GeneralHow to Best Use MCAT Flashcards

A flashcard is a card that holds information on both sides and helps students to memorize their study materials. All the information you read and study is available in your long-term memory. You need a way to access it when you need it, like during an MCAT exam. Flashcards can help improve your memory by practicing information retrieval.

There are two setups for flashcards. These are:

• Rolodex Cards – These contain all the information you need on a topic in one place. The topic will be on one side and the information on the other. For example, you can write about an illness, its diagnosis, and treatment. The Rolodex setup is suitable for references and contains rich information on the subject. Rolodex cards are easier to set up and carry extensive information. You may run out of space as there may be a lot of information to write.
• “True” Flashcards – Each of these cards has a specific question on one side and the answer on the other. The question and answer can’t be vague, there can’t be multiple interpretations of the questions, and the answer must be clear. 

Benefits of Using Flashcards When Preparing for the MCAT

MCAT flashcards can help you study in several ways, including the following:

• They are effective at using the spaced repetition learning method. This technique requires you to study difficult concepts more often than concepts you understand well until you have everything in memory.
• They can break huge concepts into digestible facts.
• They can help boost your memory.
• They are portable, so you can use them at any time and location. You can study between classes, on a commute, or while waiting for your water to boil.
• They are a visual tool that benefits visual learners, and auditory learners can read them aloud to learn from them.

Paper vs. Electronic/App Flashcards

When considering flashcards, you need to consider whether to buy the paper or electronic version. The choice is entirely up to you. But if you can’t choose, you can use both. Kaplan offers both paper and app versions of its flashcards.

The paper flashcards are written on stiff paper and come in quantities of a couple dozen to thousands of cards. The act of writing the cards gives you a bit of muscle memory. If you like the feel of paper, you may prefer them over an app. Paper flashcards are always ready for use. You never have to worry about battery life.

They are also offline, so you won’t get distracted by other apps or notifications. But as they increase in number, they can become cumbersome and hard to update, organize, and carry with you. They are also hard to use when you want to practice spaced repetition.

Electronic flashcards have their advantages, too. You are less likely to leave them behind. If it’s an app on your phone, it will be with you at all times. Electronic flashcards also have the benefit of using algorithms to use spaced repetition.

Electronic flashcards can come preloaded with information or blank for you to fill in. You can also go online to find other users’ flashcards you can use. However, you need to be careful with this, as you will be relying on someone else’s quality.

Moreover, electronic flashcards don’t have limits in terms of physical space, so you can comfortably store tens of thousands in your device. The search function makes finding cards to correct and update more manageable. You can add images or audio to a card for a richer learning experience. They are also very hard to lose. Once you back them up, you can access them from anywhere on any device.

How to Use Flashcards Effectively

Ideally, it would help if you had hundreds of hours spread over several months to prepare for the MCAT. Your flashcards will help you squeeze in extra time between life’s moments and help you to memorize your coursework. To get the best results from flashcards, you will need to:

• Set aside an organized plan to review flashcards.
• Take them everywhere so you can use them in your downtime.
• Use them when you only have a limited time to prepare for the MCAT.
• Take the best MCAT review courses and supplement them with flashcards.

Study in a Flash

Flashcards are a popular, tried, and tested study aid.  You can choose between paper and electronic cards or use both to get the whole experience. You can increase your chances of acing even the toughest exams if you learn to use them effectively.

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