Is Anki really necessary?
Everyone is always talking about Anki, and how it has changed their lives in terms of studying and remembering concepts. It can be a lot sometimes always hearing this, but that brings the question:
Is Anki really necessary? Or is it just a passing trend?
Let's explore Anki together to see if it's right for your study journey.
Firstly, What is Anki?
Anki is a spaced repetition flashcard application that allows you to study flashcards more efficiently. Anki works by allowing you to rank how well you know your flashcards so that you see the harder concepts more often than the concepts you already know.
With that said, let’s dive into the 4 main pros and cons for Anki…
4 Pros of Anki:
- Efficient Memory Retention
- Customizable Learning Experience
- Wide Range of Content
- Cross-Platform Accessibility
4 Cons for Anki:
- Learning Curve
- Time-Consuming Card Creation
- Not One-Size-Fits-All
- Difficult to Study Complex Concepts
4 Pros of Anki
1. Efficient Memory Retention
Anki uses *spaced repetition to help you remember information for a long time. It reviews flashcards at the right time, just before you forget them. This makes learning more efficient.
*Spaced repetition is a learning technique that involves reviewing information at increasing intervals to optimize long-term retention, ensuring efficient and effective memorization
2. Customizable Learning Experience
With Anki, you can create personalized flashcards to match your learning needs. Tailor these cards to meet your specific goals, whether you're learning a new language, preparing for exams like MCAT or USMLE STEP 1, or acquiring new skills. Anki is your reliable study tool, making learning straightforward and customized for you.
3. Wide Range of Content
Anki's user community has created a lot of flashcard sets on any subject you can think of. Using these pre-made flashcard sets can save you tons of your precious studying time.
Here are a few sites you NEED to check out :
Anki hub - a web app and add-on for Anki that enables extensive collaboration, real-time updates, and customization of cards
AnkiWeb - a free companion to the computer version of Anki and has a wide range of shared decks
Anki Pro - scientifically-backed flashcards for university exams, language studies, and more and it has more than 50,000 pre-made decks
If you want to create your own decks, you can also do that. In fact, you can create your own Anki Deck in 2 minutes!
4. Cross-Platform Accessibility
Anki can be used on both your computer and on your phone, and can be uploaded to the Anki Cloud for instant syncing. This means you can review your flashcards wherever and whenever you want just like our boy over here.
4 Cons of Anki
Unfortunately, with all good things, there are a few bad points to hit on.
1. Learning Curve
Some people might find Anki difficult to use at first. Setting up flashcards, understanding the algorithm, and using advanced features like Add-ons can be challenging. This may discourage people who prefer simpler learning tools.
2. Time-Consuming Card Creation
While customization is a strength for Anki, it also takes time. Making detailed and effective flashcards demands effort. You might end up spending more time making cards than actually studying at first, but it is important to stay consistent with your Anki regimen.
3. Not One-Size-Fits-All
It's important to know that while Anki might be helpful for some, it might not suit everyone. Take your time to test it out for a few weeks before considering other study methods like reviewing lecture notes or using Quizlet. It's all about finding what works best for you!
4. Difficult to Study Complex Concepts
Anki is designed to help users remember facts. When I first started using Anki, it did not help me with understanding complex concepts with many parts to understand. Anki may not be effective for subjects that need critical thinking or hands-on practice, but it can definitely support other learning methods along side it.
In Summary
To decide if you should use Anki, think about how you learn, what you want to achieve, and what you're studying. Anki offers advantages, such as better memory retention and customization. However, there are also drawbacks, such as a learning curve and the time it takes to create cards. The decision to use Anki should consider your learning style and objectives. It's not a one-size-fits-all solution, and its effectiveness varies from person to person.
If you are committed to the Anki grind, it may be worth taking a peek at accessories like the Anki Remote. The Anki Remote makes learning more and efficient and fun! The Anki user community can attest to the positive impact they bring to your study routine. Just check out these customer testimonials
Anki Remote has been incredible! It makes studying pre med classes so much easier and fun!” - Leanna (pre-med student)
“Anki Remote is really good! I didn’t realize how much more efficient this is over a keyboard until I got it.” - Shadman (med student)
Join them in studying more effeciently with the Anki Remote!
We make Anki fast and fun.
Product
Copyright © 2025 Anki Remote. All rights reserve. Anki Remote is independent and not endorsed, sponsored, or affiliated with Ankitects Pty Ltd or Ankiweb. Any mention of Anki is solely for descriptive purposes, and no endorsement or sponsorship by Ankitects Pty Ltd is implied.