Flashcards Tab
Browse, search, and study your flashcard decks, scheduled with spaced repetition
The Flashcards tab is your dedicated space for active recall practice, one of the most effective learning techniques backed by science. Here you'll find all your flashcard decks, whether they came from your notes, were created by hand, or were imported.
What You See
The Flashcards tab displays your decks as deck cards in a grid: three columns on iPad in landscape, two in portrait, and a single column on a phone.
Deck Card Anatomy
Each deck card shows:
Deck Name: The title of the deck, next to a tinted tile for its source
Description and Tags: An optional description, and up to three tags
Source: Where the deck came from: From Notes, My Decks, or Imported
Card Count: Total number of flashcards in this deck (e.g., "24 cards")
Cards Due: A "N due" label showing how many cards are ready for review (only when some are due)
Shared: A "Shared" label if the deck is shared
Last Updated: A relative time such as "a day ago"
Each card also has a ... button for deck actions (see below).
Understanding Flashcard Decks
How Decks Are Created
Flashcard decks can be created in several ways. A common one is AI generation: from a note's study screen, open the flashcards and tap Generate Flashcards. The AI:
- Identifies key concepts and facts from your note
- Creates question-answer pairs covering the material
- Organizes them into a deck linked to the note
You can also tap Add Deck on the Flashcards tab to build your own deck (Create from Scratch) or import one from a file.
Deck Sources
- From Notes: Decks linked to one of your notes
- My Decks: Decks you built yourself
- Imported: Decks imported from external files (CSV or Anki)
Starting a Study Session
Quick Study
Tap any deck card to open it. A deck that belongs to a note opens inside that note's flashcards; other decks open in the standalone study page. You'll review the cards and rate your confidence on each one.
Due for Review Filter
Tap the filter button next to the search field to open the Tags drawer. Turn on Due for review ("Show only decks with cards due") to see only decks that have cards scheduled for review. When it's on, it shows as a pill above the decks.
Spaced Repetition Explained
Notesmakr schedules your reviews with the SM-2 spaced repetition algorithm. Here's how it works:
After you flip a card, you rate how confident you were, from 1 to 5.
Each time you recall a card, the next review is pushed further out: first 1 day, then 6 days, then longer and longer intervals.
If you rate a card "Not at all" or "A little", it starts again from 1 day.
Cards you consistently recall are reviewed less often, freeing up time for difficult material.
This technique has you review information right before you're about to forget it, maximizing retention with less effort.
Flashcard Study Interface
When you start a study session, you enter the flashcard study interface:
Card Display
- Front: Shows the question
- Back: Shows the answer (tap the card to flip it)
Review Actions
After seeing the answer, you're asked "How confident are you?" Rate your confidence using the 5-level scale:
- Not at all: Didn't remember it, so the card comes back after 1 day
- A little: Barely recalled, so the card comes back after 1 day
- Somewhat: Partially recalled
- Pretty good: Recalled with some thought
- Mastered!: Instant recall
Higher ratings push the next review further away.
Navigation
- Previous / Next / Finish buttons move between cards, and the screen shows "Flashcard N of M"
- A Shuffle cards control in the study screen randomizes the order
Organizing Flashcard Decks
Search
Type in the Search decks... field at the top of the tab. It searches deck titles, descriptions and tags.
Filters
- Source chips: All, My Decks, Imported, From Notes (each with a count)
- Tags drawer (filter button next to the search field): pick tags, or switch on Due for review
Deck Actions
Tap to Study
Tap a deck card to open it and study.
Deck Menu
Long-press a deck card, or tap its ... button, to open the actions:
- Study
- Edit Deck (for decks you own)
- Export Deck (as CSV or Anki)
- Delete Deck (not available for built-in curriculum decks)
Study tip: Aim for consistent study sessions rather than cramming. Review decks regularly and take advantage of spaced repetition.
Custom Flashcards
While AI can generate flashcards for you, you can also create your own deck: tap Add Deck, then Create from Scratch ("Build your own flashcard deck"). To change an existing deck you own, use Edit Deck from its menu. For the full editor, see the Flashcards section.
Flashcard Settings
Go to Settings → Study Settings to adjust flashcard-related preferences. The SM-2 algorithm handles scheduling automatically based on your confidence ratings.
Flashcard Best Practices
Tips for effective flashcard study:
- Study daily: Even 10-15 minutes daily beats long weekly cramming
- Be honest with ratings: Don't inflate your performance
- Don't skip reviews: Trust the algorithm, since due cards are due for a reason
- Add context: If a card is confusing, edit the deck to add clarifying details
- Break down complex cards: One concept per card works best
- Say answers out loud: Engages more of your brain than just thinking
- Review before bed: Sleep consolidates memory, so nighttime review is powerful
Common Questions
Q: Can I import flashcard decks? A: Yes. Tap Add Deck, then Import from File, and choose a CSV file or an Anki deck.
Q: Why do some cards appear so often? A: Cards you rate low come back after 1 day until you know them better. This is intentional!
Q: Can I share decks with study partners? A: You can export a deck as a CSV or Anki file from its menu (Export Deck) and share that file with others.
Q: What happens if I skip a day? A: Due cards accumulate. Don't worry: just resume your routine.
Q: Are flashcards free? A: AI flashcard generation is free within the free plan's limits (5 notes and 40 generations, lifetime).
What's Next?
Master the art of active recall:
Ready to ace your studies with spaced repetition!