Instead, also make an extra card that asks you to define both of them. If you’re trying to learn two terms that are easily confused, don’t just make two separate cards for them. Rule #3: Make flashcards for easily confused concepts. Is it looking for the structure? The polarity? The molecular weight? Make it specific. If you just write proline on the front, you won’t know what the answer is supposed to be. If you’re learning a complex idea, break it down into multiple simpler chunks.Īlso, make the question clear! In other words, make sure it’s very clear what the flashcard is actually looking for. You should really only be testing yourself on one fact per flashcard. Question 2:What amino acid can disrupt the secondary structure of proteins? Question 1: Is the side chain on proline polar/nonpolar/aromatic/charged? Instead, you should break it into a few simpler flashcards: Proline can interrupt the secondary structure of proteins. Rule #2: Keep your cards simple (one fact per card)Īnswer:Proline is an amino acid with a nonpolar side chain. Making things into flashcards without understanding them will just lead to frustration in the long term when you keep getting them wrong. Do you know what the different variables mean? Do you have a decent sense of what happens when you change the variables? But you need to make sure that you understand everything you make a flashcard for.įor example, if you were going to make a flashcard for a complicated physics equation you should start by making sure you at least know the equation reasonably well. When you’re studying a new subject it can be tempting to jump right into making flashcards for every term you run across. Rule #1: Understand before making flashcards If you learn the basics of making good flashcards, you’ll be able to memorize all the content you need to know with less effort in the process. Flashcards using spaced repetition are easily the best way to memorize content for the MCAT.īut I find that most people’s flashcards could be much better.

Mcat list of hydrophobic amino acids