Make flashcards and quizzes in Gemini Notebook

Turn one set of notes into questions you can answer before you look at the explanation. Google's current help calls the tool Gemini Notebook, formerly NotebookLM, and its September update adds more ways to study from your sources.

These steps follow Google's documentation. The screenshots show Google's own demonstrations, not a test of our account. New quiz formats are rolling out, so your choices may differ.

1. Put one topic in a notebook

1. Open Gemini Notebook (opens in a new tab) in your desktop browser and sign in with your Google Account.
2. Choose Create new notebook, then Upload a source. Start with one chapter or your own notes that you have permission to upload.
3. In Sources, select the material for this study session. Keep unrelated chapters out of the selection.

A work or school account may need administrator approval. Check Google's availability page (opens in a new tab) if you cannot open the tool.

2. Set the questions before generating

1. In Studio, find Flashcards or Quizzes.
2. Use the pencil icon to customize the result. Choose a difficulty and describe the topic you want to practise.
3. Use a focused request, such as: "Use the selected notes. Ask about evaporation and condensation. Keep the wording suitable for a beginner. Avoid facts that are absent from the notes."
4. Start generation and wait for the study aid to appear.

Choose flashcards for recalling terms. Choose a quiz when you want to answer questions about how those terms work. A prompt cannot guarantee that every generated answer is correct.

3. Answer before checking

1. Open the flashcards. Say or write your answer before revealing it.
2. Mark Got it! or Missed it! honestly.
3. Use Explain when an answer needs more context. At the end, use Only cards you missed to revisit the difficult ones.

For a quiz, attempt each question before using Hint. Read the explanation after answering. Google's September announcement includes additional formats such as short answer, multiple select and fill in the blank. If those are absent, use the formats your account offers.

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Google's Gemini Notebook example showing a rocketry quiz with a typed answer field

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Google's example quiz with a typed answer and an edit pencil. Cropped from Google's study update. New formats may not have reached your account.

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4. Check a disputed answer against the notes

1. In Chat, ask: "Find the passage in the selected source that supports this answer: [paste the answer]."
2. Hover over a citation to read the quoted passage. Select it to open the passage in context.
3. Check the surrounding sentences. If the source does not support the answer, leave it out of your revision notes.

Keep a short list of corrections. A high quiz score only measures that generated quiz, so finish with a question from your course materials that you answer without AI help.

If generation stops or an option is missing

Open Settings, then Usage to check your allowance. Google now uses compute-based limits, with refreshes every five hours until the weekly limit is reached. Generate later is a web option when your allowance runs out.

Start without a paid plan. Consider higher limits only if repeated use justifies them. A student promotion may require payment details and renew into a paid subscription, so read the offer for your country before joining.

Sources: create a notebook (opens in a new tab), flashcards and quizzes (opens in a new tab), chat and citations (opens in a new tab), usage limits (opens in a new tab), September study update and offer conditions (opens in a new tab).