⚡ Promptolis Original · Learning & Growth
🧠 Spaced Repetition System Builder
Designs the personalized Anki/Mochi/RemNote deck structure for your specific learning goal — with the 5 flashcard types that actually stick vs. the ones that waste your time.
Why this is epic
Most people who try Anki quit in 2 weeks because their cards are badly designed — too long, too vague, or testing the wrong thing. This Original builds cards that survive 6 months of practice.
Distinguishes the 5 card types (cloze, image, reverse, comparison, production) — and which one fits which knowledge type. Using the wrong card type = memorized answer you can't recall in context.
Names the 7 mistakes that cause 80% of Anki abandonments (over-stuffed cards, rote-memorization of generics, skipping reviews for 3+ days, deck sprawl) — and gives you the specific fixes.
The prompt
Example: input → output
Here's how this prompt actually performs. Real input below, real output from Claude Opus 4.
<what-youre-learning>Second-year medical school — cardiology module. Specifically: ECG interpretation, heart failure pathophysiology, major cardiac drugs.</what-youre-learning> <end-goal>In-module exam in 8 weeks. Plus USMLE Step 1 in 7 months.</end-goal> <timeline>8 weeks for this module, 7 months for the board exam.</timeline> <time-available>45-60 min/day for reviews. Plus 2-3 hrs/week for creating new cards.</time-available> <past-srs-experience>Tried Anki in first year. Downloaded a huge pre-made deck (1,500 cards). Quit after 3 weeks — review burden exploded.</past-srs-experience> <existing-notes>I take notes in OneNote during lectures. Lots of diagrams (ECG strips, anatomy).</existing-notes>
Spaced Repetition System: Med school cardiology, 8-week module + 7-month USMLE horizon
A spaced repetition system (SRS) is a structured flashcard practice method based on the spacing effect — the empirical finding that reviewing information at expanding intervals produces 200-400% better long-term retention than massed practice. Research (Ebbinghaus 1885, extended by Wozniak 1990s+) shows that for fact-dense domains like medicine, SRS users retain 80-90% of material at 6 months vs. 30-40% for re-reading. Your profile — 2nd-year med student with past Anki failure due to deck-download overload — is the #1 abandonment pattern. The fix isn't more discipline; it's different card strategy.
Which SRS to Use
Stick with Anki. Reasons:
- Strongest ecosystem for med students (AnKing, Zanki etc. are Anki-based — you can integrate pre-made WHEN YOU DECIDE TO, not as main strategy)
- Most robust algorithm for long-term retention (SM-2 / FSRS)
- Free, cross-platform (desktop + iOS/Android sync)
Alternative: Mochi or RemNote if you want native Markdown + note-integration. But Anki is the right call for your goal.
Deck Structure
One deck: 'Cardiology' with 3 sub-tags.
#ecg(for ECG pattern cards)#pathophys(for heart failure mechanisms)#drugs(for pharmacology)
DO NOT create sub-decks for each module topic. Deck sprawl is the #2 abandonment cause. Tags work better.
For USMLE horizon: keep the cardiology deck. Add modules as you go. By Step 1 prep: one big 'USMLE' deck with tags per subject. You'll be thankful you didn't fragment.
The 5 Card Types + Which To Use
| Card Type | Best For | Your Use |
|---|---|---|
| Cloze deletion | Sentence-level facts in context | ECG pattern associations, drug mechanisms |
| Image occlusion | Anatomy, diagrams | ECG strips, heart anatomy |
| Reverse (two-way) | Bidirectional associations | Drug name ↔ mechanism |
| Comparison | 'X vs. Y' concepts | Systolic vs. diastolic heart failure |
| Production | Active recall with writing | Rare — use for drawing ECGs from memory |
For your domain, use in this order: Cloze deletion (50%), Image occlusion (30%), Comparison (20%). Skip pure Q/A Basic cards — they under-perform cloze for contextual knowledge.
3 Example Cards (Built from Your Topic)
Cloze deletion example
> Front: In systolic heart failure, the {{c1::ejection fraction}} is reduced (typically <{{c2::40%}}), caused by impaired {{c3::contractility}} of the left ventricle.
This one card trains 3 facts in context. Not 3 separate cards.
Image occlusion example
> Front: [ECG strip image with QRS complexes hidden]
> Back: [Same image with QRS complexes visible, labeled 'Normal QRS: 0.08-0.12s']
Create from your actual lecture slides. Screenshot → Image Occlusion Enhanced add-on → 30 sec per card.
Comparison example
> Front: Systolic vs. Diastolic Heart Failure:
> Back:
> | Feature | Systolic | Diastolic |
> | EF | <40% | >50% |
> | Problem | Pump failure | Filling failure |
> | Common cause | MI / cardiomyopathy | HTN / aging |
> | Treatment focus | ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers | Diuretics, BP control |
Table cards are powerful for differentials. Don't over-stuff — 4-5 rows max.
The Daily Review Protocol
Split into 2 sessions:
- Morning (20 min): Review queue, focus on yesterday's new cards
- Evening (20-25 min): Mature card reviews, any remaining queue
Why split: spacing effect is amplified when reviews happen across sleep. Same-day 2x > single 40-min block for retention.
Review rules:
- Rate honestly. 'Good' for clear recall, 'Again' for total blank, 'Hard' for struggle, 'Easy' for instant recall. Don't lie to yourself — it breaks the algorithm.
- Don't edit cards during review. Flag cards to revise, edit later in a batch.
- Never skip a day. 3-day skips explode the queue to unmanageable.
New Card Pace
Cap: 15 new cards/day for first 30 days. Then 20/day max.
For your 8-week module = ~900 cards total = 110/week = sustainable at 15/day.
Card creation cadence:
- 30-60 min on Saturday: turn the week's notes into cards.
- 15 min after each lecture: quick-create cards for that day's key concepts.
- NEVER batch-create 100 cards in one session. You'll design them badly.
The 7 Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Over-stuffed cards. 'List all 7 cranial nerves' = 1 impossible card. Instead: 7 separate cards.
2. Pre-made deck as primary. AnKing/Zanki have 30,000+ cards. You'll drown. Use as REFERENCE for concepts you struggle with — not primary study method.
3. Rote memorization of definitions. Instead of 'what is heart failure?' use cloze on specific clinical features.
4. Skipping reviews 3+ days. Queue explodes exponentially. If skipped, do small amounts to catch up, never marathon.
5. Not deleting bad cards. If a card fails 4+ times, rebuild it with better wording — don't grind.
6. Reviewing cards from topics you haven't seen in lecture yet. Pre-studying via cards is inefficient — do lecture/reading first.
7. No image occlusion for visual content. Cardiology is 40% visual (ECGs, anatomy). If you're using only text cards, you're handicapping yourself.
Exit Criteria
For this module (8-week horizon):
- You can recall 90%+ of your cardiology cards without hesitation
- You can explain major concepts out loud without cues
- Exam day: cards felt familiar, not surprising
For USMLE (7-month horizon):
- Mature cards stabilize — review load becomes ~45 min/day with minimal new cards
- 85%+ retention on monthly deep-review samples
After module exam: don't delete the deck. Keep reviewing 20 min/day on cardiology cards alone. Compound knowledge pays off at USMLE.
Key Takeaways
- One deck with tags, not 10 sub-decks. Deck sprawl is the #2 abandonment cause.
- 15 new cards/day max, split daily review into AM/PM. Sustainability > volume.
- Image occlusion for ECGs is non-negotiable for you. Cardiology is visual — use visual tools.
Common use cases
- Medical / law students memorizing large volumes of specific facts
- Language learners building vocabulary + grammar patterns
- Programmers learning syntax / APIs of new languages
- Trivia / Jeopardy-style knowledge acquisition
- Students memorizing formulas for exams
- Anyone studying for certifications (CFA, AWS, CISSP, etc.)
- History, geography, or any fact-dense domain
Best AI model for this
Claude Sonnet 4.5 or any mid-tier. Card design with moderate pedagogical reasoning.
Pro tips
- Minimum Information Principle (Piotr Wozniak): one fact per card. NOT 'list all 7 cranial nerves' — separate card per nerve.
- Cloze deletion beats Q/A for most contextual knowledge. Deletions test recall in context, which is how you'll actually use the knowledge.
- Review consistently, not obsessively. 15-20 min daily > 2 hours every 5 days. Spacing algorithm breaks if you batch.
- Don't add more than 20 new cards/day unless you're in intense study mode. Otherwise review burden explodes.
- Delete cards that keep failing. If a card fails 4+ times, it's badly designed. Don't grind — rebuild.
- Add cards IN CONTEXT, not from generic flashcard libraries. Your own cards (even messy ones) retain 3-4x better than pre-made decks.
Customization tips
- Install Image Occlusion Enhanced add-on on day 1 — it's the single biggest leverage for medical content.
- Keep a 'cards I want to make' doc. When you see a concept you want to memorize but don't have time, jot it. Batch-create on Saturdays.
- Every Sunday: audit failing cards. Rebuild the top 5 worst ones. This maintenance prevents burnout.
- Don't share your deck. Building cards is 50% of learning. Sharing = letting someone skip the learning.
- For USMLE prep: at month 5, add AnKing's most-used cards for UNFAMILIAR topics only. Don't replace your deck.
Variants
Medical Student Mode
For USMLE, biology, anatomy — fact-dense + relational knowledge.
Language Learning Mode
For vocabulary + grammar. Different card structures than fact-based domains.
Code / API Mode
For programmers. Pattern-based cards that test application, not just recall.
Frequently asked questions
How do I use the Spaced Repetition System Builder prompt?
Open the prompt page, click 'Copy prompt', paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini, and replace the placeholders in curly braces with your real input. The prompt is also launchable directly in each model with one click.
Which AI model works best with Spaced Repetition System Builder?
Claude Sonnet 4.5 or any mid-tier. Card design with moderate pedagogical reasoning.
Can I customize the Spaced Repetition System Builder prompt for my use case?
Yes — every Promptolis Original is designed to be customized. Key levers: Minimum Information Principle (Piotr Wozniak): one fact per card. NOT 'list all 7 cranial nerves' — separate card per nerve.; Cloze deletion beats Q/A for most contextual knowledge. Deletions test recall in context, which is how you'll actually use the knowledge.
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