Anki and iatroX: Spaced Recall and Clinical Reasoning
Current iatroX access
askiatroX and the PSA, PARA, MRCP Part 1, MRCEM SBA question banks are free. Other exam banks offer free samples, with full access included in all-access (£29/month or £99/year in the UK; US$29/month or US$99/year elsewhere).
Up to 10 new sample questions per day, shared across exams and subject to availability, with explanations and no account required. One complete guided Tutor session is included with a verified free account; continued Tutor use is included in all-access.
See all-access plans · Access checked . This comparison is published by iatroX.
At a Glance
Who is it for?
iatroX:Students/Clinicians wanting **efficient**, guided learning.
Anki:Students and clinicians using spaced recall with their own or shared decks.
Why choose iatroX?
- **Zero Prep Time**: The AI generates the questions and explanations from guidelines.
- **Contextual Learning**: Links questions back to the full guideline source.
- **Brainstorm Mode**: Applies knowledge to simulated cases, not just isolated facts.
- **Modern UI**: No plugins or configuration needed.
Why choose Anki?
- **Total Control**: You decide exactly what goes on every card.
- **Spaced Review**: Anki schedules your cards, with FSRS available for personalised review intervals.
- **Shared Decks**: Access to massive community-created decks (AnKing, etc.).
- **Offline**: Works perfectly without internet.
Feature Comparison
| Capability | iatroX | Anki |
|---|---|---|
| Content Creation | Question-bank cards and Tutor drafts | User-created and shared decks |
| Focus | Understanding & Application (Clinical) | Retention & Recall (Facts) |
| Cost | Free samples; subscription for full access | Free (Desktop/Android) / Paid (iOS) |
In-Depth Analysis
Overview
Anki supports regular spaced review with your own cards or shared decks. It is useful for retaining facts and distinctions throughout medical training.
iatroX helps you practise clinical questions, understand your reasoning with Tutor and turn useful concepts into revision cards. Review and edit the drafts, then export them to Anki. You can also export selected exam questions with their explanations.
Key Differences
Anki schedules spaced recall across your chosen subjects. iatroX provides clinical questions and guided reasoning. Use them together: work through a mistake in iatroX, keep a focused card and review it in Anki.
Use-Cases
Learning Pharmacology
When to choose iatroX
- Ask 'How do ACE inhibitors work?' then take a generated quiz.
When to choose Anki
- Create 50 cards: 'Mechanism', 'Side Effect 1', 'Side Effect 2', etc.
Exam Cramming
When to choose iatroX
- Use adaptive quizzes to find weak spots quickly.
When to choose Anki
- Review selected cards in an existing deck.
FAQs
- Can I export iatroX questions to Anki?
- Yes. Choose exam questions at iatrox.com/anki and download an .apkg deck, or create focused basic and cloze cards with Tutor. Review and edit Tutor drafts, keep the cards you want, then import your deck into Anki.
- Is iatroX better than Anki for exams?
- They support different parts of revision. Practise clinical reasoning in iatroX and use Anki for spaced recall of the concepts you want to retain.