Anki Settings: A Complete Guide and Recommended Settings For Medical School

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I have slaved over perfecting my Anki settings. I spend about 3-5 hours on Anki every day. I started doing Anki religiously in November of 2019, which is about 2,300 hours on Anki. That’s crazy. I know it’s crazy though. So If I am this crazy, and spending this much of my precious life with Anki, I better be using it as best as I can. I have found the settings, that I think, work best.
This is a long video, so buckle in!
📜 Write Up - www.zhighley.com/anki-settings/
📸 Instagram - / ​
🐧 Twitter - / zachhighley​
Conaanaa (Suppy, M.D) Video: • Guide to Anki Interval...
AnKing Video: • Anki: Recommended Sett...
AnKing Website: www.ankipalace.com/post/best-...
True Retention Anki App: ankiweb.net/shared/info/61368...
Anki Scheduler 2.1: anki.tenderapp.com/kb/anki-ec...
Here are some of my other videos:
Why I'm able to study 70+ hours a week and not burn out (how to stay efficient): • Why I'm able to study ...
How I Take 0 Notes in Medical School
How I Study For Exams in Medical School | 9 Day Plan: • How I Study For Exams ... ​
How to use Anki like a Pro | Med School Guide: • How to use Anki like a... ​
My Medical School Essentials: • My Medical School Esse... ​
The Best Daily Workflow for Medical School: • My Daily Workflow for ... ​
Day in The Life of a Medical Student (Vlog): • A Day in The Life of a... ​
Medical school finals week (Vlog): • Medical School Finals ... ​
Time Stamps:
0:00​ Intro
0:57 How to Use This Video
2:22 Preferences
8:04 Learning Cards
13:03 Graduated Cards
13:12 Hard
14:12 Good
15:48 Ease Factor
17:20 Easy
18:08 Lapses
20:16 Ease Hell
24:03 Learning Steps
28:41 Reviews Settings
32:11 Lapse Settings
35:21 General Settings
35:51 Fuzz Factor
37:52 ALL SETTINGS
40:26 Well Done
Sources:
1. Murre JM, Dros J. Replication and Analysis of Ebbinghaus’ Forgetting Curve. PLoS One. 2015;10(7):e0120644. Published 2015 Jul 6. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0120644
2. Leitner, S. 1. (1991). So lernt man lernen: [angewandte Lernpsychologie - ein Weg zum Erfolg] (Sonderausg., 16. Aufl.). Freiburg im Breisgau [u.a.]: Herder.
3. www.cc.kyoto-su.ac.jp/informat...
4. eshapard.github.io/anki/targe...
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Who am I:
My name is Zach. I’m a second-year medical student in Philadelphia. I make videos about medical school, entrepreneurship, and other cool things. I love trying new things and often mess up. However, every time I screw up I usually learn something. Whatever I learn I post either on KZbin or my website 🌐 (zhighley.com/​).
I write a weekly newsletter 💌 (zhighley.com/newsletter/​) linking the best things I read, watched, and listened to that week. Join the 300+ that read it every Sunday morning.
The Gear I Use to film videos: zhighley.com/resources/#_YouT…​
What I’m Reading: zhighley.com/resources/#_Books

[@jasminedragon9]

For anyone with the newer version of Anki, when you try to access deck settings, the interface is different from the one you see in Zach's video; hold Shift while you're clicking on the settings gear symbol and continue to hold it while you're clicking on "Options," if you want to see the old interface

[@francescogambioli8617]

U are a lifesaver

[@pranayborale3059]

Thanks buddy

[@ArnoldEagle02]

THANK YOU

[@bBertOx]

u are my hero

[@hollaachagurl92]

YOU DA BEST!!!!

[@AliBaba-vw7mo]

1) Has a calm, smooth voice 2) Jumps straight to the point 3) Explains points very well

[@namehere630]

+ cute af

[@JurbzMUSICoh]

@@namehere630 yeah right 😍

[@Hadi-tr3jg]

+With 650 Daily average 🔥

[@swiftiepharbz]

i subscribed a few days ago when you had 17k, and now you have over 40k! really cool to see your channel growing at such a fast pace, and considering the quality of your content, you deserve it. thank you for the helpful videos and keep up the great work! :)

[@estrellas.4418]

I started using anki "today, " spent 6 hrs or so with it - and the struggle to set it 'properly' was real 😂!! (though I know the decks I've created would really help me remember the stuff I'm currently working on) Thanks SO muh for this complete guide. Just exactly what I need now!! 🙏💓

[@ZachHighley]

Hope it helps!

[@dals1622]

Hi! I am actually struggling with the maximal interval I have an exam in 2 weeks , so should I put 15 for maximal interval ? Thanks !

[@chumzuizui1]

I'm so glad I found your channel. Always go straight to the point, condensed but very helpful. That's literally what we call efficiency in providing useful information. Thank you!

[@fatimahal-azzawi2773]

The quality and the organization of these Anki videos is just phenomenal. Keep up the great work!!

[@hussainmemon5139]

This is the best video I’ve seen on anki settings. Not only did you explain everything so well but you also did comparisons with other anki settings videos. Awesome job!

[@thecosmosinadrop6022]

I tried TONS of Anki tutorials, this one is by far THE BEST ANKI TUTORIAL ! Thank you very much for your great explanations, your simplification and for being up to the point !

[@jorgelopez00]

You are a gem my friend. I've been so flip-floppy with anki because i never really understood what the hell was going on, you've completely changed that, thank you!

[@ty5731]

Literally saw you in my recommended and then saw your channel with consistent video quality and cinematics, with lifestyle and med school advice. May your channel grow!

[@ZachHighley]

Thanks!

[@ty5731]

@@ZachHighley You’re welcome!

[@TheScrubbybear]

​@@ty5731 I'm totally in the same boat :) But I'm curious, do you ever refer to the stats or settings page after setting to AnKing's / Zach's recommended? I've been using Anki for some time and I've never used those two pages.. am I missing out on something? I usually just unsuspend relevant decks after watching content (as Zach recommends) and then simply review daily :) Wondering if it's necessary to refer to those settings/stats :)))

[@ihuomakings8298]

Medical student here all the way in nigeria,west africa. I deeply appreciate you content ,really amazing and all the same inspiring, keep'em coming,more grace sir.

[@iBuyBitcoin]

very softspoken, polite and explains well to his viewers, youre gonna be an excellent doctor. 💯

[@AdrianA-le8nx]

bloody hell the production quality in this video is deserving of at least 500k subs. i give it a year.

[@ayahqadri9859]

Absolutely the best anki tutorial. I tried using it a year ago and gave up pretty quickly. This video is very well made and what ive been looking for for a WHILE now. Thank youSOOO MUCH!!!!!! Also love ur channel. Everything u make is just legendary. I just have to say, u r literally Dr. Mike’s doppelgänger. Incase no one has informed u yet lol THANKS AGAIN!!

[@andreaps8966]

This is the BEST video about Anki I've ever seen, you explained everything about the app settings not only the basic stuff everybody talks about ¡Thank U!

[@MikeyAtalla]

Great edit. You're under-appreciated IMO. I know how tough it is to do all those Anki cards in one day while balancing lecture and KZbin. I'm excited to see what your future holds 🙏

[@ZachHighley]

Thank you!

[@annasappington5911]

Best settings/anki video I've seen! Usually don't comment much but wanted to say thank you for putting in the time/effort to make this. Much appreciated!

[@BruceWayne-wb4tm]

Best video on ANKI settings!! Should've watched this before i started, this is much better than the explanation on the manual, realized I've been hitting easy too much, great vid mate! I'd recommend this video before anything else to someone who's just getting started

[@wr7817]

Bro I was here since the 2k mark and now look bro. Onwards and upwards and happy to say I’ve been part of the journey

[@ZachHighley]

thanks - this past week has been insane

[@alncdr]

@@ZachHighley you've been blessed by algorithm gods

[@countclaudedecastro2894]

I binged most of your uploads today; great work! This upload on the granularity of ANKI is most helpful.

[@serendipity9848]

Okay so I am at that period of my life when I have some really difficult exams (no med student tho) and didn't know how to even start the prep. Plus, thanks to covid, I haven't been out in a year( and yes I was out of breath when I went out to walk with my mom and she wasn't) so I had been contemplating running but didn't have the motivation and miraculously I came across your channel a few days ago and boom! Both issues solved in a day!! Just downloaded Anki and ordered a couple things I need for running. Thank you so much! Ps : you just got yourself a fan lol, please make more videos on running too!!

[@aydanmarc]

Hey Zach, I'm a Provisional Psychologist working in Australia completing an internship which has all the same study commitments as a Masters Program but with self-directed study. After using Notion and a myriad of other applications, I have found that your Anki method has been the most effective. Aside from having to create most of my own cards, it has been a blessing. Thank you so much for dedicating the time to showing people a legitimate, evidence-based process for learning and retaining information. You present the information so clearly and logically. I also love how you emphasise personal preference for study. For too long, we have all focused on the clichés like highlighting, re-reading, and cramming. Now I can create new cards and review past content in the one place. Keep smashing goals dude, i'll be watching religiously!

[@EBJorge-ql1ii]

That’s a too long card

[@aliabdullahrizwan6774]

Your anki tutorial is the best! It helped me so much. And now this video is just what i further needed. As i commented earlier This is Highley appreciated

[@mo-hammadabunaser1367]

Starting Anki tomorrow morning, planning to use it for about 1 year for my Step 1 and 2CK exams, this video was very helpful, thank you!

[@samuellucarochapinheiro9849]

OMG!!!! Your channel is just so perfect and underrated! Thx for this masterpiece!

[@FaisalNaeem03]

BROOOOOOO, YOU'RE GROWING. I looked last week and you were on around 17K. KEEP IT GOING

[@cardiacmyxoma4073]

You have absolutely no idea how helpful this is. Thank you SO much!!

[@sharongonzales5408]

I’ve been binge watching his content for the past two days now since I came across his channel. I’ve been recommending it to friends nonstop!

[@ZachHighley]

Thank you so much!

[@arafatkadir]

loving your videos fr. You are really informative, keep up the good work man!

[@akinotbunny]

Thank you so much! I thought I could only find videos with such quality in those "top" channels. Your channel should be discovered by more people! I'm a high school student and I've used Anki for about one year till now. Honestly, I was just doing Anki but I didn't really understand how to make it suitable for my own learning pace and subjects. Thank you so much for this video! It's really informative!

[@strawberrycake2888]

omg another anki high school user ! Hey, I was wondering if you changed your settings exactly like him? :>

[@FahadSheraidah]

My favorite KZbinr of all time. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[@neveronasunday533]

What a brilliant video. Thanks a ton for making this. You're am incredible Anki warrior!

[@b.diptiranjan3308]

Hii Zach !! Really , thanks for this type of videos which are helping me to improve myself. 😊😊

[@keitavanryckeghem9357]

I am 33 years old and I am a first-year medical student in Montpellier, France. I was about to give up few weeks ago by being overwhelmed with all this lessons to learn and understand. I did not know Anki and thanks to you, I am using it all day long and I can already tell that's a very efficient and powerful tool. I have tried both version software and the mobile app and I've already seen a big difference in my understanding and in my memorizing capacities. Thanks a lot Zach.

[@maelprtn]

et alors tu as finalement réussis ?

[@aslam9971]

The video quality is seriously amazing, hope your channel will grow .

[@bistpoems]

Absolutely loved this video! I haven't seen an Anki tutorial this good!

[@focusfernand0]

You are a king. Thank you so much for this! You probably already have one, but here’s another crown 👑 you deserve it...

[@shahrezqureshi]

You have wonderful content! I loved this video for the way it explained the intervals and other things of the ilk. Thank you!

[@LASAGNA_LARRY]

Rising M2 here coming back to get it all figured out for this next year of board studying. This vid is absolutely fantastic! Thanks man.

[@cardiologydr_maks8920]

Your videos are being very useful for me. After I started watching your videos, I could more improve in my study.Now I try to use all of your study tips that are very useful. Thanks so much

[@Paula-zo8cu]

Im starting med school tomorrow and been watching your videos for months already! Thank you for all the advices. I feel like i'm getting to med school more prepared and confident 💪🏻😍

[@paris17086]

how was your school journey. Did Anki an effective way for studying ?

[@Spopo9002]

yesterday I just thought that I have to dig a little bit more on anki's settings. And here you are... You may underestimate what you're doing but it really helps ..thanks a lot

[@Jose-cu3ff]

Easily one of the best anki tutorial videos on youtube now.

[@fahimad8249]

Sorry but you are wayyy too underrated 🥺🥺🥺 can you imagine, I never ever can be asked to watch youtubers that talk about productivity because I feel like they're too long but with your videos, I actually fully watch them BECAUSE THEYRE SO USEFUL ANDDDD i have been refusing to learn how to use anki for so long now because i thought it was a hassle, but with your videos, I actually downloaded it, fixed up the settings according to YOUR video, already made some notes AND memoriesd themm :DDD THANK YOUUU

[@inesconstancio9]

Your content is so helpful and the quality is amazing! 100k this year for sure.

[@ZachHighley]

Thanks!

[@DoctorAmedicine]

More like 100K this month. Get it, Zach!

[@inesconstancio9]

@@DoctorAmedicine Yes!

[@blacksunsettn]

The numbers are climbing so fast it's dizzying!! 🤯

[@alkim9962]

I saw your channel a few months back when it had way less subscribers. Your channel will exponentially grow! How do you not have at least 1 million subscribers by now? Hopefully the algorithm picks up!

[@erfanozulfikar6378]

Last night i was just thinking “how am i supposed to do with my anki deck??” Now here you are giving all i need to maximize anki... how on earth this algorithm works ?!?! Thank you so much Zach for your guidance ! I am medical student from Indonesia 🇲🇨

[@michkaza]

Yay thanks for this update Zach!

[@alisinarahimi4587]

Thank you so much! This is just what I needed. Keep up the good work

[@MadMD2026]

Thanks for the video, I'm trying to 'hack' my brain for MCAT study and plan on using this in future med school, so the advice is very helpful for both of these goals. Also, love the snow outside your window - provides a nice ambience =P

[@yathprem]

This man’s work rate, phenomenal. Keep it up chief 💪🏾

[@ZachHighley]

thanks dude!

[@akhilsirasanagandla1184]

You are the best. I never know that we can learn things this way. Recently subbed. I am going to try this out as a software engineer.

[@jblove53]

This is by far the best explaination of Anki. Thank you

[@MrRaphaelSanchez]

Youre Channel will explode in the near future for sure! Great content, love it - keep up the great work :)

[@faribaj.4619]

Thank you very much for the very helpful video. I started to use Anki last year for my written exam on anesthesiology (I'm an anesthesiology resident). It was amazing as I could review my cards on go. But I've used to lose my cards. I will have my board exam in 7 months and definitely I'm going to try the new setting as you described. I wish you success in your coming exam. Thanks again.

[@SigmaGee]

Sooo helpful...Love your tutorials....simple and straight.

[@hannguyenngoc7269]

I have been searching for the explanation for anki algorithm and yr video is the easiest one that i can understand. Thank u 🥰

[@justmalik_]

I have never understood the Anki settings, until I saw your video! Thanks a lot for the clearification ♥

[@EddiePhillips7]

Nice one! Quality and value of content in your videos is amazing dude.

[@ZachHighley]

Thanks dude

[@deedeee6271]

Yes! Thank you for this. Love your channel!

[@ZachHighley]

You are welcome!

[@ispasani]

Simply the best anki tutorial out there!

[@kelseybrennan420]

Thank you for your dedication to learning anki. I would be way too lazy to learn all of this on my own. Very impressive

[@nancy9858]

Your voice is so calming, I'm really happy that youtube recommended your channel to me

[@Jose-cu3ff]

LOL. His channel makes you feel less stressed out just watching it. Huge contrast to other medical school vlogs.

[@nancy9858]

@@Jose-cu3ff He makes things seem so easy

[@LuigiGonzales]

I’m about a month into my first year of med school and I’m still trying to get the hang of Anki 😭 this video helps so much!!!

[@nathanfischer8066]

Thank you for your effort to help others to spend less time learning more than they ever could

[@joessonguf]

Totally excited for using Anki now

[@faheem4988]

I needed this. Thank you sooo much!!!

[@aleksandrag813]

I've been binge-watching your channel pretty much the whole day, haha and I must say you are like ali abdaal+ dr mike combination! Of course in a good sense, love your content so much! Can't wait for your comeback ;D

[@James-nj3kk]

Senior Premed about to start medical school and I just got to say thank you! This was better than some courses I have taken on how to use Anki! You should think about creating Skillshare courses!

[@ZachHighley]

Thank you! Hope it's helpful - not a bad idea...

[@vibalearningchanel1567]

Really good video and it helped me a lot to understand Anki better. And its very easy to understand

[@matheusguedes7122]

You saved my life!!! Hug from Brazil

[@EM-mk8jk]

Thank you so much for your channel. Very helpful and inspiring 🤩🤩

[@davidbruce-boye2290]

brilliant video Zach.

[@cooperstateler]

Starting Med School Monday. Thank you for saving my life!

[@asmidris377]

Oh what an effort, huge thanks!

[@ifrahakbar32]

He is pretty, dedicated, talks softly, and explains so well - I mean, is he for real!? Subscribed!

[@fOreVine]

Thank you so much) This video is highly informative and helpful!

[@mikolajochocki2810]

Jesus Christ. Your channel grew by another 10k in 1 day. Good on you. Well deserved

[@rumplestiltskin4853]

Very comprehensive, explaining and professional guide, thanks man.

[@ZachHighley]

Thanks for watching

[@joshi4038]

Thank you for giving us an info about reviewing!💚

[@ahmadmousa4362]

Great video! Keep up the good work.

[@celina-]

Amok has literally saved my college career I am so mad I found out about it my senior year, but wow thanks for this video! It’s so helpful, you rock for not being a gatekeeper lmao

[@RJ-ht1sg]

In-depth, Comprehensive, Helpful

[@rjjirish]

40 mins. This was the Anki tutorial we have all been waiting for.

[@jing327]

Thank you so much for this. I've been using anki for around 2 months and it did great help in my language studying, but I kind of getting tired while the cards piling up. Now I get better understanding of the background algorithm and I think I will adjust a bit and give another try. Great video!

[@noaprendaisingles6861]

Did it work?

[@Cientificandocanal]

Amazing content! I wish a lot of sucess. Best regards from Brazil

[@InsideEarth_ORIGINAL]

You're like Ali Abdaal. Found a new useful channel in my life!

[@sydney4492]

I can't imagine having to read/learn all this on my own. Thanks so much!

[@xiamsmoke4957]

Richtig gutes Video vielen Dank dafür! Das war super hilfreich :)

[@MadleyTiberton]

Very good video. Brilliant explanation. Thanks bro

[@Ahmed_Abdulsattar7]

I saw the whole video 😁 Awesome Really appreciate it ❤❤

[@saracrazy7425]

I found one of your video in my homepage and after that I watched all of your videos. I'm a 32 y.o. Student and I found your videos and your method really helpful! In my first degree, when I was younger and I had lot of time for study I used all the methods (like highlithings, write everything down in long summary..) but right now with a family and a full time job I wanted to find a more effective way to use my little time for study and I found lot of inspiration from your video :) Greetings from Italy 😀

[@ZachHighley]

Fantastico! Grazi

[@adiyantipratiwi610]

i love the way you explain 😍😍😍

[@melissaharju]

How is the content so incredibly informative AND the video itself is a cinematic masterpiece. And this is all free? Our little high quality productivity secret. Ah, life is good.

[@eurisko7119]

thank you so much. I always tried to learn and understand the Algo but to no avail because English is my second language and all the other resources and videos are so much complicated. and thank you for the pomodoro videos there 're very helpful and made me focus more.

[@rasyal9718]

Today you earned a subscriber bro...and i will tell my all friends in medical school about you...🤩

[@DakodaS246]

I am going to school to be a real estate agent and learning Spanish on the side. I have been trying to find a better way to study my course work than just rereading and re watching (which I feel is a waste of time/I never remember anything from it) the lectures and come across your other videos on how to study more effectively. This video was great on showing me how to use anki for my learning needs. Thanks.

[@SurajJhaIn]

Thanks a ton for making us understand Anki!

[@joefalsetta9181]

Thank you, this was helpful, even for a NP student.

[@abhilashmishra5397]

His voice is kinda soothing ❤️ oddly calm