Are flashcards a waste of time? The Anki debate

Quick answer

A heavy flashcard user put it this way: Anki doesn't help you remember something you never understood. They spent hours on decks they kept failing.

Others say making cards is part of understanding. Both have a point.

What 125x is: 125x is a web app at 125x.app. You connect your YouTube subscriptions, and it gives you a feed of the latest videos from the channels you follow, each with a summary: a verdict, the 5 key takeaways, and the spoiler, plus Actionable and Lessons tabs with more tips. You read that and decide what's actually worth opening.

Open 125x

What research says

A 2013 review of study techniques rated practice testing and spacing out study as the two most useful techniques (a 2013 review of study techniques). Flashcards with spaced review do both.

Where the critics are right

Cards on material you don't understand become leeches you fail for months.
Huge premade decks teach what someone else needed.
Making cards can eat more time than studying.
For problem-solving subjects, practice problems often work better.

Make cards worth it

Understand first, then make a card.
One fact per card.
Make cards from questions you got wrong.
Keep daily reviews short so they don't pile up.
See flashcards from YouTube videos.

FAQ: questions people ask

Are flashcards effective?

Testing yourself with spaced review is among the best-rated study methods. Cards on things you don't understand rarely stick.

Is Anki worth it?

For facts, vocabulary and definitions, many learners swear by it. Keep cards small and reviews daily.

Should I use premade Anki decks?

They save time, but cards you write yourself usually stick better.