Comparison
Flashcards vs. interview guides for IB prep
A 400-page interview guide and a flashcard app both promise to get you the offer. Here's how they actually stack up — cost, retention, speed, and what happens the morning of your superday.
| Traditional guide | FlashcardPrep | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | 400+ page PDF or book | 1,000+ short flashcards |
| Price | $200–$500 one-time | $2/month, cancel anytime |
| Session length | Needs 30–60 min blocks | Works in 5 minutes or 50 |
| Retention | Read once, forget | Spaced recall, mark known vs. review |
| Updates | Static — the version you bought | New cards every week |
| Progress tracking | None | Synced across phone & laptop |
| Coverage | Interview questions | Interviews + finance exam prep |
When a traditional guide still makes sense
If you have three months, love reading long-form, and want one canonical text to underline — a book is fine. It's the classical way to prep, and thousands of analysts have gotten in that way.
When flashcards win
You have a superday next week. You're juggling class, a club, and networking coffees. You need the answers to be reflex — not "I know I read this somewhere." That's what spaced flashcards are built for, and that's why we built FlashcardPrep.