The Leitner Study System (A System for Flashcards)

One of the study systems that an individual may consider using in order to study for a particular exam, interview, or other similar purpose is the Leitner Study System. The Leitner Study System, which was designed by Sebastian Leitner during the 1970s, is a process for studying a particular topic by using flashcards in a very specific way. This system is a very effective way for an individual to study for virtually any exam especially if the individual is a visual learner because it allows the individual to read and test him or herself on the material using visual aids. This system can also be very effective for an individual that is studying for a large exam or for an exam that covers a lot of difficult material as it allows an individual to easily identify and separate difficult topics from simple topics.

The Leitner Study System is actually very easy to use as it only consists of a few simple steps. First, the individual should obtain a group of flashcards, either by making them or purchasing them, which cover the most important topics covered on the exam. Once the individual has a set of flashcards related to the material on the exam, the individual should read each flashcard and attempt to determine the best answer to the question or problem that the flashcard presents. If the individual came up with the correct answer, the individual should place that flashcard in a pile for "information that the individual knows." If the individual came up with an answer close to the correct answer or that was partially correct, the individual should place that flashcard in a separate pile for "information that the individual is unsure of." If the individual could not come up with the answer at all or if the individual had no idea how to answer the flashcard, the individual should put the flashcard in a pile for "information that the individual does not know or does not understand." As the individual studies the material each day, that individual should study each pile, starting with the pile of flashcards that he or she does not understand and attempt to answer each question. The individual should then move that flashcard to the appropriate pile based on whether or not the individual answered the question correctly, came close to answering it, or answered it incorrectly. This will ultimately allow the individual to focus on the topics that he or she has the most difficulty understanding.