Make Flash Cards In Word: Step-By-Step Guide + A Faster Way Most Students Don’t Know About – Learn how to build flashcards in Word and then see why apps like Flashrecall save you hours.

So, you’re trying to figure out how to make flash cards in Word? It basically means using Microsoft Word to lay out question-and-answer pairs (or term-and-definition) on a page so you can print, cut, and study them. It’s a simple way to create physical cards without fancy software, but it can get clunky and time-consuming when you have a lot of content. That’s why many people start in Word and then move to a flashcard app like Flashrecall to study faster with spaced repetition and reminders. You can still use Word if you like paper, but if you want to actually remember stuff long term, a dedicated app usually does the heavy lifting better.

Before we dive into the Word tutorial, here’s the app I mentioned:

👉 Flashrecall on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

You can always copy your Word content into Flashrecall later if you decide to go digital.

Option 1: The Easiest Way – Use a Flashcard App Instead of Word

Let’s be honest: Word was never designed for flashcards. It works, but it’s slow.

With Flashrecall) you can:

• Make flashcards instantly from:
• Text you paste in
• PDFs
• Images (like textbook photos)
• YouTube links
• Audio
• Or just by typing normally
• Use built-in active recall (front/back flashcard style)
• Get automatic spaced repetition and study reminders so you don’t have to track review dates
• Study offline on iPhone and iPad
• Even chat with the flashcard if you’re confused and want more explanation
• Use it for languages, exams, medicine, business, school subjects, uni stuff… basically anything

It’s free to start, fast, and way less fiddly than lining up boxes in Word.

But if you still want to know how to make flash cards in Word (maybe for a class or you just like paper), let’s walk through it properly.

Option 2: How To Make Flash Cards In Word (Step-By-Step)

We’ll go through a clean, repeatable way to make printable flashcards in Microsoft Word.

Step 1: Decide Your Card Size

First, think about what you want your cards to look like:

• Common sizes:
• 3" x 5" (classic index card size)
• 4" x 6" (a bit bigger, more writing space)
• Are you printing double-sided?
• Front: Question / term
• Back: Answer / definition

This matters because we’ll set up a table to match the size.

Step 2: Set Up the Page Layout

1. Open Microsoft Word.

2. Go to Layout (or Page Layout, depending on version).

3. Click Margins → Narrow (or Custom Margins and set them small, like 0.5" all around).

4. Make sure your paper size is correct:

• Layout → Size → Letter (8.5" x 11") or A4, depending on your region.

Smaller margins = more space for cards.

Step 3: Create a Table for Your Flashcards

We’re going to use a table so each cell becomes a “card.”

1. Go to Insert → Table.

2. Choose how many cards per page:

• For 3" x 5" cards on Letter paper, a common layout is:
• 2 columns x 3 rows (6 cards per page)

3. After inserting the table, we’ll adjust the cell size.

Step 4: Set Exact Card Dimensions

1. Click anywhere in the table.

2. Go to Table Layout (the tab appears when the table is selected).

3. Set:

• Height: around 3" (for 3x5 cards)
• Width: around 5"

4. Make sure:

• Table Layout → Properties → Row tab:
• Check Specify height and set it to your card height
• Column tab:
• Set preferred width to your card width

Now each cell is roughly the size of a flashcard.

Step 5: Type Your Flashcard Content

You’ve got two main ways to do this:

• Page 1: Fronts of all cards (questions/terms)
• Page 2: Backs of all cards (answers/definitions), in the same positions

So:

1. On Page 1, in each cell, type:

• Front text, e.g.
• “What is mitosis?”
• “Spanish: ‘to eat’”

2. When done, copy the entire table, paste it on Page 2.

3. On Page 2, replace the text in each cell with the matching answer:

• “Cell division that results in two identical daughter cells”
• “Comer”

You’ll print double-sided with “flip on long edge” or “flip on short edge” depending on your printer.

You can also make two tables side-by-side or use sections, but honestly, the “page 1 = fronts, page 2 = backs” method is way easier for most people.

Step 6: Format Your Cards So They’re Easy to Read

Inside each table cell, you can format the text:

• Center everything:
• Select the table → Home → Center alignment
• And in Table Layout → Align Center (to center vertically)
• Use a large font:
• 18–24 pt is usually nice for flashcards
• Use bold for key terms
• You can add bullet points if it’s a multi-step answer

Example front:

> What is the capital of France?

Example back:

> Paris

>

> - Located in northern central France

> - Major European cultural and economic center

Step 7: Add Borders (So You Can Cut Them)

Word tables already have borders, but:

1. Select the table.

2. Go to Table Design → Borders.

3. Make sure All Borders is selected.

4. If you want thicker lines:

• Change the line weight to something like 1 pt or 1.5 pt.

This makes cutting way easier and cleaner.

Step 8: Print and Cut

1. Go to File → Print.

2. If you’re printing double-sided:

• Turn on Print on Both Sides (duplex)
• Choose flip on long edge or flip on short edge and test with 1 sheet

3. Print a test page first to make sure fronts and backs line up.

4. Use scissors or a paper cutter to cut along the borders.

Now you’ve got physical flashcards made in Word.

Pros and Cons of Making Flash Cards in Word

Pros

• You probably already have Word
• Good for printable flashcards
• Easy to share as a .docx or PDF
• Nice if you like handheld paper cards

Cons

• Super manual:
• No automatic reminders
• No spaced repetition
• No performance tracking
• Editing dozens or hundreds of cards is painful
• If you lose the cards, you’re stuck reprinting and recutting
• Hard to study on the go unless you carry a stack of cards everywhere

This is where Word hits its limit and apps like Flashrecall start to make way more sense.

Turning Your Word Flashcards Into Digital Flashcards (The Smart Move)

If you’ve already created stuff in Word, you don’t have to throw it away. You can use it as a base to build digital cards in Flashrecall.

Here’s a simple approach:

1. Copy your Q&A pairs from Word.

2. Open Flashrecall) on your iPhone or iPad.

3. Create a new deck (e.g. “Biology – Cell Division”).

4. Paste each question on the front, each answer on the back.

Or go even faster:

• Export your Word file as PDF, then:
• Import that PDF into Flashrecall
• Let Flashrecall help you quickly turn chunks of text into cards

Now instead of just paper, you get:

• Spaced repetition built-in:
• The app automatically schedules reviews at the right time
• Active recall:
• It shows you the front, you try to remember, then you reveal the back
• Study reminders:
• Get nudged to review before you forget everything
• Offline access:
• Perfect for commutes, flights, or boring queues
• Chat with your flashcards:
• If an answer confuses you, you can ask for clarification right inside the app

When To Use Word vs When To Use Flashrecall

Word Is Good If:

• You need physical flashcards for a specific class or exam
• Your teacher wants you to hand in or share your cards
• You enjoy writing and flipping real cards

Flashrecall Is Better If:

• You want to remember things long term, not just for a week
• You’re studying big subjects: languages, medicine, law, exams, etc.
• You want auto-reminders instead of guessing what to review
• You like studying on your phone or iPad, anywhere
• You want to make cards quickly from PDFs, images, YouTube, and more

Honestly, a lot of people start with “make flash cards in Word” and then realize it’s kind of a pain to manage long-term. That’s usually when they switch to a flashcard app and never look back.

Quick Summary

• You can make flash cards in Word by:
• Setting up a table with the right card size
• Typing questions on one page and answers on another
• Printing double-sided and cutting them out
• It works, but it’s manual and doesn’t help you schedule reviews or track progress.
• If you want to actually learn faster and remember more, it’s easier to use an app like Flashrecall that:
• Builds cards fast from text, images, PDFs, audio, and YouTube
• Has spaced repetition, active recall, and study reminders
• Works offline on iPhone and iPad
• Is free to start and super simple to use

If you’re over fighting with tables in Word, grab Flashrecall here and try making a deck in a few minutes:

👉 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.

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• Create Flashcards In Word: Step-By-Step Guide + A Faster Way Most Students Don’t Know About – Learn the Word method, then see how Flashrecall makes the whole thing way easier and way faster.