Using Flashcards to Prepare for Medical Boards

Flashcards have been a reliable and convenient study method for years, and they remain a helpful tool even in medical school. In fact, flashcards for medical students have considerable benefits. 

They promote active recall, which is the retrieval of memory, and spaced repetition, a technique that helps distribute study sessions over time and leads to better retention of information. Together, these methods enhance long-term memory, making flashcards a key tool in preparing for medical boards. 

It can be tempting to find an existing deck, especially since creating your own flashcards can be time intensive; however, the act of creating your own often improves recall beyond what is possible with study sessions alone. Use the tips below to create and use flashcards effectively for medical board exam prep.

How to Create Flashcards 

You know the drill—the term or question appears on the front, followed by the answer on the back. Pretty straightforward, right? But what if there were a way to make your board prep flashcards even better? We’re here to help. Check out the tips below to level up your study game.

1. Go digital

Save yourself the trouble of creating physical flashcards and learn how to create flashcards online—it’s easier than you think. With digital flashcards, you can study wherever you are and save on paper and materials. 

2. Be thorough

Instead of writing a simple, one-word answer on the back, elaborate on the medical topic by including real-life clinical examples. This approach helps deepen your understanding of how the information applies in a clinical setting. 

Furthermore, document which textbook, article, or page of your notes to reference for more information, which is especially helpful if you find yourself struggling with the topic.

3. Bring in the visuals

Add graphs, charts, diagrams, and other relevant images to the back of your cards. The use of visuals helps increase memory retention due to the picture-superiority effect and keeps your study session engaging.

4. Don’t overcrowd

Overcrowding a card with too much text may cause an information overload. Keep your cards neatly organized and only include information that is absolutely necessary. You can always create a subset of flashcards if topics are closely related.

Studying with Flashcards 101

Time to learn how to study with flashcards! Incorporate these flashcard techniques into your exam prep routine.

Organize your cards

Create three categories: 

1. Cards you know immediately
2. Cards you know well
3. Cards you don’t know at all

You’ll revisit the stack you don’t know well more often than the others; however, reviewing all stacks is still crucial. Try shuffling your cards frequently to promote active engagement rather than rote memorization. 

Read aloud

Read the front of the card thoroughly and explain it aloud before revealing the answer. Then, recite the back of the card. This allows you to quiz yourself verbally while creating the “production effect,” which enhances memory by encouraging you to slow down and process information more thoroughly.

Space Out Your Review

Use spaced repetition, a study method where you review information at gradually increasing intervals of time. This improves your memory recall through consistent review. 

Remember, cramming has the opposite effect and only helps you recall information in the short term. Medical students are in it for the long haul, so be disciplined and create a study schedule you’ll stick to.

Create Flashcards within TrueLearn

TrueLearn is a key tool for preparing for high-stakes board exams. With robust question banks for the USMLE and COMLEX, its unique features help you become a better test taker. For example,SmartAlerts send you key learning points from missed questions, and now with Flashcards, you can create your very own digital deck right in the platform! 

Here’s how it works:

1. Once you’re logged in, click the “Flashcards” section to create your cards, or create cards as you take questions.
2. Organize your cards into decks for review by topic, system, or exam.
3. Activate study mode to use the classic flip method or spaced repetition sessions.

It’s as easy as that—now, you’re all set to create your deck of cards and crush that exam prep.

Ready to step up your studying strategy? Use TrueLearn’s Smartbanks to build flashcards and reinforce key concepts.