Match your next study session to the thing you want to practise, with a concrete example for each mode.
The most useful starting question is not “Which mode is best?” It is “What do I want to be able to do when this session ends?” Recognising a correct statement, recalling a definition and defending an explanation are different tasks.
Use a quiz to check decisions
A quiz gives you a specific question and asks you to commit to an answer. Use it to check distinctions: which event came first, which mechanism explains an observation, or which example fits a definition.
Start with 10 questions when exploring unfamiliar material. Choose 20 or 40 when you have enough time to review the answers as well as complete the quiz. Treat a wrong answer as a pointer to revisit a concept, not just a number to improve.
Use flashcards for a clear question and answer
A flashcard works well when you can state what counts as an adequate answer. “What is the role of the thylakoid membrane?” is more useful than “Explain biology.” Try answering before revealing the other side.
In oral mode, the question can be read aloud and your spoken answer transcribed for feedback. If the feedback seems surprising, check the transcript: a recognition mistake and a misunderstanding of the topic require different corrections. Automated feedback is something to review against your sources.
Use a conversation to explain your reasoning
Choose an Aristote or Socratique session when you want to speak through an idea, connect examples or examine an argument. Bring a precise question. For example: “How would you distinguish a cause of an event from a condition that made it possible?”
Select 5, 10, 15, 30 or 60 minutes according to the time you actually have. Five minutes can be enough for one focused explanation; a longer session gives you room to explore exceptions and follow-up questions.
Adjust difficulty deliberately
Beginner, intermediate and expert are ways to frame the next exercise. Start with beginner when the vocabulary itself is new. Move up when you can explain the basics and want more demanding applications. Choosing expert does not replace missing foundations.
Each new session uses a fresh variation seed. You can revisit the same material with variation, though an important concept may naturally appear more than once. Review the reasoning behind an answer rather than memorising its position.
For help building the material first, read From a pile of sources to a course.