAT – Amino Acids & Hormones”
Flashrecall makes it easy to organize this, so you can:
- Focus on weak areas on certain days
- Mix subjects for “full test mode” closer to exam day
Kaplan MCAT Flashcards App vs Flashrecall: Quick Comparison
| Feature | Kaplan MCAT Flashcards App | Flashrecall |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-made MCAT content | Yes | You create / import your own (can use Kaplan content) |
| Spaced repetition | Sometimes basic / limited | Built-in, adaptive, with reminders |
| Create your own cards | Usually limited | Yes – manual + from images, text, PDFs, YouTube |
| Chat with cards / explanations | No | Yes – you can ask follow-up questions |
| Works offline | Depends on version | Yes |
| Custom decks per subject | Some structure | Fully customizable |
| Fits any exam / subject | Mostly MCAT-focused | MCAT, USMLE, school, languages, business—anything |
| Platform | Varies | iPhone & iPad |
If you love Kaplan’s explanations, that’s great—just don’t let them live only in a static app or book. Put them into a system that actually optimizes your memory.
Other Ways To Use Flashrecall For MCAT (Beyond Just Kaplan)
Flashrecall isn’t only for Kaplan-based content. You can use it for:
- Psych/Soc terms – definitions, examples, and scenarios
- Biochem pathways – glycolysis, TCA cycle, urea cycle, etc.
- Equations – physics, gen chem, stats formulas
- CARS strategies – cards with “what to look for” in each passage type
- Experimental design – common graph types, controls, variables
Because it’s not limited to one exam or company, you can keep using it:
- For undergrad or post-bacc classes
- For med school (Step 1 / Step 2 content)
- For languages, business, or any new skill
So the time you spend building your MCAT deck isn’t wasted—it becomes part of a long-term learning system.
Final Thoughts: What Should You Do Right Now?
If you were debating “Should I just use the Kaplan MCAT flashcards app?” here’s the honest take:
- Kaplan’s cards = good content, but generic and static
- MCAT success = personalized, consistent, spaced repetition on your weak spots
So the best move is:
1. Use Kaplan (or any resource) to learn the material
2. Use Flashrecall to capture and review everything you actually need to remember
3. Let spaced repetition and active recall do the heavy lifting
You don’t need a million different tools. You just need one that helps you remember what matters by test day.
You can grab Flashrecall here and start turning your MCAT notes, Kaplan explanations, and practice test mistakes into smart flashcards in a few minutes:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Set it up once, and let your future self on exam day be very, very grateful.
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 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.
- MCAT Quizlet: Why Most Pre-Meds Are Studying Wrong (And The Better Flashcard Strategy) – Stop wasting hours on random decks and learn how to actually remember MCAT content faster.
- Anki Cards MCAT: 7 Powerful Flashcard Strategies Top Scorers Use (And a Faster Alternative) – Stop wasting hours tweaking decks and start studying smarter for a higher MCAT score.
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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