Flashcards vs practice tests: which is better?
Both ask you to pull answers out of memory instead of rereading. They suit different material.
Flashcards are good for facts
Vocabulary, definitions and dates fit one card each. Quick, repeated recall is the point.
Practice tests are good for understanding
Problems, explanations and multi-step reasoning need full questions, like the ones on your exam.
Use both
Learn the facts with cards, then test whether you can use them in a practice test.
Match the exam format
If your exam is multiple choice, practice multiple choice. If it asks for written answers, practice writing.
Check what you missed
Whichever you use, spend your time on the items you got wrong.
More guides
- How to study for finals: a simple plan
- How to make a study schedule for exams
- Active recall: the study method that works
- Spaced repetition for students
- Make a practice test from your own class notes
- Turn notes into a quiz
- All guides
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