iPhone/ipod Touch Flash Cards app for USCIS questions

D

desibartender

Registered Users (C)
Hi,
I used a method called Flash Cards and I did it using my iPhone.

I downloaded an app called Flashcards Deluxe (Please google this) on my iPhone.

It cost me a few dollars. I think the free version of this app may work as well since the free version allows you to create only four deck and you need only one for USCIS questions. Then I made my USCIS flash cards deck from the questions uscis provided. The process of creating a deck with questions and answers is documented on Flashcard apps website. You just need to create a ASCII file with question and answers separated by tabs. I am willing to share my cards/decks file if you want.

I uploaded the USCIS questions deck file at Flash Card Deluxe app's website and then downloaded the deck from my iPhone/ipod touch.

Then I used the Leitner and Spaced Repetition method in the app.

The app allows me to mark my questions as right/wrong/I know really well. The app will then keep track of the ones that I failed and repeat them often. This way you keep getting better at the questions that are trickier as you do them often but the simple questions such as "Who is the current president" appear rarely if at all.

I passed my interview easily, was only asked 6 questions since I answered all of them correctly.

This method allowed me to learn the answers rapidly as I could do this anywhere using my iPhone listening to music. It also allowed me to concentrate on questions that were difficult automatically.

I must have spent not more than two hours using the app in the week before the interview.

The same thing can be done with paper flash cards that you print from USCIS website but this is way too much cooler.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
desibartender said:
Hi,
I used a method called Flash Cards and I did it using my iPhone.

I downloaded an app called Flashcards Deluxe (Please google this) on my iPhone.

It cost me a few dollars. I think the free version of this app may work as well since the free version allows you to create only four deck and you need only one for USCIS questions. Then I made my USCIS flash cards deck from the questions uscis provided. The process of creating a deck with questions and answers is documented on Flashcard apps website. You just need to create a ASCII file with question and answers separated by tabs. I am willing to share my cards/decks file if you want.

I uploaded the USCIS questions deck file at Flash Card Deluxe app's website and then downloaded the deck from my iPhone/ipod touch.

Then I used the Leitner and Spaced Repetition method in the app.

The app allows me to mark my questions as right/wrong/I know really well. The app will then keep track of the ones that I failed and repeat them often. This way you keep getting better at the questions that are trickier as you do them often but the simple questions such as "Who is the current president" appear rarely if at all.

I passed my interview easily, was only asked 6 questions since I answered all of them correctly.

This method allowed me to learn the answers rapidly as I could do this anywhere using my iPhone listening to music. It also allowed me to concentrate on questions that were difficult automatically.

I must have spent not more than two hours using the app in the week before the interview.

The same thing can be done with paper flash cards that you print from USCIS website but this is way too much cooler.
Click to expand...

Will you please share the cards/decks files so that I will be able to use it on my iPhone for my mom who has been scheduled on 2/1/10?
Thanks,
 
I made the file from the USCIS questions online. It was just a simple affair of copying and pasting the questions and answers in a file and adding the 'tab' separator.

Please make sure that the online questions match the booklet you have. I had to fix a couple of questions and I put specific answers for US senators of california and my local us. rep.

I don't know how to attach the file here.
 
There might be money to be made by making and selling an iphone app that does this. I think I would pay .99 c for it. Enough people would. You could even sell an expert version which updates the representative/governer etc. based on zip code entered.

How many n-400 application do you think are filed and what percentage of people have smartphones (android/iphone)
 
Why write an app when you can do the same thing with an existing app with a little effort to create a uscis questions data file?
 
desibartender said:
I made the file from the USCIS questions online. It was just a simple affair of copying and pasting the questions and answers in a file and adding the 'tab' separator.

Please make sure that the online questions match the booklet you have. I had to fix a couple of questions and I put specific answers for US senators of california and my local us. rep.

I don't know how to attach the file here.
Click to expand...


Can you please send the file to hanimisbc@yahoo.com?

Thanks
 
if you have iTunes software, you might be able to convert free USCIS audio CD (flash cards) to MP3 format for free from iTunes (Copy/import CD and write back as MP3 format from iTunes to iPod/iTouch/iPhone/ietc?).
 
The File I used to upload my deck

Hi Folks,
Here is the file needed for the USCIS questions to use with the Flashcards deluxe application. Your senators and house representative will need to be filled in. You can find them at the senate and house website.

Please use this application and file at your own discretion and make sure to check it against the current set of questions. Anything you do is entirely your responsibility. I am just trying to help.
 
desibartender said:
Hi Folks,
Here is the file needed for the USCIS questions to use with the Flashcards deluxe application. Your senators and house representative will need to be filled in. You can find them at the senate and house website.

Please use this application and file at your own discretion and make sure to check it against the current set of questions. Anything you do is entirely your responsibility. I am just trying to help.
Click to expand...


Thanks my friend!
 
desibartender said:
Hi,
I think the free version of this app may work as well since the free version allows you to create only four deck and you need only one for USCIS questions.
Click to expand...

You need to buy paid version of the app which is for $3.99. Free version allows only 4 decks with 4 card per deck. if you use the file with free version you will see only first 4 qns.

This is USELESS. Why spend money when you can print same thing from USCIS.gov and study couple of minutes every week.
 
US of A said:
You need to buy paid version of the app which is for $3.99. Free version allows only 4 decks with 4 card per deck. if you use the file with free version you will see only first 4 qns.

This is USELESS. Why spend money when you can print same thing from USCIS.gov and study couple of minutes every week.
Click to expand...

Yes you are right. I spent the $3.99 for this app. I like Flash Cards and this method allowed me to concentrate on stuff I did not know(read my post about the advantages). By the way USCIS has also provided flash cards so there is a reason to use those. This makes the flash cards available on the iPhone. You don't need to print USCIS flash cards ( You will most likely spend $5 in ink and paper to print those 100 pages anyway).

Whether people want to spend the $3.99 or not is up to them. You might want to save some trees maybe. :-)
Iphone users typically are people with lot of money on hand and spend liberally on applications. So $3.99 may not be a big deal for them.

Let the people decide whether it is useless or not. I just shared this method with folks here and looks like 3-4 people are interested in it.
 
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Why not just one of the many apps that sell for 0.99 to 1.99 that have all the flashcards specific to the US Citizenship test?

Just search for US citizenship in iTunes (i cant post links yet)
 
Just downloaded iUSCitizen, seems to be working fine and it has all the questions needed for the interview.
 
AFter downloading a paid app, I tried iUScitizen which was much better. Most apps have multiple choice which is not useful as you don't get multiple choice on the test...

iUScitizen on the other hand just has questions and then you click for answer.. much better..
 
US of A said:
Dude, I do have a iphone:cool: but spending 3.99 on useless (one time use) app doesn't justifies to me.
Click to expand...

USCIS recommends Flash Cards as a study aid for the exams. http://bookstore.gpo.gov/bestsellers/index.jsp

Those flash cards cost $18 + shipping which means $25 to buy. And people are buying those. Right?

Now would you spend $25 and cut some trees or spend $3.99 and be green?

Besides this app allows you to use certain methods such as spaced repetition and Leithner.

You have a iPhone? You don't look smart enough to afford one.
 
I don't recollect paying for either civics test questions or flash cards; downloadable for free. I am disappointed to learn that USCIS is charging for them now. Let's keep the forum simple, no disparaging comments; Remember that we are all trying to help each other.
 
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