Create high-quality Anki cards from [STUDY MATERIAL] for a learner preparing for [LEARNING GOAL OR EXAM]. My current level is [CURRENT KNOWLEDGE LEVEL], and I want cards in [CARD FORMAT]. Extract only concepts, relationships, definitions, procedures, exceptions, and common confusions that are supported by the material. Prioritize knowledge that will help me reason through a new problem, not isolated trivia. Make cards using these rules: 1. One retrievable idea per card. Split overloaded cards instead of stacking facts behind one answer. 2. Write questions with enough context to be answerable weeks later, but do not give away the answer in the wording. 3. For causal, procedural, or comparative material, use “why,” “how,” “when,” or contrast questions rather than only definition prompts. 4. Include a small number of application cards that ask me to choose a step, distinguish close concepts, or explain an error. 5. Keep answers brief: usually one sentence, a short list, formula, or cloze deletion. Preserve qualifiers such as “only,” “except,” and conditions. 6. Do not create cards for unsupported claims, administrative details, or material too vague to test. Output a table with columns: Card type, Front, Back, Source note, and Why this card matters. Create [NUMBER OF CARDS] cards, grouped under 3 to 6 topic labels. For Basic cards, use a direct question and answer; for Cloze cards, use Anki {{c1::...}} syntax. End with a “Study gaps” list of concepts that need a textbook, instructor, or another source before they can become reliable cards. Ask up to 3 clarifying questions only if a required input is missing. Self-check that every answer is supported by the study material and that no card tests more than one main idea.
Fill in
| Placeholder | What to enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| [STUDY MATERIAL] | Paste notes, an excerpt, a transcript, or corrected practice questions you want to study. | Biology notes on cellular respiration: glycolysis occurs in the cytosol, produces 2 ATP net, and transfers electrons to NADH. |
| [LEARNING GOAL OR EXAM] | State the course objective, exam, certification, or skill you are studying for. | First-year biology midterm |
| [CURRENT KNOWLEDGE LEVEL] | Describe what you already understand and where you are struggling. | I know the broad stages but confuse locations, inputs, and outputs. |
| [CARD FORMAT] | Enter Basic, Cloze, or a mix of both. | A mix of Basic and Cloze |
| [NUMBER OF CARDS] | Enter a realistic number of cards for this batch. | 18 |
How to use
- Paste a bounded section of source material rather than an entire textbook chapter.
- Choose a card count that forces prioritization; 15 to 30 cards works well for one coherent topic.
- Import the Basic or Cloze fields into Anki, then inspect questions that seem answerable from wording alone.
- Send this follow-up: "Add five application cards based only on the same material, targeting the confusions listed in Study gaps."
Variations
Turn mistakes into cards
Use this after reviewing missed quiz or practice-test questions.
Turn these corrected mistakes into Anki cards: [MISSED QUESTIONS AND CORRECTIONS]. I am studying for [EXAM OR SKILL]. For each mistake, identify the misconception or missed cue, then write one core card and, where useful, one contrast or application card. Use [CARD FORMAT] syntax. Output Front, Back, Misconception addressed, and Correction source. Do not repeat the original question if it tests several skills at once. Self-check that every card teaches the corrected rule rather than merely memorizing an answer.
Make image occlusion plan
Use this for diagrams, anatomy, maps, pathways, or labeled figures.
Create an image-occlusion card plan for this diagram or figure description: [DIAGRAM OR LABEL LIST]. The learning goal is [LEARNING GOAL]. Identify which labels, arrows, regions, or relationships should be hidden together and which must remain visible as cues. Output a numbered list with the occlusion target, visible context, expected answer, and a short rationale. Include no more than [NUMBER] occlusions. Do not invent labels not present in the figure. Self-check that each occlusion can be answered from the visible context.
Build a review sequence
Use this when you have an existing deck that feels disorganized.
Audit these Anki card samples: [CARD SAMPLES]. They support [LEARNING GOAL]. Classify each as foundational fact, relationship, procedure, application, duplicate, or overloaded. Recommend a learning sequence with prerequisite concepts first, then rewrite only the duplicate or overloaded cards. Output an audit table and revised cards in [CARD FORMAT]. Keep all valid content. Self-check that every application card depends on earlier foundational knowledge and that rewritten cards contain one testable idea.
Tips
- Make cards from a focused unit after you understand the outline; flashcards are poor substitutes for first exposure to a difficult topic.
- Keep the source note during drafting so you can correct a card when a lecture note is incomplete or misleading.
- Use contrast cards for easily confused pairs, such as two diagnoses, formulas, mechanisms, or legal tests.
- Do not add every highlighted sentence; cards should represent the minimum facts needed to reconstruct the topic.
FAQ
Can AI make cards directly from a textbook?
It can draft them, but use excerpts you are allowed to provide and verify claims against the source. Dense textbook paragraphs often need splitting into several cards.
Are cloze cards better than basic cards?
Neither is always better. Cloze cards suit tightly phrased facts and sequences; Basic cards are usually stronger for explanation and comparison.
How many cards should I make per lecture?
Make enough to cover the learning objectives and repeated confusions, then stop. A smaller deck with clear retrieval cues is easier to maintain than exhaustive notes in card form.