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Tips for Formulating Knowledge

The rules below summarize key ideas from SuperMemo's "Twenty rules of formulating knowledge." Use them to turn raw material into review-friendly audio cards that are easy to remember and hard to misunderstand.

Keep cards simple​

  • Focus each card on a single fact, concept, or decision.
  • Break complex ideas into smaller, testable pieces.
  • Keep prompts short and the answer as compact as possible.

Example​

Ill-formulated knowledge - Complex and wordy: "Explain the entire process of cellular respiration, including all stages, key molecules, and every enzyme involved."

Well-formulated knowledge - Simple and specific: "What is the main purpose of cellular respiration?"

Use clear, specific prompts​

  • Prefer concrete wording over vague phrasing.
  • Ask about meaning and relationships, not just memorization.
  • Include enough context to avoid ambiguous answers.

Favor understanding over rote recall​

  • Rephrase ideas in your own words before making a card.
  • Turn definitions into examples, contrasts, or explanations.
  • Build cards from interpretations, not copied sentences.

Optimize for long-term recall​

  • Avoid lists unless you can split or group them meaningfully.
  • Add cues that disambiguate similar facts.

Maintain card quality​

  • Edit or delete cards that feel confusing or too broad.
  • Revisit notes and improve cards as your understanding deepens.
  • Keep each card focused on what you expect to remember later.

For a deeper dive, read the full article: https://www.supermemo.com/en/blog/twenty-rules-of-formulating-knowledge