Anki: Make Your Own Deck: The Basics

In Anki, each fact goes on its own “flashcard.” Flashcards are saved into files called “decks.” It’s very easy to make your own deck.

Step 1: On the Menu, Choose File -> New to Start a New Deck

You may be asked to give your deck a name.

Step 2: Click the Big Green Plus Sign to Add Cards

The big green plus sign is also on the menu, if you need it later.

You can also press Ctrl-D. Or choose Edit -> Add Item ... from the menu.

Enter the question in the Front box, and the answer in the Back box.

Click Add, and you’ll get the same screen again, so you can add another card.

Step 3: Click Add After Each Card You Enter

Keep adding cards until you’re done. Click Add for your last card. Then click Close.

That’s it! You’ve added your facts. Now you can memorize them.

Keep Each Card Short

There’s a lot to learn about making good flashcards, but the most important rule is: keep each card short.

If possible, try to memorize only one thing on each card.

Avoid lists. In the example above, the question asks for four items, not one. Four items is okay, but that’s about as long a list as you should ask for on one card.

Five is probably too many, and six or seven is way too many. You won’t remember them all. For long lists, you’ll need to break them into chunks, or learn special memory tricks, like loci.

If you keep the cards short, you won’t need to use memory tricks very often. All you’ll need to do is review your cards. Every day, Anki will only show you the cards you need to see that day. Pretty soon, you’ll learn them all.