Effective Note-Taking Tips and Strategies
Taking effective notes and spending time reviewing these notes after each class significantly improves retention
and comprehension of textbook and lecture materials. By following a few simple steps, students can improve
their GPA, and relieve a lot of stress when it comes time to study for and take an exam.
Step 1: Read your assignments before you come to class. Note-taking becomes easier when you already have
some understanding or awareness of the material.
Step 2: Get organized! Begin each lecture on a new page. It is important to date each new lecture, and number
your pages.
Step 3: Choose a note-taking strategy that works for you! There are FIVE note-taking strategies to choose from
that can help with organizing your notes for easy review. Experiment and select a method that best reflects how
you listen, think, and process information (see below for the five best note-taking strategies).
Step 4: Write down and ask your professor any questions that came up from the reading or lecture. This will
help clear up any potential gaps in your understanding and make you focus on those parts of the material you
need help strengthening.
Step 5: After each lecture, go through your notes. Reviewing your notes helps you remember the material,
underscores the instructor’s lecture, and lets you add things you want to make sure you don’t forget.
Five Best Note-Taking Strategies
The Cornell Strategy
Begin by dividing your page into three sections (see above). The right column is larger for your initial notes
(textbook or lecture). The left column is used after initial notetaking while you are reviewing your notes to
record key points, terms, or any other cues that will help you to recall the information. The bottom section is a
reflection or summary of your notes in your own words, in order to help retain the material.
