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Last Updated on April 26, 2023
Many GRE students wonder whether they should take the time to create flashcards to study from during their test prep. In this article, we’ll look at the top 5 reasons why I recommend to all of my GRE students that they create and regularly use GRE prep flashcards, starting with the fact that flashcards can help students prepare not only for the GRE Verbal section but also for the Quant section.
I recommend to all of my GRE students that they create and regularly use GRE prep flashcards
- Reason #1: Flashcards Help Both Verbal and Quant Study
- Reason #2: Flashcards Are Versatile
- Reason #3: Flashcards Help You Fit in Study Time
- Reason #4: Flashcards Keep You Organized
- Reason #5: Flashcards Keep You Engaged in Your Learning
Reason #1: Flashcards Help Both Verbal and Quant Study
You may have heard that vocabulary flashcards are an invaluable tool for learning important GRE words (if you haven’t, check out my article on how to remember GRE words easily). However, it turns out that flashcards are great memorization tools not only for GRE vocabulary but also for Quant study.
There are a large number of equations and formulas that test-takers must remember in order to score high on GRE Quant. Flashcards isolate a formula you need to learn, so you can really focus on it and create an image of it in your mind. And just as flashcards are great for vocabulary practice, they are an easy and effective way to drill essential math concepts.
TTP PRO TIP:
Don’t limit yourself to using GRE flashcards for vocab study only; flashcards are also great tools for memorizing Quant equations and formulas.
Reason #2: Flashcards Are Versatile
Flashcards are one of the most versatile study tools at a GRE student’s disposal because every student can tailor them according to his or her study preferences. Some students like to use handwritten, paper flashcards, or like to use paper cards of different colors to, for example, track the difficulty level of the GRE vocabulary words they’ve learned. Other students like the ease and portability of digital flashcards.
You can also use flashcards to shake up how you study. For instance, flashcards make it easy for friends or family to quiz you on what you’ve been learning.
TTP PRO TIP:
Mix up your study sessions by having friends or family use your GRE flashcards to quiz you on what you’ve learned.
Reason #3: Flashcards Help You Fit in Study Time
GRE flashcards allow you to study on the go, and thus fit in “quick-hit” sessions anytime, anywhere. Your commute to school or work, a wait in line at the supermarket, or a lunch break are all important opportunities to get in a few minutes of studying or quizzing yourself. GRE prep is a cumulative process, so all of those minutes add up!
TTP PRO TIP:
Use your GRE flashcards to get in “quick-hit” study sessions on the go.
Reason #4: Flashcards Keep You Organized
GRE flashcards make tracking which vocab words or math formulas you’ve mastered and which you haven’t easy; simply separate your cards into “mastered” and “not mastered” piles. With this foolproof method, you’ll know exactly what you need to study at any given time.
While you’ll want to spend the majority of your flashcard study reviewing the “not mastered” pile, flashcards also make it easy to dip back into the “mastered” pile to quiz yourself on previously learned material. If you find that you’ve gotten rusty on any material, you can simply add those cards back to the “not mastered” pile for further study.
TTP PRO TIP:
Separate your GRE flashcards into “mastered” and “not mastered” piles, and spend more time reviewing the “not mastered” pile.
Reason #5: Flashcards Keep You Engaged in Your Learning
To make your GRE prep productive, you have to be active in your learning, rather than passively ingest an endless stream of information. GRE flashcards help you to be a more active learner.
Shuffle your flashcards every so often to give your brain an added challenge. “Gamify” your flashcard study by seeing how many vocab definitions you can remember in a row or in a minute. Try turning the cards around and reading the definitions first; can you remember what word goes with each definition?
Studying for your GRE exam is a long and arduous journey, so you have to do what you can to maintain your motivation and make the process engaging. Get creative. Use GRE flashcards to make studying fun. The more active you are in your learning, the more knowledge you’ll ultimately retain.
TTP PRO TIP:
“Gamify” your GRE flashcard study to make GRE prep more challenging, more engaging, and more effective.
