“I hate Anki. I’ve tried it, and it doesn’t work. I don’t want to do it.” This is a quote from one of our students when they first joined our program. After hearing what she had tried in the past, we settled on a compromise. She would fully utilize our Anki techniques for just four weeks. If she felt the same way afterwards, we promised not to push the issue. Two and half weeks later, when I asked her how she was doing, she said “I love Anki. I am actually remembering things.” Anki became one of her greatest tools after she corrected a few mistakes to her approach.
So, what did we do to transform Anki from an overwhelming chore into an efficient tool?
Summary:
- Understand concepts, don’t just memorize facts.
- The time saved in using premade decks is lost in having to relearn information.
- Consistency in reviewing cards is crucial.
Table of Contents
To better understand what Anki is and the power of spaced repetition, check out this article!
Mistake #1: Memorizing Facts
The biggest Anki mistake that we see students make is that they use it to memorize isolated facts rather than reinforce deeper concepts. While there are a few subjects that are memorization heavy (more on this soon), much of USMLE content focuses on the application of fundamental science principles. This means that creating Anki cards for every single fact can lead to hours wasted on cards that won’t actually help you get more questions right.
Let’s look at some examples of memorization-centered cards:
Front: Epidural hematoma – Caused by rupture of what? A: middle meningeal artery
Front: Epidural hematoma – What is the classic presentation? A: “Lucid period” followed by rapid deterioration.
At first glance, these cards might seem helpful. However, when used over time in bulk, they contribute to a larger problem. Here are some signs that you have fallen victim to memorization-heavy cards:
- You don’t have time to do Qbank questions, practice tests, or anything except Anki.
- Your studying feels inefficient.
- You are overwhelmed and drowning in cards.
- You have a shallow understanding of how to apply concepts from the material you study.
So, how can we improve these cards?
Rather: Make Connections and Focus on Concepts
Let’s look at how we can improve the cards above:
Front: Epidural hematoma – Use the pathophysiology to explain the classic presentation. A: Rupture of a (high-pressure) middle meningeal artery -> rapid (hours) progression, with signs of neurologic deterioration (e.g. headache/confusion/drowsiness/loss of consciousness)
This card is more efficient, less overwhelming, and focuses on the underlying concepts. This builds a framework that allows you to apply your knowledge to a variety of similar questions. But how do we do this practically?
Make connections. For each disease, ask three simple questions:
- What is the pathogenesis?
- What is the presentation?
- How can I connect the two?
This allows you to make fewer cards, have a better understanding of the material, and be better prepared to apply the information.
Mistake #2: Relying Exclusively on Pre-made Anki Decks
Time is a precious resource–especially as a busy medical student–so thinking about how long it can take to make Anki cards puts many students off. There is a temptation to go online and find a pre-made deck that promises to cover everything you need to know, but this approach has several pitfalls that can actually hinder your USMLE progress.
1. Pre-made decks are memorization and fact-based.
As we already established, memorization leads to shallow understanding and inefficient studying. Many pre-made decks fall into the trap of focusing on isolated facts. This does not align well with the application-focused approach of the USMLEs. If you can find a deck that focuses on making conceptual connections, then it could be a useful addition to your studies, but they are few and far between. To learn a bit more, check out what one of our students had to say about two of the popular decks out there.
2. Correlation doesn’t equal causation.
Hearing success stories of students who have done well using pre-made decks does not mean that the decks are the reason for their success. This is what we call the problem of “silent evidence.” If you take all the people who did well using pre-made decks such as Zanki, Anking, or Brosencephalon, but ignore all the people who did not do well or dropped out, you’re getting a skewed picture. Reddit, Youtube, student panels, and other platforms may share success stories, but they ignore the critical evidence that suggests that many people who try this approach don’t do well. Often, the people who claim to succeed using only premade decks are not acknowledging many other factors that could have contributed to their success. It’s important to consider that potential bias in these success stories
3. Making your own cards deepens your understanding.
Even if you could avoid memorizing random facts using pre-made cards, you tend to do better when you make your own. Think about it this way: in college or high school, if you saw someone who did really well on their exam and took excellent notes, do you think you could do just as well as they did on the test just by reading their notes? Probably not.
One of the major benefits of using Anki (and studying in general) is the process of understanding and organizing the information in the first place. The act of making cards can take a lot of time, but it is not really the card-making itself that takes the most time. In many cases, the time consuming part is learning the information well and engaging deeply with the material to create good cards. The process reinforces your understanding in a way that reviewing pre-made cards simply cannot match.
Rather: Strike a Balance
Now that we have explored why pre-made decks have made the list of top mistakes, let’s look at some exceptions.
Some subjects, particularly those that are memorization heavy, can benefit well from pre-existing decks that are well-made. Pharmacology, for example, tends to involve a lot of rote memorization, so a good pharmacology deck can be beneficial and save you time. Check out our extensive Pharmacology Deck and learn how to master Pharmacology over a glass of wine using Anki.
The key is to find a balance. Using pre-made decks for fact-based subjects can be beneficial as can customizing and adding to excellent, concept-based decks. We do offer pre-made decks for Step 1 and Step 2 which are formatted to focus on mastery over memorization. While they are not a replacement for making your own cards, they are an excellent supplementary resource.
Check out this article for more information on making (or finding) awesome cards to help you find the balance that works for you.
Mistake #3: Not Using Anki Every Day
One of the most critical (and common) mistakes students make with Anki is inconsistency. After a long week of studying or a particularly tiring day during rotations, it is tempting to take a break from your Anki routine. However, this can significantly undermine the effectiveness of your study strategy.
Anki works best over time as it is rooted in the principle of spaced repetition. This learning technique is based on the idea that we learn best when we review information just as we are about to forget it. By using Anki daily, you are using a spaced repetition algorithm to optimize your review schedule. This presents cards at the most effective intervals for long-term retention.
There is a fascinating mathematical equation that illustrates why daily use is so important: 
What this means is that regardless of how much you learn each day, because the percentage you forget each day is so low with consistent review, the theoretical maximum of things you could learn is nearly infinite. In practical terms, this translates to an incredible capacity for knowledge accumulation over time. The longer you use Anki consistently, the more information you can retain.
If you want to learn more about the science behind using Anki, check out this article.
Another issue with inconsistent usage is that it will create larger problems in the future. Skipping a day of Anki reviews may seem enjoyable in the moment, but it is actually can lead to an overwhelming backlog. The larger the backlog, the harder it is to get back on track and return to Anki. When (if) you return to Anki reviews, you may find yourself struggling with cards you previously knew well, which can be frustrating, time-consuming, and discouraging.
Rather: Be Consistent, No Matter What
Consistency is key in forming habits, and each time you skip a day, you are making it easier to skip the next day. This can undermine the habit you are working hard to build. So, commit to the 100% rule: It is easier to do something 100% of the time than 99% of the time. When you commit to doing Anki every day, without exception, you remove the decision-making effort of ” Should I do Anki today?”.
Habits of an Anki Master
Mastering Anki is about developing habits that maximize its potential and your understanding. Here are some key habits to help transform you from an Anki user to an Anki master:
Use “Educational Objectives” to Prioritize Information
In medical school, you are constantly bombarded with overwhelming amounts of information. There is so much you could turn into an Anki card, and it may be tempting to create cards for everything, but this will quickly lead to card overload. Instead, use the educational objectives in question banks to prioritize what information goes into your deck. For each card you want to create, you need to ask yourself if the information is worth the time and effort it could take away from studying other material.
Every Day, No Matter What
Like we mentioned, consistency is crucial. To be an Anki master, you need to make it a non-negotiable part of your day. Like brushing your teeth or eating breakfast, Anki reviews should become an integral part of your daily routine. If you’re struggling to maintain the habit, start small and adjust your settings to limit the number of new cards you review each day. The key is to keep the streak alive. You can use Anki’s built-in stats function to visualize your consistency. Seeing a long streak can be a powerful motivator to keep going.
Maximize Your Time
Life as a medical student can be unpredictable with stretches of intense workloads alternating with (slightly) calmer times. Maintain your habits during these fluctuations by preparing for them and rolling with them.
If you know you have a challenging rotation or a major life event coming up, try to get ahead on your reviews using the “study ahead function.” Doing extra reviews on lighter days will allow you to build a buffer for busier times. You should also utilize those small pockets of time throughout your day to chip away at your reviews. Small moments of focused Anki reviews throughout the day can significantly decrease the amount you have left to do when you get home.
Concluding Thoughts
To wield Anki well, you need to use the app consistently and effectively, creating high-quality flashcards and dedicating time every day to reviewing your cards. Ultimately, mastering Anki to master concepts is about playing the long game. When used effectively, it can help you ace your next exam. More importantly, it can help you build a strong knowledge base that will serve you throughout your medical career.
If you’re looking to take your Anki game to the next level and achieve your full potential in medical school, consider partnering with the experts at Yousmle. Our team of experienced tutors and USMLE preparation specialists can provide the personalized guidance and support you need to succeed.
