Q/A cards ask a direct question with a stated answer. Cloze cards fill in a blank within a sentence. Use Q/A for discrete facts and definitions. Use cloze for vocabulary in context, process steps, and anything where the surrounding words matter to the meaning.
Q/A Cards: Best For
Isolated facts (dates, names, values), definitions where you need to recall the term from the description, and concept questions. Example: “Q: What does ATP stand for? / A: Adenosine triphosphate.”
Cloze Cards: Best For
Vocabulary in context (“The ___ cycle produces ATP, NADH, and FADH2 / Krebs”), grammatical patterns in language learning, and process steps where context matters. Cloze forces you to read the whole sentence, which helps with retention.
Mixing Both in Your Leitner System
Most learners use both. Write Q/A cards for definitions and facts; cloze cards for applications. Both formats work in your physical Leitner boxes — just mark cloze cards with an underline on the front and put the full sentence on the back. Download the quality checklist — it applies to both formats.
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