Using Flashcards and Quizzing for Active Recall: Best Practices
You understand that the Active Recall Method is a powerful engine for learning. But an engine needs the right tools to function. For the practical learner, flashcards and self-quizzing are two of the most popular and effective tools available. They turn the abstract concept of “retrieval practice” into a concrete, repeatable action.
However, simply having flashcards or a quiz isn’t enough. The way you use them determines their effectiveness. This guide will provide you with the best practices for using these essential tools to build a powerful and resilient memory.
Part 1: Mastering Flashcards
Flashcards are the quintessential tool for active recall. Their simple design forces you to retrieve information from memory before you see the answer. But many people use them incorrectly, which can drastically reduce their effectiveness.
Best Practices for Flashcards:
- Create Your Own Cards: The act of creating the cards themselves is a powerful learning event. Don’t just copy and paste from a textbook. Rephrase the information in your own words. This forces you to process the information on a deeper level. The most effective cards have a high-quality question on one side and a concise, clear answer on the other.
- Move Beyond Simple Facts: Avoid “low-quality” cards that only require a single word for an answer. Instead, create cards that force you to explain a concept, compare two different ideas, or provide an example. For instance, instead of “What is a neuron?” use “Explain how a signal travels down a neuron.”
- Use a Physical Filing System: If you use physical cards, use a simple filing system to incorporate spaced repetition. Create three piles:
- “Mastered”: For cards you answered correctly without hesitation. Review these in a week.
- “Needs Work”: For cards you answered correctly, but with some effort. Review these in a day or two.
- “Failed”: For cards you got wrong. Review these immediately and then again later that same day.
- Practice in Both Directions: For subjects like vocabulary or language learning, practice retrieving the information in both directions. For a language, this means trying to recall the foreign word from the English one, and vice versa. This strengthens the memory in both directions.
- Don’t “Hit-and-Run”: The most common mistake is to “hit-and-run”—to look at a card, get it wrong, flip it over, see the answer, and immediately move on. If you get a card wrong, you must stop, look at the correct answer, and then immediately try to recall it again. This is what closes the memory gap.
Part 2: The Art of Self-Quizzing
Quizzing yourself is a flexible and powerful tool for active recall. It’s especially useful for complex subjects that can’t be easily broken down into flashcards.
Best Practices for Self-Quizzing:
- Close the Book: The most crucial rule of self-quizzing is to do it with all of your materials closed. This prevents you from falling back into the passive trap of recognition. Your quiz should be a true test of what you can retrieve from memory alone.
- Use a Blank Page: The simplest method is a blank sheet of paper and a pen. After reading a section or a chapter, write down a heading for each main topic. Then, under each heading, write down everything you can remember from memory. This is often called a “brain dump” or “free recall.” It’s a fantastic way to see what you truly know.
- Create Your Own Questions: As with flashcards, the quality of your questions is key. Create open-ended questions that force you to explain concepts and their relationships to each other. For example, instead of asking “What is the mitochondria?”, a better question would be “Explain the function of the mitochondria and its relationship to the other organelles.”
- Time Your Quizzes: Giving yourself a time limit can simulate the pressure of a real exam and help you practice retrieving information quickly. This is also a great way to improve your speed and confidence.
- Grade Your Work: Once you have completed your quiz, don’t just put it away. Go back to your notes and grade your own work. Use a different colored pen to fill in the gaps and correct your mistakes. This immediate feedback loop is a powerful learning event.
By incorporating these best practices, you can turn flashcards and quizzes from simple study aids into the powerful, scientifically-backed tools they are meant to be. They are not just for testing your knowledge; they are for building it.
Common FAQ about Flashcards and Quizzing
1. Is it better to use physical or digital flashcards?
Both are effective. Physical cards can be good for writing by hand, which can aid memory, and the physical filing system is a simple way to use spaced repetition. Digital cards are great for convenience, and many apps automate the spaced repetition algorithm for you.
2. How many flashcards should I make for a chapter?
The number of cards is less important than the quality. Focus on creating high-quality cards for the most important concepts, rather than making a card for every single fact.
3. What should I do if I get a flashcard wrong repeatedly?
If you get a card wrong more than a few times, it’s a sign that you need to go back and re-learn the information. The original learning was not strong enough. Take a break from the card, review the source material, and then try again.
4. What’s the biggest mistake people make with self-quizzing?
The biggest mistake is doing the quiz with the notes open. This turns the process from a test of your memory into a passive re-reading session. The purpose of the quiz is to force your brain to retrieve the information without help.
5. Can I use a quiz to learn new material for the first time?
No. You should never try to quiz yourself on brand new material that you have not yet learned. A quiz is for retrieval, not for input. Use a passive method first to get the information into your brain, then use a quiz to cement it.
6. Is it more effective to write my answers or say them out loud?
Both are effective, and a combination is often best. Writing your answers forces you to be precise and detailed. Saying them out loud can be faster and is great for verbalizing your understanding of a concept.
7. Should my quiz questions be “trick questions”?
No. Your questions should be clear and fair. The goal is to test your knowledge, not to trick you. The difficulty of the quiz should come from the effort of retrieving the information, not from ambiguous wording.
8. Is it true that quizzes are only for high-stakes exams?
No. Quizzing yourself should be a regular, low-stakes part of your learning routine. The more you use quizzes in your daily practice, the more prepared you will be for a high-stakes exam.
9. Can I use quizzes to prepare for an essay-based exam?
Yes. For an essay-based exam, you can write quiz questions that ask you to explain a concept or a relationship in a paragraph or two. This practice will build the mental framework you need to write a full essay.
10. What’s the best way to incorporate active recall into a study group?
The best way is to take turns quizzing each other. One person can be the “quizmaster” and the others can be the “quiz-takers.” This turns a passive group session into a highly effective learning opportunity.