8 Tips for Powerful Flashcards and Better Exam Revision

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Make Your Own Flash Cards - Lots of people like to share their flashcard decks, and there are also plenty of flashcard apps and programs out there that will let you download pre-made decks and start studying instantly.

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Mix Pictures and Words - In cognitive psychology, there’s a concept called the Picture Superiority Effect, which describes how people tend to remember imagery a lot better than they remember words.

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One idea, one flashcard - Your goal isn't to fill your flashcards with points to make the most of the space. The most effective flashcards include one question followed by one answer.

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Boost your memory by combining pictures and words - The Pictorial Superiority Effect (PSE) explains that our brains find it easier to recognize and recall visual inputs – pictures are easier to remember than words.

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Use spaced repetition to memorize your flashcards - Flashcards are simple to create and quick and convenient for testing yourself. You can only realize the power of flashcards if you give yourself enough time to review them multiple times.

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Don’t just use flashcards - Flashcards are a great revision tool but they do have disadvantages like every other technique. Flashcards allow you to learn the answers to simple questions and the relationship between two pieces of information.

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Study Your Flash Cards in Both Directions - When you’re studying your flashcards, make sure you review them from both sides. By doing this, you’re going to build strong neural pathways that can be traced easily in both directions.

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Don’t Treat Flash Cards Like a Silver Bullet - Remember that flashcards are only one method of reviewing the material.

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