Make Your Own Multiplication Flash Cards: 7 Powerful Tricks To Help You Learn Faster (Most Students Don’t Know These) – Turn boring times tables into quick, smart practice that actually sticks.
Make your own multiplication flash cards step‑by‑step, compare paper vs Flashrecall, and use active recall + spaced repetition so times tables finally stick.
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So You Want To Make Your Own Multiplication Flash Cards?
Alright, let’s talk about how to make your own multiplication flash cards in a way that actually helps you remember them. Multiplication flash cards are just simple question–answer cards (like “7 × 8” on one side and “56” on the other) that you flip through to drill your times tables. They matter because multiplication shows up everywhere in math—fractions, algebra, word problems—so knowing them cold makes everything else way easier. You can make them on paper, in a notes app, or way faster in a flashcard app like Flashrecall (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085), which also reminds you when to review so you don’t forget them two days later.
Why Multiplication Flash Cards Still Work (Even In 2025)
Flash cards work because they force your brain to pull the answer out of memory, not just recognize it. That’s called active recall, and it’s one of the best ways to actually remember stuff long-term.
With multiplication, that looks like:
- See: `9 × 6 = ?`
- Think: try to remember the answer (not just glance at a list)
- Check: flip the card → `54`
- Adjust: “Got it” or “Oof, need to review that again”
The more you do that, the faster your brain connects “9 × 6” → “54” without thinking.
Flashrecall basically bakes this into the app for you:
- You see the question side first
- You try to answer
- Then you tap to reveal the answer and rate how hard it was
- The app schedules when you should see that card again (spaced repetition)
So instead of flipping a random pile of cards every time, you’re reviewing exactly what you need, when you need it.
Step 1: Decide How You Want To Make Your Cards (Paper vs App)
You can totally make your own multiplication flash cards on paper, but digital has some big advantages. Quick breakdown:
Option A: Paper Flash Cards
- Super simple, just need index cards or cut-up paper
- Good for kids who like physical stuff
- No screens
- Easy to lose cards or mix them up
- Hard to track which ones you know vs don’t know
- No reminders, so you forget to review
- Takes time to rewrite or fix cards
Option B: Digital Flash Cards With Flashrecall
Using an app like Flashrecall (iPhone/iPad: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085) makes the “make your own multiplication flash cards” process way faster and smarter:
- Type cards manually or paste from notes if you already have a list
- Spaced repetition built-in – it automatically schedules reviews
- Study reminders – it pings you so you don’t fall off
- Works offline – perfect for car rides, waiting rooms, bus rides
- Fast and modern – feels like using a clean, simple notes app
- Free to start – so you can test it without committing
You can still do paper if you like, but if the goal is “learn tables quickly and not forget them,” digital wins.
Step 2: Choose Which Multiplication Facts To Start With
Don’t try to do all the multiplication facts at once. That’s how people burn out.
Good order to learn:
1. 0s and 1s – super easy, instant confidence
2. 10s and 11s – mostly pattern-based
3. 2s, 5s – skip counting helps
4. 3s, 4s – slightly harder
5. 6s, 7s, 8s, 9s – the “tricky” ones
In Flashrecall, you could create decks like:
- “Multiplication – Easy (0,1,2,5,10,11)”
- “Multiplication – Medium (3,4,6)”
- “Multiplication – Hard (7,8,9)”
Then you or your kid can work through them step-by-step instead of being hit with `9 × 7` on day one.
Step 3: How To Actually Write Your Multiplication Flash Cards
Here’s the simplest structure that works really well:
- Front (Question): `7 × 8 = ?`
- Back (Answer): `56`
You can add extra info if you want, especially in a digital app:
Basic Card Examples
With A Hint (Great For Kids Or Beginners)
In Flashrecall, you can add a little explanation or trick on the back:
`56`
`54`
Paper version: just write the hint smaller under the answer.
Step 4: Use Spaced Repetition So You Don’t Forget Everything
The biggest mistake people make with multiplication flash cards is this:
- They cram for a day
- Feel good
- Don’t review
- Forget everything a week later
Spaced repetition fixes that by spacing out reviews:
- Learn today
- Review tomorrow
- Then 3 days later
- Then a week later
- Then two weeks…
Flashrecall does this automatically:
- After each card, you tap how easy or hard it was
- Easy cards come back later
- Hard cards come back sooner
- The app sends study reminders so you don’t have to remember anything except opening the app
So instead of “hope I remember to practice,” it becomes “oh yeah, Flashrecall reminded me, time for 5 minutes of tables.”
Step 5: Fun Ways To Practice Multiplication With Your Cards
Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :
Once you make your own multiplication flash cards, don’t just flip through them the same way every time. Mix it up a bit so your brain stays awake.
1. Speed Rounds
Set a 2-minute timer and see how many cards you can get right.
Next time, try to beat your score.
In Flashrecall, this is easy because you can just go rapid-fire through the cards. No shuffling, no sorting.
2. “Hard Ones Only” Mode
Pull out (or mark) only the cards you keep missing:
- On paper: create a “trouble pile”
- In Flashrecall: the algorithm already shows you the tough ones more often
This way you’re not wasting time on `2 × 2` when your real problem is `8 × 7`.
3. Say It Out Loud
When you flip a card, say the whole thing:
- “Seven times eight equals fifty-six”
It’s a small thing, but hearing it and saying it helps lock it in.
How To Make Multiplication Flash Cards In Flashrecall (Step-By-Step)
Here’s how this looks inside the app:
1. Download Flashrecall
Grab it here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
2. Create A New Deck
Name it something like:
- “Times Tables 0–5”
- “Times Tables 6–9”
3. Add Cards Manually
For each card:
- Front: `7 × 8 = ?`
- Back: `56` (+ optional hint like “5,6,7,8 trick”)
4. Use Templates / Copy-Paste (Optional)
If you already have a list of multiplication facts in Notes or a PDF, you can quickly turn them into cards:
- Paste text into Flashrecall
- Or import from files/notes (depending on your setup)
Flashrecall is designed to make flashcards fast from text, images, PDFs, YouTube links, or just typing.
5. Start Studying
- Open your deck
- Flashrecall shows the question
- You try to answer, then tap to reveal
- Rate how hard it was
- The app schedules the next review automatically
6. Turn On Study Reminders
Set a daily reminder like:
- “7:00 PM – 5 minutes of times tables”
Five minutes a day is honestly enough if you’re consistent.
And yes, it works offline, so you can practice anywhere—no Wi-Fi required.
Extra Ideas To Make Multiplication Cards More Interesting
If you’re making cards for a kid (or your own brain that gets bored easily), try this:
Color Coding
- 2s = blue
- 3s = green
- 4s = yellow
- 7s, 8s, 9s = red (the “boss level”)
On paper: use colored pens or highlighters.
In Flashrecall: you can split decks or use emojis in deck names like:
- “🟦 2s and 3s”
- “🔴 7s, 8s, 9s – Hard Mode”
Real-Life Context Cards
Add a few word-problem style cards:
“4 bags with 6 apples each. How many apples total?”
`24`
This helps connect “multiplication” with actual situations, not just random numbers.
Using Flashrecall Beyond Just Multiplication
Once you’ve set up your multiplication flash cards, you can reuse the same system for pretty much anything:
- Division facts (reverse of your multiplication cards)
- Fractions and decimals
- Vocabulary for languages
- Science formulas
- Exam prep (SAT, MCAT, nursing, med school, business stuff, whatever)
Flashrecall is great for:
- School subjects
- University courses
- Medicine
- Business terms
- Languages
And more—all using the same active recall + spaced repetition combo.
You can even chat with your flashcards in Flashrecall if you’re stuck and want extra explanation, which is super handy when you move beyond basic times tables into more complex math or concepts.
Simple 7-Day Plan To Learn Your Times Tables
If you want a quick roadmap after you make your own multiplication flash cards, here’s a simple plan:
- Make cards for 0s, 1s, 2s, 5s, 10s
- Study 5–10 minutes in Flashrecall
- Review yesterday’s cards
- Add 3s and 4s
- Review all cards so far
- Add easy 6s (like 6×2, 6×3, 6×4)
- Review
- Add 7s (start with lower ones like 7×2, 7×3, 7×4)
- Review
- Add 8s
- Review
- Add 9s
- Review all
- Focus on the ones Flashrecall shows you most (those are your weak spots)
Because of spaced repetition, you’re not redoing everything every day—you’re mostly seeing the stuff you tend to forget.
Wrap-Up: Make Your Own Multiplication Flash Cards The Smart Way
So yeah, you can absolutely make your own multiplication flash cards with paper and a pen—but if you want them to actually stick, using an app like Flashrecall makes everything smoother:
- Fast to create
- Built-in active recall
- Automatic spaced repetition
- Study reminders
- Works offline
- Free to start
If you’re serious about finally getting those times tables locked in (for you or a kid), grab Flashrecall here and set up your first 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.
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
- Create Flashcards Online: 7 Powerful Tricks To Learn Faster (Most Students Don’t Know) – Turn anything into smart flashcards in seconds and finally remember what you study.
- Multiplication Flash Cards Online: 7 Powerful Ways To Help Kids Master Times Tables Faster Than Ever – Skip boring drills and turn practice into a fun, smart system that actually sticks.
- Study Cards: 7 Powerful Ways To Use Digital Flashcards To Learn Faster (Most Students Don’t Know These) – Turn boring notes into smart, auto-quizzing study cards that actually stick in your brain.
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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