MCAT Flashcards Kaplan: Why Most Students Need More (And The App That Fixes It) – Before You Buy Another Deck, Read This And Learn How To Actually Remember MCAT Content
So, you know how everyone talks about mcat flashcards kaplan like they’re the gold standard? They’re basically pre-made MCAT flashcard sets from Kaplan that.
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So, you know how everyone talks about mcat flashcards kaplan like they’re the gold standard? They’re basically pre-made MCAT flashcard sets from Kaplan that cover content, equations, and practice questions so you don’t have to build everything from scratch. They’re helpful for learning facts fast, but they’re also pretty rigid and not super personalized to how you study. That’s where using your own flashcard app like Flashrecall comes in—you can take what Kaplan does well, then customize, add, and review it with smarter spaced repetition so the info actually sticks. Instead of just flipping through someone else’s deck, you turn the content into a system that fits your brain.
Kaplan MCAT Flashcards: What They Actually Give You
Alright, let’s break down what you’re really getting with Kaplan MCAT flashcards:
- Pre-made cards for all the major MCAT sections
- Lots of definitions, pathways, equations, vocab, and concepts
- Usually organized by subject (bio, chem, psych/soc, etc.)
- Great if you’re starting from zero and want structure fast
They’re especially nice at the beginning when you just want something to start memorizing without spending hours building your own deck.
But here’s the catch:
- You can’t easily edit or personalize them
- They don’t adapt to what you keep forgetting
- They’re usually not integrated with a smart spaced repetition algorithm
- You’re stuck with the format they chose
So yeah, Kaplan flashcards are solid content-wise, but they’re not the most flexible or efficient way to keep that info in your head long-term.
That’s why a lot of people use Kaplan as a content base, but then move everything into a flashcard app that actually works like a modern study system—this is exactly where Flashrecall shines.
👉 Flashrecall on the App Store:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Why Just Using Kaplan Flashcards Isn’t Enough For A 515+ Score
The MCAT isn’t just “who memorized the most definitions.” It’s:
- Can you recall info under pressure?
- Can you connect topics across bio/chem/psych?
- Can you remember details months after you first studied them?
Pre-made mcat flashcards kaplan decks are great for coverage, but not for personalization. And the MCAT is a long game—if you study psych/soc in January and test in June, you will forget stuff unless you’re using spaced repetition.
What you really need is:
1. Custom cards for your weak points
2. Spaced repetition that automatically resurfaces what you’re forgetting
3. Active recall (not just rereading)
4. A system that’s easy enough that you’ll actually stick with it
That’s exactly the gap Flashrecall fills.
How Flashrecall Beats Just Using Kaplan Flashcards
Think of Kaplan as the “content library” and Flashrecall as the “brain upgrade” that makes that content unforgettable.
1. Turn Any Kaplan Content Into Smart Flashcards
With Flashrecall, you can basically “upgrade” Kaplan content into your own MCAT system:
- Take photos of Kaplan book pages or notes → Flashrecall automatically makes flashcards from images
- Copy/paste Kaplan-style passages or explanations → turn them into cards in seconds
- Got PDFs or digital notes? → Import and generate cards automatically from PDFs
- Watching MCAT YouTube videos? → Drop the YouTube link into Flashrecall and build cards from the content
Instead of being stuck with static mcat flashcards kaplan decks, you create a living deck that grows as you study.
And if you like doing things manually, you can still make your own cards by hand—perfect for specific mistakes you keep making on practice questions.
2. Built-In Spaced Repetition (So You Don’t Forget Everything In 3 Weeks)
Kaplan decks don’t automatically track what you forget. Flashrecall does.
Flashrecall has built-in spaced repetition with auto reminders, which means:
- Cards you struggle with show up more often
- Cards you know well show up less often
- The app decides when to show you each card so you don’t have to think about it
You just open the app, and it tells you what to review today. No scheduling, no manual tracking, no “I’ll review that later” (which we both know means never).
Plus, you can turn on study reminders so your phone nudges you to review—super helpful during busy or burnout weeks.
3. Active Recall Done Right (Not Just Mindless Flipping)
Kaplan cards are fine, but they’re usually just front/back text. Flashrecall is built around active recall:
- You see the prompt → you try to recall the answer from memory
- Then you reveal it and rate how well you knew it
- The spaced repetition engine uses that rating to plan your next review
That “struggle” moment is what actually builds memory. Flashrecall is designed to make that process quick and painless so you can power through daily reviews in 10–30 minutes.
4. You Can Literally Chat With Your Flashcards
This is where Flashrecall gets way cooler than old-school decks.
If you’re unsure about a concept—say, enzyme kinetics or a psych/soc theory—you can chat with the flashcard inside the app.
Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :
You can ask things like:
- “Explain this in simpler words”
- “Give me another example of this concept”
- “How does this show up on the MCAT?”
Instead of just memorizing a sentence, you actually understand what it means. That’s huge for passage-based questions.
5. Works Offline, On The Go, And Across Subjects
MCAT study happens everywhere—library, bus, random 10 minutes while waiting for food.
Flashrecall:
- Works offline – so you can review anywhere
- Runs on iPhone and iPad – perfect for portable review
- Is fast, modern, and easy to use – no clunky menus, just open and study
And it’s not just for MCAT:
- Pre-med classes (orgo, biochem, physics)
- Languages
- Med school later
- Business, anatomy, anything you’ll need to remember long-term
Same app, same system, different decks.
How To Combine Kaplan + Flashrecall For Maximum MCAT Gains
Here’s a simple way to blend mcat flashcards kaplan with Flashrecall so you get the best of both:
Step 1: Use Kaplan To Learn The Basics
- Go through Kaplan chapters or their flashcards by topic
- Don’t worry about memorizing everything perfectly on the first pass
- Just get familiar with the concepts
Step 2: Turn “Testable” Stuff Into Flashrecall Cards
While you study, add to Flashrecall:
- High-yield facts (hormones, pathways, formulas)
- Concepts you keep forgetting
- Mistakes from practice questions
- Tricky psych/soc definitions
You can:
- Snap a photo of a Kaplan page and let Flashrecall auto-generate cards
- Paste text or PDF content
- Or just type your own Q/A cards
Step 3: Review Daily With Spaced Repetition
Open Flashrecall every day (even for 10 minutes):
- Do your due reviews (the app tells you what’s due)
- Add a few new cards if needed
- Rate how well you knew each answer
Over time, your deck becomes insanely tailored to your weak spots.
Step 4: Use Chat To Deepen Understanding
For any card that feels fuzzy:
- Open the card
- Use the chat feature to ask for more explanation, examples, or MCAT-style context
This turns your flashcard app into a mini tutor.
Flashrecall vs Kaplan Flashcards: Quick Comparison
| Feature | Kaplan MCAT Flashcards | Flashrecall |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-made MCAT content | Yes, lots | You create/import (from books, PDFs, images, YouTube, etc.) |
| Customization | Very limited | Fully customizable cards and decks |
| Spaced repetition | Basic or none (depends on format) | Built-in spaced repetition with auto reminders |
| Active recall focus | Medium | Core design: every review is active recall |
| Chat to clarify concepts | No | Yes – chat with the flashcard to understand better |
| Works offline | Depends on format | Yes, offline support |
| Platforms | Physical/digital depending | iPhone and iPad |
| Best use | Starting content base | Daily review system + long-term retention |
| Cost | Usually paid | Free to start |
So instead of choosing between mcat flashcards kaplan and Flashrecall, you use Kaplan for content and Flashrecall to actually remember it.
Practical Tips For Making MCAT Flashcards That Don’t Suck
No matter what content you’re using, a few rules make your cards way more effective:
1. One Idea Per Card
Bad:
“Describe the structure, function, and regulation of hemoglobin.”
Better:
- “What is the structure of hemoglobin?”
- “What is the function of hemoglobin?”
- “How is hemoglobin regulated by pH (Bohr effect)?”
Flashrecall makes it easy to add lots of small cards instead of a few huge ones.
2. Use Your Own Words
Even if you start from Kaplan, rewrite definitions in how you would explain them to a friend. That makes recall way easier.
3. Turn Mistakes Into Cards Immediately
Every time you miss a question in practice:
- Ask: “What did I not know here?”
- Make a card about that
This is where Flashrecall is better than static mcat flashcards kaplan—your deck evolves with you.
4. Mix Concepts, Not Just Facts
Don’t only memorize vocab. Make cards like:
- “How does increased sympathetic activity affect blood pressure?”
- “What’s the difference between classical and operant conditioning?”
- “What happens to equilibrium when pressure increases in a gas reaction?”
These help more with MCAT-style passages.
So…Should You Use Kaplan MCAT Flashcards?
Yeah, mcat flashcards kaplan can absolutely be useful—especially early on—for structure and coverage. But if you rely on them alone, you’ll hit a ceiling.
The smarter move is:
- Use Kaplan for content
- Use Flashrecall for memory, personalization, and long-term retention
If you want an app that:
- Makes flashcards instantly from images, text, audio, PDFs, YouTube links, or typed prompts
- Has built-in spaced repetition and study reminders
- Lets you chat with your flashcards when you’re stuck
- Works offline, is fast, modern, and easy to use
- And is free to start on iPhone and iPad
Then Flashrecall is honestly a no-brainer.
👉 Try Flashrecall here:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Build on what Kaplan gives you—but use Flashrecall to make sure it actually stays in your head on test day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Quizlet good for studying?
Quizlet helps with basic reviewing, but its active recall tools are limited. If you want proper spacing and strong recall practice, tools like Flashrecall automate the memory science for you so you don't forget your notes.
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
- MCAT Study Quizlet: 7 Powerful Flashcard Tricks Most Pre-Meds Don’t Use (But Should) – Learn how to move beyond basic Quizlet decks and actually remember MCAT content long-term.
- Kaplan MCAT Anki: How To Actually Use Question Banks With Flashcards To Score Higher – Most Pre-Meds Don’t Do This Right
- MCAT Flashcards Anki: Why Most Pre-Meds Are Switching Apps To Study Faster – Stop Wasting Time On Clunky Decks And Start Actually Remembering Content
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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