Anki review calculator
How many reviews a day your new cards turn into, how long that takes, and how many new cards a day you need to finish before the exam.
Your plan
Start from an example, then change the numbers.
Your workload
Reviews a day after a month
82
plus 20 new cards
Time a day after a month
24 min
new cards + reviews
Busiest day
125
day 76 · about 21 min
You'll see every card by day 75, 45 days before your exam. Reviews drop after that.
Show as a table (weekly averages)
| Week | New a day | Reviews a day | Time a day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | 21 | 13 min |
| 2 | 20 | 48 | 18 min |
| 3 | 20 | 66 | 21 min |
| 4 | 20 | 76 | 23 min |
| 5 | 20 | 84 | 24 min |
| 6 | 20 | 92 | 25 min |
| 7 | 20 | 99 | 27 min |
| 8 | 20 | 106 | 28 min |
| 9 | 20 | 113 | 29 min |
| 10 | 20 | 119 | 30 min |
| 11 | 14 | 123 | 28 min |
| 12 | 0 | 97 | 16 min |
| 13 | 0 | 78 | 13 min |
| 14 | 0 | 68 | 11 min |
| 15 | 0 | 62 | 10 min |
| 16 | 0 | 58 | 10 min |
| 17 | 0 | 54 | 9 min |
| 18 | 0 | 53 | 9 min |
How to use it
- 1Pick an example or type your own numbers: new cards a day, cards to learn, days until the exam.
- 2Read your reviews and time a day after a month, and your busiest day.
- 3If you won't finish in time, tap the suggested pace, or start earlier.
How the estimate works
- It uses FSRS, the scheduler built into Anki since version 23.10, with Anki's default settings.
- We checked it against Anki's own simulator: within about 10%. Your real numbers depend on how hard your cards are and how often you press Again.
- Rule of thumb: after a month, expect about 4–5 reviews a day for every new card a day (more at 95% retention).
- Missing a day doesn't lose reviews: they wait for you the next day. Keeping new cards steady is easier than catching up.
Sources (checked October 2026): Anki manual: deck options (FSRS)
Questions
How many new Anki cards a day should I do?
Pick the number you can keep up every day, including weekends. Most students do 20–50 a day during a semester, and more before a big exam like the MCAT or boards. Use the calculator to check the time it costs.
Why do my reviews keep growing?
Each new card comes back a few times in the first weeks. Reviews level off about a month or two after you start, and drop once you stop adding new cards.
Should I use 90% or 95% retention?
90% is Anki's default and a good balance. 95% gives you noticeably more reviews for a few extra percent remembered. Some students raise it for the last weeks before an exam.
Is this the old SM-2 or FSRS?
FSRS. With the old SM-2 scheduler, reviews are usually higher.
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