How to take better notes in class and while studying

Many students try to write down everything a teacher says. The result is a long page of words that is hard to study from, and a head that was too busy writing to follow the explanation.

Good notes do a different job. They capture the ideas, the reasons behind them, and the examples that make them clear, so that you can rebuild the lesson later without needing to reread a whole textbook chapter.

Listen for a full idea first, then write it in your own words. Paraphrasing forces you to process what you heard, which is the first step of remembering it.

• Write short phrases and keywords instead of complete sentences.
• Use your own abbreviations and symbols, and keep them consistent.
• Mark anything the teacher stresses, repeats, or says will be on a test.
• Leave a gap when you miss something, and fill it in right after class.

Structure turns a page of text into something you can scan. Two simple options work for most subjects.

The outline method uses headings and indented sub-points, so the main topic and its supporting details are always visible. It suits lectures that move in a clear order.

The Cornell method splits a page into a main notes area, a narrow column on the left for questions or keywords, and a short summary at the bottom. After class you write questions in the left column, which later become a self-test.

Notes are most useful when you return to them soon. Spend ten minutes the same day or the next morning reading through, fixing unclear parts, and writing a two or three sentence summary in your own words.

Then revisit them again a few days later. Short, spaced reviews usually work better than a single long session the night before an exam.

Notes you cannot find are notes you will not use. Name each set of notes by subject and topic, keep the date, and store them in one place. A digital workspace such as Obils lets you keep notes grouped by subject next to your assignments and deadlines, so what you need is a click away.