LEARN · PRACTISE · DISCOVER
Note-Taking That Works
Good notes help you pay attention in class, understand ideas and study later. But copying everything the teacher says word for word is slow and does not help you think. In this lesson you will learn what makes notes useful and practise three proven methods: Cornell notes, outlines and mind maps.
What makes notes useful?
- They are in your own words, which helps you think about the meaning.
- They capture main ideas and key details, not every word.
- They are organised, so you can find things later.
- They are used: reviewed and tested, not just written and forgotten.
Shortcuts save time
Use abbreviations and symbols: w/ (with), b/c (because), → (leads to), ≈ (about), ex (example). Make up your own and use them consistently.
Three note-taking methods
1. Cornell notes
The Cornell method was developed by Walter Pauk at Cornell University. Divide your page into three parts:
| Part | Where | What goes there |
|---|---|---|
| Notes | large right column | main ideas, facts and examples during class |
| Cues | narrow left column | questions and key words, added after class |
| Summary | bottom of the page | two or three sentences summarising the page |
Later, cover the right column and use the cue questions in the left column to test yourself.
2. Outlines
An outline organises information in levels, with main topics and indented details.
- Main topic: The water cycle
- Detail: evaporation: water heated by the Sun turns into vapour
- Detail: condensation: vapour cools and forms clouds
- Detail: precipitation: water falls as rain, snow or hail
Outlines work well when information is organised in a clear order, like a textbook chapter.
3. Mind maps
A mind map starts with the main topic in the centre and branches out to related ideas, like a tree. Use colours, small drawings and short phrases. Mind maps are great for seeing connections between ideas, brainstorming and reviewing a whole topic on one page.
Example
In history, Leo used Cornell notes about the Roman Empire. After class, he wrote cue questions such as “Why did Rome build roads?” and “Who was Augustus?”. Before his test, he covered the notes column and answered each question aloud. He quickly found which answers he did not know and focused his studying there.
After class: use your notes
Notes are most useful when you return to them.
- Review within 24 hours: fill gaps and fix anything unclear.
- Add questions you could be asked about the material.
- Summarise each page in a few sentences.
- Test yourself using your questions, rather than just rereading.
Handwriting or typing?
Some studies suggest that taking notes by hand may encourage people to summarise instead of copying everything, but the most important thing is to put ideas in your own words whichever method you use. Follow your school’s rules about devices.
Choosing a method
Try each method for a week. Many students use Cornell notes in class, outlines for textbook chapters and mind maps for reviewing a whole unit before a test.
Key takeaways
- Good notes use your own words and focus on main ideas.
- Cornell notes have notes, cue questions and a summary.
- Outlines show order and levels; mind maps show connections.
- Review notes within a day and use them to test yourself.
Practice
Read a page from one of your textbooks and take Cornell notes: main ideas in the right column, at least three cue questions on the left, and a two-sentence summary at the bottom.
Answer: notes will vary. A strong page has main ideas in your own words, questions that can be answered from the notes (for example “What causes…?”), and a short summary of the whole page.