Many GRE students wonder whether they should take the time to create flashcards to study from during their test prep. In this article, we’ll look at the top 5 reasons why I recommend to all of my GRE students that they create and regularly use GRE prep flashcards, starting with the fact that flashcards can help students prepare not only for the GRE Verbal section but also for the Quant section.

I recommend to all of my GRE students that they create and regularly use GRE prep flashcards


You may have heard that vocabulary flashcards are an invaluable tool for learning important GRE words (if you haven’t, check out my article on how to remember GRE words easily). However, it turns out that flashcards are great memorization tools not only for GRE vocabulary but also for Quant study.

There are a large number of equations and formulas that test-takers must remember in order to score high on GRE Quant. Flashcards isolate a formula you need to learn, so you can really focus on it and create an image of it in your mind. And just as flashcards are great for vocabulary practice, they are an easy and effective way to drill essential math concepts.


Flashcards are one of the most versatile study tools at a GRE student’s disposal because every student can tailor them according to his or her study preferences. Some students like to use handwritten, paper flashcards, or like to use paper cards of different colors to, for example, track the difficulty level of the GRE vocabulary words they’ve learned. Other students like the ease and portability of digital flashcards.

You can also use flashcards to shake up how you study. For instance, flashcards make it easy for friends or family to quiz you on what you’ve been learning.


GRE flashcards allow you to study on the go and thus fit in “quick-hit” sessions anytime, anywhere. Your commute to school or work, a wait in line at the supermarket, or a lunch break are all-important opportunities to get in a few minutes of studying or quizzing yourself. GRE prep is a cumulative process, so all of those minutes add up!