3 levels of flashcards all students MUST master (you're doing level 1), by jspark on YouTube. 11 min 58 s.
- Video length
- 11 min 58 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Sort your notes into topics and mark the facts you truly need to recall. Skip anything you can look up or work out, and keep each card to one idea.
Write the basic card: a short question on the front, a short answer on the back. Keep it to one line so you can test yourself quickly.
Upgrade each card to level two by asking why or how instead of what. For example, ask why a process happens rather than just naming it.
Build exam skeleton cards from past paper questions. Put the question on the front and a short list of the key points a full-mark answer needs on the back.
Make method chain cards for multi-step problems. List the steps in order on the back and practise writing the whole chain from memory.
Create an error card every time you get a question wrong. Write the mistake on the front and the correct reasoning on the back.
Review your cards in short daily sessions. Say the answer out loud before you turn the card over, and move mastered cards to a rarer review pile.
Rewrite or delete any card you keep failing. A card you miss three times is usually too vague or holds too much information.
Tips and common mistakes
Do not copy whole paragraphs onto a card. If the back needs more than a few lines, split it into two cards.
Test yourself before checking the answer, even when it feels uncomfortable. Reading the back first does not count as revision.
Keep error cards in a separate pile and review them the day before the exam.
Use one app for all your cards so you do not lose track of which deck you have reviewed.
Questions
How many flashcards should I make?
Fewer than you think. Aim for one card per key idea or past paper question, not one per sentence of your notes. A deck of 40 strong cards beats 200 weak ones.
How often should I review my flashcards?
Short daily sessions work better than one long cram. Review new cards the next day, then space them out as you get them right.
Can I use flashcards for maths and science?
Yes. Use method chain cards for the steps of a calculation and error cards for mistakes you make. Keep the numbers simple so the method is the focus.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
