Find answers to common questions about Surge FlashCards, spaced repetition, and effective learning.
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Surge is an AI-powered learning platform that combines flashcards, spaced repetition, quizzes, and games to help you master any subject faster. Whether you're studying for exams, learning a language, building professional skills, or exploring personal interests, Surge provides science-backed tools to accelerate learning and improve long-term retention.
There are several ways to create decks in Surge:
Yes! Surge offers a generous free tier that includes:
Credits are only needed for AI-powered features like AI flashcard generation, AI quiz creation, lesson plans, and course outlines. Free users can purchase credit bundles as needed, or upgrade to a paid subscription for monthly credit allowances and additional features.
Surge currently works on:
Coming soon: Native iOS and Android apps are in development and will be available for download shortly!
No! Surge is a web application that runs entirely in your browser. Just visit surgeflashcards.com, sign up (or sign in), and start learning immediately. No downloads, installations, or updates required. Your decks and progress are automatically saved to the cloud and accessible from any device.
Spaced repetition is a scientifically-proven learning technique where you review information at increasing intervals over time. Instead of cramming everything at once (which leads to rapid forgetting), you review material right before you're about to forget it. Each successful review strengthens the memory and extends how long you'll retain it. Research shows spaced repetition can improve long-term retention by 200% or more compared to traditional studying methods.
Surge offers three study modes for different learning goals:
You can change study modes anytime - choose what works for your current goal!
Use Cram mode when:
Use Long-Term Memory mode when:
Pro tip: Start with Long-Term Memory for steady learning, then add Cram sessions closer to test dates for intensive review!
After reviewing each flashcard, you rate how well you remembered it:
These ratings help the SM-2 algorithm personalize your review schedule. Be honest with yourself - accurate ratings lead to optimal learning efficiency!
Yes! You can change study modes anytime on the deck card (found on "My Decks" or "Favorites" pages). Your selection is saved per deck, and the next time you study that deck, it will use your chosen mode. This flexibility lets you adapt to your current learning goals - use Long-Term Memory most of the time, switch to Cram when a test approaches, or use My Pace for quick reference.
SM-2 is a spaced repetition algorithm developed by Piotr WoΕΊniak in 1987 for the SuperMemo software. It's one of the most well-researched and effective algorithms for scheduling reviews. SM-2 calculates optimal review intervals based on your difficulty ratings, gradually increasing intervals for cards you know well (1 day β 3 days β 7 days β 16 days β 35 days, etc.) while keeping challenging cards on shorter schedules. Surge's Long-Term Memory mode uses SM-2 to create a personalized, scientifically-optimized review schedule for each of your cards.
Simply enter a topic (e.g., "Spanish irregular verbs," "World War II," "Python programming"), choose your difficulty level and desired number of cards, and Surge's AI will generate a comprehensive, professionally-structured deck in seconds. Each card includes a clear question, accurate answer, and helpful explanation. The AI draws from vast knowledge bases to create high-quality educational content that would take hours to create manually.
AI-generated flashcards cost 10 credits per card. So a 20-card deck would use 200 credits, a 50-card deck would use 500 credits, etc. Credits can be purchased in bundles or are included monthly with paid subscriptions. Manually-created flashcards are always completely free, no matter how many you make!
Credits are Surge's currency for AI-powered features. There are two types:
Subscription credits are used first, then purchased credits. Free users can buy credit bundles without a subscription!
Subscription credits expire at the end of each billing cycle (monthly) - unused credits don't roll over.
Purchased credits last for 1 year of account inactivity. Any activity (logging in, generating a deck, taking a quiz, etc.) resets the inactivity timer, so active users' purchased credits essentially never expire!
Absolutely! AI-generated cards are fully editable. After generation, you can edit questions, simplify answers, add personal notes, include images, adjust difficulty levels, or delete cards you don't need. Many users start with AI generation for speed and comprehensive coverage, then personalize cards to match their learning style. It's the best of both worlds!
Surge offers three quiz formats:
Multiple Choice quizzes test recognition - you see the correct answer among options and identify it. They're faster, feel easier, and are great for quick reviews or when you're first learning material.
Typed Answer quizzes test pure recall - you must generate the complete answer from memory. They're more challenging but produce much stronger learning effects. Research shows recall-based testing (like typed answers) creates 50-100% better long-term retention than recognition-based testing (like multiple choice).
Best strategy: Use multiple choice for quick practice, typed answers for serious exam prep!
Surge Storm is a timed challenge where you answer as many flashcard questions as possible before the timer runs out. Correct answers extend your time, wrong answers cost time. It's perfect for fast-paced review and building recall speed.
Surge Challenge is a strategic board game where you move through tiles by correctly answering flashcard questions. Different tile types offer bonuses, challenges, and strategic decisions. It makes studying feel like playing a game!
Both games use active recall principles while making learning fun and engaging. They're especially effective for maintaining motivation during long study sessions.
Currently, quiz scores and game performance are tracked for your progress monitoring but don't directly affect flashcard review schedules. Your spaced repetition intervals are based solely on the difficulty ratings you give during flashcard review sessions. This separation ensures your Long-Term Memory schedule stays consistent and scientifically optimized, while quizzes and games provide additional practice and assessment.
Teams allow educators, trainers, and study group leaders to create shared learning environments. Team owners can invite members, share decks, track progress, and manage permissions. Teams are perfect for classrooms, corporate training programs, study groups, or any collaborative learning scenario.
Yes! You can share decks in several ways:
When someone copies your shared deck, they get their own independent copy to study and customize without affecting your original.
Yes! Team owners and administrators can view progress dashboards showing:
This helps educators identify students who need additional support and track class-wide learning progress.
The free tier includes:
AI-powered features require credits, which can be purchased in bundles or included with paid subscriptions.
Surge offers several subscription tiers with increasing monthly credit allowances and additional features. Visit the Pricing page in your account to see current plans and pricing. All paid plans include priority support, advanced analytics, team features, and other premium capabilities in addition to monthly credits for AI generation.
To upgrade:
Your new benefits and monthly credits are available immediately upon upgrade!
Yes! Free users can purchase one-time credit bundles without subscribing. These purchased credits roll over month-to-month and last for 1 year of account inactivity. This is perfect if you only occasionally need AI features or prefer to pay as you go rather than commit to a monthly subscription.
Daily practice is ideal for spaced repetition. Even 10-15 minutes per day is more effective than occasional marathon sessions. Consistency matters more than duration - your brain consolidates memories during sleep and rest periods between study sessions. If you're using Long-Term Memory mode, reviewing your scheduled cards daily ensures you catch cards at their optimal review timing.
For Cram mode, intensive sessions closer to your test date work best (e.g., 30-60 minutes daily for 3-5 days before an exam).
Follow these evidence-based best practices:
Multiple short sessions are dramatically more effective than one long session. This is called "distributed practice" in learning science. Your brain consolidates memories during breaks and sleep, so spreading learning over time creates stronger, more durable knowledge. Aim for 20-45 minute sessions with breaks in between, or several short daily sessions rather than marathon weekend cramming.
Motivation tips from experienced learners:
Active recall is retrieving information from memory without prompts. It's the opposite of passive review (re-reading notes or highlighting textbooks). Research consistently shows active recall produces 50-150% better retention than passive study methods. Flashcards are one of the most effective active recall tools because they force you to generate answers from memory before seeing the correct response.
Can't find what you're looking for? Sign in and explore Surge - the interface is intuitive and you'll discover features as you go. Or dive into our blog for in-depth learning science articles!
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