How to take notes that actually help you revise
Most notes are a waste of time. Here's what works.
Most students take notes by writing down most of what they read or hear. This is essentially copying — it doesn't involve understanding or memory, and produces pages that are too dense to revise from. Good notes are shorter than the source, in your own words, and structured for retrieval rather than storage.
The goal of a note is not to capture information. It's to force you to process information now, and give you a retrieval cue later.
Principles of effective notes
- Use your own words — if you can't paraphrase something, you don't understand it yet
- Be selective — notes shouldn't repeat everything, only what you'd struggle to remember
- Add examples and applications, not just definitions
- Leave space — cramped notes are harder to return to
- Include questions alongside answers, so you can test yourself from the notes
The Cornell method
Cornell notes divide a page into three zones: a main area on the right for content, a narrow column on the left for cue questions, and a summary box at the bottom. During study, you fill the main area. After studying, you cover it and use the left-column questions to test recall. The summary forces consolidation. This structure turns your notes into a ready-made retrieval tool.
Cornell notes in practice
- Draw a vertical line ~7cm from the left edge, and a horizontal line ~5cm from the bottom
- In the main area (right): write key points, definitions, examples — in your own words
- In the cue column (left): write a question for each main-area point as you go
- In the summary box (bottom): write 2–3 sentences capturing the key ideas of the whole page
- To revise: cover the right side, use the cue questions to test recall, then uncover and check
Digital notes: same principles apply
- Don't copy-paste — type everything in your own words
- Use nested bullet points for hierarchy, not endless flat lists
- Bold only the most essential terms — if everything is bold, nothing is
- Keep a 'questions' section at the end of each note for things you're unsure about
- Review notes by hiding sections and trying to fill them in before revealing