Brainscape Makes Flashcard Generation Easy

Brainscape and the Leitner system

First, I have to talk about the Leitner system, and why I love it so much. The old way of using the technique involved creating a flashcard deck, then using four or five boxes (or envelopes, or labeled binder clips) to sort the cards. During your review, if you get a card correct, you move it up a box, so from Box 1 to 2, or Box 3 to 4. If you get a card wrong, you move it back a box, unless it's in Box 1, in which case it just stays put. You study everything in Box 1—or those cards you don't ever get right—most often, Box 2 less frequently, and so on, so you're reviewing the cards you know less often than the ones you don't.

This forces you to keep the content of those higher-numbered boxes in your long-term memory, but also saves you time because you don't have to keep reviewing the stuff you already understand. Instead, you can focus on those Box 1 and 2 items that you're struggling with.

Credit: Lindsey Ellefson

Brainscape uses a similar system, but you don't need a bunch of boxes or envelopes. It's all right there in your phone or on your desktop. After you read a question and flip your digital card to reveal the answer, you rank how well you knew the material on a scale of one to five. That ranking replicates the old Leitner technique of sorting a card into a new box. Brainscape takes care of it for you, automating how often you see the cards based on your responses.

You have a lot of options for making and finding decks

When you log into Brainscape, you'll be asked if you want to make cards or find them. If you choose creation, you can either manually enter in prompts and answers or use AI to generate cards for you. What you choose to do is up to you: Typing out your own cards will help you get started on remembering their content and ensure you're tailoring them to exactly what you need to study, but AI generation will save you a whole lot of time.

I tested the AI feature and was extremely impressed. I asked for about 25 cards to review Spanish vocabulary words appropriate for a beach trip and, after a few seconds, Brainscape produced a list of 27 words and asked me to review it before adding it to my library. It was basic entry-level vocab—playa, arena, and sol—but I could have asked for something more advanced.

Credit: Lindsey Ellefson

What really impressed me was the existing library of content that comes pre-loaded into the app. A lot of flashcard apps give you the option to review decks made by other studiers, which is time-saving and cool, but Brainscape certifies its public decks, meaning you can be sure you're getting the right answers. Brainscape has partnerships with a variety of publishers, subject-matter experts, and credentialing bodies (see the full list here) so you can actually study for entrance exams or certification exams within the app and feel confident you're getting good information.

I tested this out by running through some decks for a certification course I'm studying for in real life. The questions perfectly mirrored the official study materials I've been using—because, of course, they are official, as they were created in partnership with that credentialing body.

Multi-device access

Normally, I consider app access that extends to a desktop browser an absolute necessity, since I find it easier to type and organize files on my computer, but it's pretty easy to generate and find decks on Brainscape using its mobile app. Still, there is a desktop option, which is nice, and you don't need to pay to access it. I generated a deck of cards on the computer and it appeared in my mobile library instantly.

It also works offline: I toggled off my cell service and ran through a whole deck with no issues.

You need to pay for access to everything

While I was working through the card decks for the professional certification test I'm studying for, I kept waiting for the app to stop me and ask for money. Eventually I found I was able to study three of the decks in that certified package for an unlimited amount of time, but to access other decks within it, I did have to pay.

You can always study your own flashcards for free, but there are limitations on how much access you have to other features without ponying up. For $19.99 a month, $60 every six months, $96 per year, or $199.99 for a lifetime of access, you get the following:

• Unlimited flashcard studying

• The ability add images and sounds to your cards

• The ability to copy other users' public flashcards

• Data and statistics on your learning

• The ability to make your decks and classes private

While the monthly charge is a little steep, if you have to study for professional exams or are in school right now, a six- or 12-month subscription is actually a solid deal, especially since Brainscape offers so many decks filled with trustworthy, reviewed content.