Study skills
How do you take good notes?
Quick answer
Good notes are short, in your own words and organised so you can test yourself later. Methods like Cornell notes build in questions and a summary.
In one sentence
Note-taking is writing down the important ideas from a lesson, book or video in a short, organised way you can learn from later.
Explained
Notes are not a copy of everything the teacher says. Trying to write every word means you stop thinking. Good notes capture the main ideas, key words, examples and questions, in your own words. Putting something in your own words is a mini version of summarising: you have to understand it first.
There are several ways to organise notes:
- Outline notes: headings, with indented bullet points underneath. Good for well-organised lessons.
- Mind maps: good for showing links between ideas.
- Cornell notes: a method developed by Walter Pauk at Cornell University in the 1950s. You split the page into three parts: a wide column for notes, a narrow left column for cues (questions and key words) and a strip at the bottom for a summary.
Cornell notes are popular because they turn into a revision tool. Cover the notes column, read the questions in the cue column, and try to answer from memory. That is active recall.
Whatever method you use, the most valuable step comes after the lesson. Read your notes the same day, tidy anything unclear and add questions. Notes you never look at again do not help much.
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Examples
Cornell notes layout:
| Cue column | Notes column |
|---|---|
| What is evaporation? | liquid turns to gas when heated, e.g. puddles drying in sun |
| Where does it happen in the water cycle? | seas, lakes, rivers → water vapour rises |
| Summary | Evaporation is liquid water turning into vapour; it starts the water cycle. |
Useful abbreviations: e.g. (for example), i.e. (that is), ↑ (increase), ↓ (decrease), → (leads to), ≈ (about).
Common mistakes
- Copying word for word. Write the idea, not the sentence.
- Making notes too pretty to finish. Neat enough to read is enough; save colours for key words.
- Never using them. Build in questions and test yourself.
- Highlighting everything. If the whole page is yellow, nothing stands out.
Quick quiz
Note-taking
Check what you know with 4 quick questions.
Question 1 of 4
Why is it better to write notes in your own words?
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For grown-ups
Related topics
Summarising
Summarising means retelling the most important ideas of a text briefly, in your own words, leaving out small details and examples.
Mind maps
A mind map is a diagram with one main idea in the centre and branches spreading out to related ideas. It helps you organise a topic and see the connections.
Active recall
Active recall means testing yourself by pulling information out of your memory, instead of rereading it. It is one of the best-supported ways to revise.
Exam technique
Exam technique is the set of skills for answering the paper well on the day, such as reading questions carefully, using marks to plan time and checking your work.
Revision timetable
A revision timetable is a plan of what to revise and when. Good ones use short sessions, mix subjects, revisit topics after gaps and leave time for rest.
Spaced repetition
Spaced repetition means reviewing what you have learned several times with gaps in between, instead of cramming it all at once. The gaps help memories last longer.