Our Guide to Flashcard Platforms for Medical Students
May 6th, 2023
Overview
Flashcards have long been a popular and effective study tool for medical students. Using flashcards as part of your study routine improves retention of medical concepts, particularly if you use spaced repetition to maximise your recall.
With the rise of technology, flashcard platforms have become an even more convenient way to study any time, anywhere. There are many flashcard platforms available offering a variety of features, and it can be difficult to know which to use.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the best flashcard platforms for medical students. Whether you are preparing for the USMLE, medical school exams or simply looking for a way to memorize medical concepts, these platforms are an incredibly useful way of leveraging the power of flashcards.
Key Features
We considered several key features of each platform when putting together this list.
Spaced Repetition
- Spaced repetition is a learning technique that involves challenging recall at increasing intervals to help you remember more information over the long term. Flashcard platforms that use spaced repetition are more effective at helping users retain information than those that don't.
Customisability
- The ability to customise flashcards is important because it allows you to create flashcards tailored to your individual learning needs. Platforms that offer a range of customisation options, such as the ability to add images, audio and video to flashcards, are more versatile and useful for medical study.
Syncing
- While mobile phones are a great way to study flashcards, it is not always easy to create cards on a phone. As a result, many platforms have desktop apps (or web apps) that sync with mobile apps to allow you to easily build and access your flashcard decks anywhere.
Pre-made Decks
- Some platforms offer a large library of pre-made flashcard decks on a variety of medical topics - this may include decks specifically for the USMLE and other standardised examinations. Whil creating your own cards is the highest yield method, pre-made decks save a lot of time and provide a breadth of information that comes with expertly created flashcards.
Learning Analytics
- Some platforms allow users to track their progress and identify areas where they need to improve. Such insights on performance can be incredibly useful for maximising your study efficiency.
ANKI
Platforms
- Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.
Cost
- Free on the computer and Android, small upfront payment on iOS.
ANKI is a popular open-source flashcard app that uses spaced repetition to help users remember information over the long term. ANKI allows you to create custom flashcards with text, images, and audio, offers a large amount of control over the review of cards, making it a versatile and powerful study tool.
All of the various ANKI apps sync to a central database, making your flashcards available on all of your ANKIweb is the free web version, which is mobile friendly. The free ANKI desktop app is available for Windows, Mac and Linux. ANKIDroid, the Android app, is also free. ANKImobile, the iOS app, is available for a small once-off payment.
A common comment about ANKI (particularly the iOS app) is the outdated interface, which may feel clunky at times. While the interface and fine-grained settings can be difficult to get used to, the payoff is massive and therefore ANKI is a top option for medical students anywhere.
Pros
- Versatile and customisable
- Uses spaced repetition
- Sync cards between all of your devices
- Most apps are free (except iOS)
Cons
- Outdated user interface
- Steep learning curve for beginners
Brainscape
Platforms
- Web, iOS and Android.
Cost
- Free limited version; premium version available on a monthly or yearly subscription.
Brainscape is a flashcard platform that uses spaced repetition to help you large amounts of information. Create your own flashcards, or access curated and user-generated flashcard decks, including certified ones for USMLE. Brainscape also offers learning analytics to track progress and identify areas of weakness. With its adaptive learning algorithm and focus on personalized study, Brainscape is a great learning tool.
Pros
- Uses adaptive learning algorithm to personalize study sessions
- Curated decks guarantee high quality, accurate information
- Learning analytics provide insights into user performance
Cons
- Premium version required for some features
- Simplistic interface with limited customisation options compared to other flashcard platforms
Quizlet
Platforms
- Web, iOS and Android.
Cost
- Free limited version; premium version available on a monthly or yearly subscription.
Quizlet is a flashcard platform that allows users to create their own flashcards and access millions of pre-made flashcard decks created by others, including those for USMLE and medical topics generally. It can take some digging to find a good pre-made deck, and since these are created by users, there is a risk that the information may be incorrect or outdated.
Quizlet offers a variety of study modes, including flashcards, quizzes, and games. With its vast library of pre-made flashcards and versatile study modes, Quizlet is a popular and effective medical study tool.
Pros
- Can create custom flashcards with text, images, and audio
- Large library of pre-made flashcards on various medical topics
- Offers a variety of study modes above and beyond flashcards
Cons
- Premium version required for some features
- Limited control over spaced repetition scheduling
- Some pre-made flashcards may contain errors or inaccurate information
Flashcard Hero
Platforms
- Mac, iOS and Windows 10.
Cost
- Low-cost one-off payment.
Flashcard Hero is a simple and affordable flashcard platform for Mac, iOS and Windows 10. Create your own custom flashcards with text, images, and audio, and organize them into decks.
Flashcard Hero also includes a study mode that uses spaced repetition to present flashcards at increasing intervals for effective memorization. This app is a simple, low cost option with limited customisability.
Pros
- Affordable one-time payment with no subscription required
- Customizable flashcards with text, images, and audio
- Uses spaced repetition for effective memorisation
Cons
- Limited features compared to some other flashcard platforms
- No pre-made flashcards available
Final Thoughts
Flashcards are a great way to memorise and retain information. We have presented four of the best flashcard platforms for use during your medical study, from simple to heavily customisable. Each platform offers something unique, and so we encourage you to try a few different platforms and find what works best for you.
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