How To Use Anking
Learn how to effectively use the Anking Anki deck to supercharge your medical school learning

What is Anking?
Anking is a revolutionary Anki deck that has transformed medical education study strategies. Born from the collaborative efforts of medical students and educators, Anking represents a comprehensive compilation of multiple high-yield medical study resources.
The Origin Story
The Anking deck emerged from earlier decks like Zanki, created by medical students to consolidate and optimize study materials. Developed by students who understood the challenges of medical education, it combines resources from:
- Zanki (original comprehensive deck)
- Duke Pathoma deck
- Boards and Beyond (B&B) resources
- First Aid annotations
The goal was simple yet ambitious: create a single, comprehensive study tool that covers the breadth and depth of medical school curriculum.
How to Use Anking Effectively
1. Integrate with Learning Resources
The most effective Anking users don't just memorize cards; they integrate them with other learning resources:
- Watch Boards and Beyond (B&B) videos
- Review Pathoma lectures
- Use First Aid as a reference
- Supplement with Sketchy Medical for visual learning
- By combining Anking with these resources, you'll enhance your understanding and retention of key medical concepts
2. Active Learning Strategies
Don't just passively review cards. Make your Anki sessions active:
- Rephrase card information in your own words
- Ask yourself follow-up questions
- Explain concepts out loud
- Connect new information with existing knowledge
- Active learning boosts comprehension and long-term retention, making your study sessions more effective
3. Customizing Your Deck
Many students find success by personalizing their Anking deck:
- Edit cards to remove context clues that might hinder true learning
- Consolidate multi-part cloze deletions for clarity and brevity
- Add tags to track your edits and progress
- Create custom cards for challenging topics
- Personalizing your Anking deck helps make the content more tailored to your needs, reinforcing your understanding
4. Supplement with Practice Questions
Anking is most powerful when combined with question banks:
- Use AMBOSS, UWorld, or Kaplan for practice
- Create additional cards from missed questions to reinforce your weaknesses
- Regularly test your understanding to identify areas needing further review
- By practicing regularly, you reinforce your knowledge, ensuring you can apply it in real-world medical situations
5. Workflow Tips
- Unsuspend cards as you cover topics in your curriculum to stay aligned with your studies
- Watch corresponding video resources to reinforce what you've learned
- Do related practice questions to further solidify your understanding
- Regularly review and reinforce your knowledge, especially high-yield topics
Common Challenges and Solutions
Memorizing Card Format, Not Content
If you find yourself memorizing card layouts rather than the content:
- Resize your Anki window for a fresh perspective
- Switch devices to avoid getting too comfortable with one format
- Rephrase cards to focus on understanding the material, not just recognition
- Focus on understanding the material deeply instead of rote memorization
Time Management
- Set realistic daily review limits to avoid burnout
- Prioritize high-yield information that will be most beneficial on exams
- Don't hesitate to suspend less important or redundant cards temporarily
Tools and Add-ons
Enhance your Anki experience with useful tools:
- AMBOSS add-on for better integration with Anking
- Anki mobile for studying on-the-go
- Use custom tags to track your progress and make studying more efficient
Final Advice
Remember, Anking is a tool, not a magic solution. The key to using it effectively is consistent engagement, regular review, and integrating the deck with a broader study strategy.
Stay consistent, be patient with yourself, and focus on understanding the material rather than just memorizing it. Your future patients will thank you for the deep, lasting knowledge you're building today!
Introducing MedAnkiGen: Your AI-Powered Study Companion
Looking for a more personalized approach to creating study materials? Meet MedAnkiGen, the innovative AI-powered tool designed to revolutionize how medical and dental students create study resources.
What is MedAnkiGen?
MedAnkiGen uses advanced AI algorithms to generate custom Anki flashcards directly from your study materials. Unlike pre-made decks, our platform allows you to:
- Upload lecture notes, presentation slides, or textbook content
- Generate personalized, high-yield Anki cards
- Customize card creation to match your specific curriculum
- Save time with batch processing of study materials
Key Features
- AI-powered card generation
- Customizable card creation
- Supports multiple file types
- Seamless integration with your study workflow
Ready to transform your study strategy? Get started with MedAnkiGen and take the first step towards more efficient, personalized learning.