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Card Structure

Use question-and-answer format

Cards should be written as a question with a cloze-deleted answer, with few exceptions. Cards not in this format may be rejected.

Why only Q&A cards?

Poorly written cards can be "recalled" from their layout or wording rather than true understanding — easy to answer during review, unretrievable on the wards or in an exam. Q&A format with minimal cues largely avoids this.

Example:

Front

Between Anti-CCP and rheumatoid factor, which has the greater specificity for rheumatoid arthritis? […]

Back

… Anti-CCP

Generally also include the inverse card:

Front

Which serological test has the best specificity for rheumatoid arthritis? […]

Making multiple variations of similar cards is encouraged — it forces careful reading and prevents pattern-matching.

When inline cloze is acceptable

Fill-in-the-blank (inline cloze) is for the rare cases where Q&A doesn't fit — typically simple equivalences:

Example

{{c1::Pompholyx}} is also known as {{c2::dyshidrotic eczema}}

If you use inline cloze, make sure there's enough context to work out the missing words. Preview the card to check each cloze makes sense on its own.

Cards with multiple answers

  • If a question has multiple answers, state the number in the question (e.g. "Name the 3 first-line options…"). Exceptions: when the count would make the card trivially easy, or when recalling the count is itself the point.
  • Use the same cloze number for multiple answers to the same question — don't spread one question's answers over c1, c2, c3.
  • For increase/decrease answers, give the hint in fixed order: {{c1::increases::increases/decreases}} — unless the answer is obvious.

📷 Screenshots to migrate: multiple-answer examples

One-by-one cards and mnemonics

One-by-one cards (clozes revealed in sequence) are only appropriate when the items have a meaningful order — a mnemonic or a sequence of treatment:

  • The 5 P's of phaeochromocytoma can not be one-by-one — every item starts with P, so ordered recall is impossible
  • Don't use one-by-one for cards with only 2–3 clozes, unless they're mnemonics
  • To make a card one-by-one, type any text into the 'One-by-one' field

Before using a mnemonic as the card itself, consider a normal Q&A card with the mnemonic as a memory hook in the Extra field.

📷 Screenshots to migrate: mnemonic formatting examples

Randomised elements

The Malleus add-on can randomise card elements (numbers, image sequences, score calculations) so you can't pattern-match — useful for rash identification images and scoring tools (GCS, T-score cut-offs). Look for the Add Random button in the editor.

There is some debate about randomisation's interaction with the Anki algorithm (forum discussion). For specific use cases, contact sabiqul.hoque@malleus.org.au.