Anki: an effective flashcard study system

Description: Private tutor Joya shares her thoughts on the new trend and style of revision called Anki.


What Does it Mean?

The word Anki means memorization in Japanese.

It is a digital flashcard app that has been gaining popularity with the growing digitalization of our world, especially in academics.

The app cleverly uses spaced repetition. It allows your learning to space out in intervals in order to memorize effectively.


This is thought to be an efficient way of breaking up bigger chunks of information, no matter the subject.


How do you apply it to revision?

The app itself is quite simple to use and works on most digital devices.

It uses a flashcard system so the interface involved white rectangles where you can input any type of information you would like.

Essentially mimicking a physical flashcard.

There are also a variety of flashcard types you can use.

These include cloze deletions (blurring out a word in a sentence, and guessing what the word is).

To image occlusions (editing a diagram so that its labels are covered and guessing what the labels are as well as the traditional type.)

It includes a front and back on the card, these are useful for asking questions on one side and providing the answer on the other.


The Technique

The learning technique of spaced repetition is pretty simple.

It involves repeatedly looking at your flashcards filled with information at the right intervals to increase your understanding.

It will boost long-term retention.

Basically, it gets your brain to use different pieces of information over and over again so it sticks better.

This is also based on the idea of the forgetting curve.

The forgetting curve establishes the effect of spaced repetition. It demonstrates that over time, with frequent enough repetitions that are close.

By tutor Joya. Contact Us

About the Author

Picture of Klara Dollan

Klara Dollan

Hi there! I’m Klara, and with several years of experience in the tutoring and education sector, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with both families and tutors to help students reach their full potential. Through the Telios Tutors blog, I aim to share thoughtful insights, practical guidance, and the values that make us a reliable and caring presence in the world of education—while also bringing a little storytelling flair into the mix.