Using flashcards improves chemistry exam performance in college students.

Is it true that using flashcards improves chemistry exam performance in college students?

Partly. Evidence is mixed and only partial: a narrative review reports Anki flashcard users outperforming non-users on standardized medical exams, and one microbiology study found flashcard time correlated with first-exam performance, while a psychology study found response method unrelated to exam performance and an organic chemistry paper argues conventional flashcard recall does not help students. None of the placed sources directly tests flashcards and chemistry exam performance in college students.

Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 2 sources for, 3 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

Mohamed, N. S. A., Alrafi, M. A., AlBani, B., Abdu, H. M., Albuhairan, R., Altala, N. S., & Abdalla, S. F. (2025). Application of Anki Flashcards in Medical Education: A Narrative Review.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-025-02487-5

D., E. J. & L., M. N. (2011). Interactive Learning in the Classroom: Is Student Response Method Related to Performance?. eric.ed.gov. https://doi.org/10.1177/0098628311411789

Usage of Spaced Repetition Flashcards to Improve Educational Outcomes in Microbiology - PMC Lock. (n.d.). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.70994

Tan, A. E., Arif, M. Y. A. M., & Azhar, M. A. D. M. (2024). ChemCards: Organic Chemistry as Teaching Aid in Classroom Setting to Aid in Learning Preparations of Organic Compounds. zenodo.org. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12798071

A., K. C. (2015). Chemkarta: A Card Game for Teaching Functional Groups in Undergraduate Organic Chemistry. eric.ed.gov. https://doi.org/10.1021/ed500729v