Frequently Asked Questions
Study System
Why are some cards not showing up in my reviews?
Cards only appear for review when they are due according to the scheduling algorithm. If you rated a card "Easy," it may not appear for several weeks. New cards are introduced up to your daily limit. If you want to see all cards regardless of schedule, use the "All Cards" study mode.
Why do I keep seeing the same card?
If you press "Again" on a card, it re-enters the learning phase and will be shown again shortly. This is the expected behavior — the system is ensuring that you learn the card before moving on. Once you rate it "Good" on consecutive reviews, it will graduate to longer intervals.
Can I review cards ahead of schedule?
The "All Cards" study mode allows you to review any card in a deck regardless of when it is due. However, reviewing cards too early can interfere with the spacing effect. For optimal retention, let the scheduling algorithm determine when each card should appear.
What happens if I go on vacation?
Missed reviews accumulate while you are away. When you return, the system presents the most overdue cards first. Do not reset your decks. If the backlog is large, temporarily set new cards per day to zero and work through the overdue reviews gradually.
Tests
How do I unlock higher test levels?
Each deck has five test levels. Level 1 is always available. To unlock Level 2, you must pass Level 1, and so on. Passing means completing the test without losing all three lives.
What happens if I fail a test?
The attempt is recorded as failed, and you are returned to the deck page. You can retry the same level immediately. There is no penalty or cooldown for failed attempts.
Do tests affect my flashcard review schedule?
No. Tests and flashcard review are independent systems. Test performance does not alter your card intervals, ease factors, or review schedule. Tests count toward the "Tests Completed" achievement category and contribute to your daily study streak.
Algorithm
What algorithm does Species use for scheduling?
Species uses a scheduling system based on the SM-2 algorithm, which calculates review intervals using an ease factor that adjusts based on your performance with each card. See the Scheduling System page for full details.
What is the ease factor?
The ease factor is a per-card multiplier (default 2.5, minimum 1.3) that determines how much the review interval grows after each successful review. Pressing "Again" or "Hard" decreases the ease factor; pressing "Easy" increases it. "Good" leaves it unchanged.
Can I reset a card's scheduling data?
Individual card progress cannot currently be reset. If you want to start fresh with a deck, the existing scheduling data will gradually adjust as you review, cards you have forgotten will receive short intervals, and cards you remember will retain their longer intervals.
Content & Imagery
Does Species use graphic or disturbing images?
No. Species does not display graphic images such as dead, injured, or distressed animals or plants. All imagery is curated to show species in their natural, healthy state. The goal is to support learning through positive, respectful representation of wildlife and nature. If you encounter an image you believe is inappropriate, please use the report option during a study or test session.
Does Species use AI-generated images?
No. Species does not use AI-generated images. Every image in Species is reviewed before it enters the card database.
Technical
Images are not loading. What should I do?
Verify that your internet connection is active. If specific images fail to load, try refreshing the page. Image delivery uses a content delivery network, so loading issues are typically caused by network conditions rather than server problems. If problems persist, please report the issue.
Does Species work offline?
Species requires an internet connection for study sessions, as card data and images are loaded from the server and progress is saved in real time. Offline mode is not currently supported.
How do I report an error on a card?
During a test or flashcard review, use the report option to flag an issue with the current card. Reports are reviewed and corrections are applied to the card database.