Reviews Build Memory, Quizzes Test It
Most flashcard apps only offer one way to study: flip the card, see the answer, move on. Flica does something different. It separates reviews (building memory) from quizzes (testing knowledge). Here's why that matters.
TL;DR
- Reviews: See the answer, rate how well you knew it (Again / Easy). Free, unlimited.
- Quizzes: Answer multiple-choice questions to prove you actually know it. Uses AI credits.
- Both matter: Reviews build memory; quizzes validate understanding
Reviews: Self-Assessment
In a review session, you see the front of a card, try to recall the answer, then flip to check. After seeing the answer, you rate yourself:
"I didn't know this"
Card comes back soon
"I knew this well"
Card scheduled for later
This is subjective. You decide how well you knew it. The FSRS algorithm trusts your judgment and schedules your next review accordingly. Want to know more about FSRS? Check out our 'Why Your Brain Needs FSRS' guide.
Reviews are unlimited and free. Do as many as you want, anytime.
Quizzes: Objective Testing
Quizzes work differently. Instead of seeing the answer, you're given a multiple-choice question. You must pick the correct answer from 4-5 options.
This is objective. Either you know it or you don't. No room for "I kind of knew it" — the answer is right or wrong.
Quiz Session Structure
- 10 questions per session
- Multiple-choice format (4-5 options)
- See your score and wrong answers at the end
- Uses 1 AI Credit per session
How They Work Together
Here's the key insight: quiz scores influence your review schedule.
When you answer a quiz correctly, Flica gains confidence that you truly know the material. This can extend your next review interval. If you get it wrong, the card comes back sooner.
| Reviews | Quizzes | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Build memory | Test knowledge |
| Format | Flip card, self-rate | Multiple-choice |
| Assessment | Subjective | Objective |
| Cost | Free (unlimited) | 1 Credit / session |
| Affects FSRS | Yes (base interval) | Yes (weight modifier) |
When to Use Each
Use Reviews for...
- • Daily study sessions
- • Learning new material
- • Quick refreshers during commute
- • Building long-term memory
Use Quizzes for...
- • Testing yourself before an exam
- • Validating that you truly understand
- • Identifying weak spots
- • Getting objective feedback
The Problem with Reviews Alone
Self-assessment has a flaw: we often overestimate how well we know something. You see the answer, think "oh yeah, I knew that," and press Easy. But did you really know it? Or did you just recognize it after seeing it?
This is called the illusion of competence. Quizzes break this illusion by forcing you to produce the answer, not just recognize it.
Recognition is easy. Recall is hard. Quizzes test recall.
FAQ
Q: Do I have to take quizzes?
A: No. Quizzes are optional. You can learn effectively with reviews alone. Quizzes are an extra layer of validation.
Q: Are review and quiz counts tracked separately?
A: Yes. Review sessions and quiz sessions are completely independent. Doing 10 reviews and 5 quizzes counts as separate activities.
Q: What if I fail a quiz?
A: Wrong answers are shown at the end of the session so you can learn from them. The cards you missed will appear sooner in your reviews.
Q: How are quiz questions generated?
A: AI generates quiz questions from your cards. The same questions are reused across users for consistency, so everyone studying the same material gets the same quiz.
Q: How do I get more AI Credits?
A: Free users get 5 credits automatically refreshed each day. For more, upgrade to a paid plan for 30 credits per day. Reviews are always free.