MCAT Anki Decks: Which Make the Best Study Resources?

Best MCAT Anki Decks

When you are undertaking the monumental task of MCAT content review, you want to be sure you are understanding, internalizing, and retaining the material you’ve studied. Flashcards can be an excellent resource for testing your recall of crucial topics, but creating your own can be time-consuming.

Many MCAT test-takers use the spaced repetition flashcard application called Anki, and generally use premade flashcard “decks.” There are plenty of these Anki MCAT decks, created by various people on various MCAT forums, each with its own pros and cons.

Below is a thoughtful MCAT Anki deck comparison that can help clarify MCAT Anki deck differences before you commit to one system. The goal is to streamline your search for the best Anki decks for MCAT review based on your goals and to thoroughly answer the question, “which MCAT Anki deck should I use?”

Jacksparrow2048’s Anki MCAT Deck

This MCAT Anki deck was created by user jacksparrow2048 on Reddit, which the creator used to score a 527 on their official MCAT exam. The jacksparrow2048 deck is one of the most used Anki MCAT decks out there, and a great MCAT study resource.

This deck contains 5978 cards, arranged by MCAT content sections: Chemistry/Physics, Biology/Biochemistry, Psychology/Sociology. It also contains flashcards for the official AAMC practice exams, in their own category. These Anki flashcards mirror the MCAT blueprint, making it a very constructive choice for structured Anki decks for MCAT content review.

This MCAT Anki deck is an extremely comprehensive MCAT resource, and generally very well made. This is a deck you can use about 5 months out from your official MCAT test date. It will assist you in ensuring that you are effectively covering essential material. Because of its depth, it is often considered one of the best Anki deck for advanced MCAT students who want maximum detail.

The cards in this deck aren’t simple recall cards—some of them are difficult and require you to think critically, and some contain practice problems. As a result, the deck is extremely slow-moving, as it covers some very low-yield topics. Understanding the MCAT Anki deck workload is important before starting this deck, as it can significantly impact your daily workload.

Unlike cloze deletion cards, which just make you “fill in the blank,” you will have to dedicate some time to understanding and remembering the information on these cards. This highlights the difference between basic vs. cloze Anki cards and how card style affects comprehension.

Considering the time needed for a comprehensive review of this deck, it’s advisable not to tackle more than 50 new cards per day. Pushing beyond this limit might lead to difficulties in managing your daily Anki workload alongside official AAMC material and UWorld questions, potentially leaving you feeling overwhelmed.

This MCAT Anki deck can help you in both low-yield and high-yield topics. But do not underestimate the time and energy investment needed. It’s one of the best and most popular MCAT Anki decks there is available. Still, students should weigh the MCAT Anki deck pros and cons before committing to such an extensive resource.

Ortho528 Anki MCAT Deck

The Ortho528 deck is one of the best Anki decks for MCAT available on student forums. It contains 4351 cards in cloze deletion format. As mentioned in the previous section, cloze deletion Anki cards are “fill-in-the-blank” cards, which might lead you to memorize the card instead of the information. The real MCAT will never ask you to fill in the blank, so why would you train yourself to do so?

The answer is time and efficiency. It takes much less time and effort to use Ortho528’s Anki MCAT deck as a study resource. Not only are they cloze deletion, but they also contain images and diagrams. Because of its efficiency, some consider this the best Anki deck for MCAT beginners who need faster exposure to content.

Although these cards are relatively well-sorted and created, they are lacking in explanation. They only ask you to plug in buzzwords as opposed to meaningfully engaging with the material.

This deck can be helpful if you struggle with rote memorization, but it doesn’t fully assess your understanding of key concepts. Using Ortho528’s deck as an MCAT study tool requires some balance: consider how much time and effort you’re able to invest versus what you hope to gain from your Anki reviews, as well as how much additional explanation or support you need while studying.

MileDown’s Anki Deck

MileDown’s 2900 cards are also cloze deletion, lending to the efficiency of using this deck as a study resource. In addition, each card contains a link to a Khan Academy video explaining the concept, unlike Ortho528’s deck which has no explanations.

These cards are also sorted by topic. If you’re having issues with a particular subject area, you can easily sort the cards to reflect the content you are struggling with. This is unlike jacksparrow2048’s or Ortho528’s decks, which are sorted by MCAT section. This flexibility in Anki deck organization can make a meaningful difference depending on your study style.

Many students enjoy MileDown’s cards for their ease of use and simplicity and guidance towards Khan Academy’s explanations if needed.

Choosing the Best MCAT Study Resource for You–What Are the Best Anki Decks for MCAT?

Choosing which MCAT Anki decks to use is up to personal preference. This choice is based on how much time you want to invest into flashcard review and how thoroughly you would like your cards to delve into relevant material. Your decision may also depend on when to start Anki for MCAT preparation, as starting earlier allows time for larger decks.

As you start using an Anki MCAT deck, one point is that if you realize you’re missing foundational knowledge in the subjects covered by the cards, it might be a good idea to take a break and go through an MCAT content review resource like Sketchy. Alternatively, you could seek assistance from an MCAT tutor to ensure you’re fully equipped to get the most out of an Anki study deck.

Using jacksparrow2048, you might be working through Anki cards that you will almost certainly never see on the actual MCAT. However, the MileDown deck is one you can work through efficiently to potentially avoid experiencing Anki burnout. This is something you will have to decide for yourself.

If you find yourself struggling with a deck or moving through it too quickly due to already knowing the material, you can easily switch decks for a greater challenge. For example, some students transition to the Bouras MCAT Anki deck or even explore the Victory Anki deck for a different pacing and structure.

The key part in using any of these decks is to stay consistent – use the Anki app every day and go through the cards as best you can! Keep in mind that every deck comes with its own Anki deck learning curve, so give yourself time to adapt before switching resources.

If you feel you need extra assistance in choosing your MCAT study resources (including setting a personalized study schedule and effective content review) consider enlisting the help of an MCAT tutor. They can help you to create a personalized plan of action!