Medical German (FSP)

1. Import into Anki

Getting your deck into Anki takes about 60 seconds.

1. Open Anki on your computer or phone
2. Go to File > Import (desktop) or tap the + button (mobile)
3. Select the .apkg file you downloaded from Lemon Squeezy

The deck will appear in your collection with all sub-decks, audio files, and tags intact. No extra setup needed.

2. Recommended settings

Anki's defaults work, but these adjustments will give you better results with this deck:

• New cards per day: 5-10. Clinical terms need to stick permanently. Slower intake means higher retention.
• Maximum reviews per day: 200. The default of 200 is fine. If your daily reviews regularly exceed 150, reduce new cards for a few days.
• Learning steps: 1m 10m. Anki's default. Leave it.

To change these: click the gear icon next to the deck name, then "Options."

3. How the three card types work

Every word in this deck generates three cards. Each tests a different skill:

• Recognition (German to English). You see the word in German and produce the meaning. This is the easiest card type and builds passive vocabulary.
• Production (English to German). You see the English meaning and produce the German word. Harder, but this is what you need for speaking.
• Cloze (fill in the blank). You see a real sentence with one word missing. This tests whether you can use the word in context.

Feeling overwhelmed? Suspend the Production cards for the first week. Focus on Recognition and Cloze. Add Production back once your daily reviews feel manageable. To suspend: select cards in the browser, right-click, "Toggle Suspend."

4. Where to start

This deck is built specifically for the Fachsprachprufung (FSP), the medical language exam that international doctors must pass to practice medicine in Germany. It covers CEFR levels A1 through B2 with specialized clinical sub-decks.

• FSP exam in 8 weeks or less. Focus exclusively on the patient history (Anamnese) sub-deck and the case presentation (Fallvorstellung) vocabulary. These two sections cover the highest-weighted parts of the exam. Study 10 new cards per day and do every review session without exception.
• FSP exam in 12-16 weeks. Start with A2-B1 general medical vocabulary, then move to the clinical sub-decks in order: Anamnese, Korperliche Untersuchung, Fallvorstellung, Arzt-Brief. This sequence mirrors the exam structure.
• Already working in a German hospital. You already have clinical immersion. Use the deck to formalize the vocabulary you hear daily. Focus on the Arzt-Brief (physician letter) sub-deck and the formal medical terminology. The exam tests your ability to switch between patient-level and physician-level language.

FSP study plans

The Fachsprachprufung is the gateway to your Approbation (medical license). The stakes are high. Here are structured study plans.

• 8-week intensive. 10 new cards/day. Weeks 1-3: Anamnese vocabulary and question patterns. Weeks 4-5: Korperliche Untersuchung commands and findings. Weeks 6-7: Fallvorstellung structure and presentation phrases. Week 8: Arzt-Brief templates and review. Do mock exams starting week 6.
• 12-week standard. 8-10 new cards/day. Adds general medical German vocabulary in weeks 1-4 before the clinical-specific study. More time for each section and deeper review cycles. Recommended if your general German is below B1.
• 16-week comprehensive. 8 new cards/day. Covers all CEFR levels and clinical sub-decks. Includes time for conversation practice with colleagues. Best for doctors who are new to Germany and building general + medical German simultaneously.

Tips for FSP candidates

The FSP tests more than vocabulary. It tests your ability to function as a doctor in German.

• Fachsprache vs Laiensprache. The exam explicitly tests whether you can switch between technical language (Fachsprache, for colleagues) and patient-friendly language (Laiensprache, for patients). When taking a patient history, you must use simple language. When presenting a case to a colleague, you must use formal medical terminology. The deck tags cards with their register so you know which is which.
• Combine flashcards with mock exams. Vocabulary alone will not pass the FSP. After 4-6 weeks of deck study, start doing full mock exams: practice taking a history from a standardized patient (ask a colleague to role-play), write practice Arzt-Briefe, and present cases aloud. The deck gives you the words. Practice gives you the fluency.
• If you failed before. Failing the FSP is common and not a reflection of your medical competence. It is a language test. Analyze your feedback. If Anamnese was weak, drill the question patterns until they are automatic. If the Arzt-Brief was weak, study the letter templates and practice writing one per day. Most doctors pass on their second attempt with targeted preparation.

Essential FSP phrases

These phrases appear in nearly every FSP exam. Know them cold.

• Was fuhrt Sie zu uns?. 'What brings you to us?' The opening question of every Anamnese.
• Konnen Sie den Schmerz beschreiben?. 'Can you describe the pain?' Pain characterization.
• Seit wann haben Sie die Beschwerden?. 'Since when have you had the symptoms?' Onset timing.
• Ich werde Sie jetzt untersuchen. 'I will examine you now.' Transition to physical exam.
• Zusammenfassend.... 'In summary...' Opens every Fallvorstellung. The examiner expects this word.

The "Again" button is your friend

When Anki shows you a card and you don't know the answer, hit Again. Not "Hard." Not "Good." Again.

Spaced repetition works best when you're honest about what you don't know. Cards you mark "Again" come back sooner. Cards you know well space out further. The algorithm adjusts to you. Trust it.

Audio on every card

Every card has native speaker audio. On desktop, audio plays automatically when the card appears. On mobile, tap the speaker icon.

Tip: listen to the audio BEFORE reading the text. Train your ear first, then confirm with your eyes. This builds listening comprehension faster than reading alone.

Lifetime updates

Your purchase includes free updates for the life of the product. When we add new cards, fix audio, or improve translations, you can re-download the latest version from Lemon Squeezy at no extra cost.

We announce updates via email. Keep an eye on your inbox.

Need help?

Reply to any Eidetic email or reach out at hello@eidetic.cards. We read everything and respond fast.