How to Take Good Notes: Best Strategies & Tips

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Discover the best note-taking method for you
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If you’re a student, you probably know how important it is to take good notes, but sometimes, that’s easier said than done. In this article, we’ll teach you all the best tips, techniques, and methods to take better notes. Plus, learn how to review your notes, the benefits of taking good notes, and whether you should take notes digitally or by hand. We also interviewed professional tutors to give you advice on how to take notes and do well in class.

How do I take good notes?

  • Write down key points like main ideas, dates, and definitions.
  • Organize your notes in a way that makes sense to you so you can find the information you need.
  • Highlight and color-code your notes so you retain the information more easily.
  • Try different note-taking methods (like Cornell notes or mind maps) to find one that works for you.
Section 1 of 6:

Note-Taking Tips & Techniques

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  1. The most important way to improve your note-taking skills is to focus solely on taking down keywords and concepts. Write down individual words or phrases that are most relevant to the topic at hand—things like dates, names, theories, and definitions. Prioritize new information that you’ve never heard before, and don’t waste time writing down what you already know. [1]
    • Think about what you want to retain. Why are you taking the class or attending the seminar? Why did your employer send you to the conference? Use these questions to determine what information is most important.
    • Academic tutor David Jia says, “A lot of people will take too many notes and literally write everything down. At that point, they spend too much time and have all these notes of really obvious stuff they didn’t need to take notes on. Then, it takes them forever to go back into the notes to look for the information they need.” [2]
  2. Use different colored highlighters to emphasize keywords, dates, and definitions. Try writing different parts of your notes (like questions, definitions, and conclusions) in different colored pens, like red, blue, and green. Color-coding stimulates the creative side of your brain to make your notes more interesting. This helps you link color with memory, allowing you to remember the contents of your notes more easily. [3]
    • Don’t go overboard with highlighting, however. If you highlight everything, you won’t know what’s most important!
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  3. There’s no point taking notes if you can’t find the information you need! Keep your notes in a separate notebook, folder, or binder for each subject so nothing gets lost. Start your notes for each class period on a fresh sheet of paper and write the date at the top. Make sure your writing is legible so it’s easy for you to quickly find the information you need to study. [4]
    • It also helps to use headings, subheadings, and numbered lists to easily distinguish major and minor points.
    • Use wide margins when writing down your notes. This will prevent the page from becoming too overcrowded and will give you extra space to write in any additional information once you review your notes.
    • When taking lecture notes, test prep tutor Jennifer Kaifesh says, “Try to highlight keywords/concepts, and, whenever possible, organize your notes in a clear, structured way. Even better, record the lecture on your phone and type up notes after class when you have time to hit ‘pause’ and search confusing terms.” [5]
    EXPERT TIP

    David Jia

    Academic Tutor
    David Jia is an Academic Tutor and the Founder of LA Math Tutoring, a private tutoring company based in Los Angeles, California. With over 10 years of teaching experience, David works with students of all ages and grades in various subjects, as well as college admissions counseling and test preparation for the SAT, ACT, ISEE, and more. After attaining a perfect 800 math score and a 690 English score on the SAT, David was awarded the Dickinson Scholarship from the University of Miami, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Additionally, David has worked as an instructor for online videos for textbook companies such as Larson Texts, Big Ideas Learning, and Big Ideas Math.
    David Jia
    Academic Tutor

    Develop a note-taking and organizational system. It’s going to be different for every student, as it depends on how each individual learns. I think it’s important for students to become self-aware and to figure out what system works best for them.

  4. Don’t write down what your teacher or lecturer says verbatim. Paraphrase what you hear in a way that makes sense to you. This will help you understand and remember what you hear. Try to paraphrase everything except for any information that specifically needs to be noted exactly. [6]
  5. Abbreviating words or using shorthand allows you to take notes more quickly and avoid falling behind. Use common abbreviations like “etc.” for “etcetera”, “info” for “information,” “gov” for “government,” and so on. Using symbols like “=” or “>” for “equals” and “greater than” respectively can also save you some time, as you don’t have to write out the words. [7]
    • The average student writes 1/3 word per second, while the average speaker speaks at a rate of 2/3 words per second, so it’s easy to fall behind if you write out every single word.
    • Try using your own abbreviations, as well. For example, use “wd” for “would,” “cd” for “could,” and “w/” for “with.” Just make sure you’re able to decipher your own shorthand later on. Create a key if necessary.
    • Try to abbreviate long words that appear again and again throughout the class. For example, instead of writing “popular sovereignty” 25 times over the course of a history class, write “pop sov.”
    • If you use shorthand and the speaker is still going too fast, consider bringing a recording device to your next class. This will allow you to listen a second time and fill in any gaps in your notes.
  6. After a class or lecture, supplement your notes with information from your textbook . Start by reading any introductions and conclusions, headers and sub-headers, and the first and last line of every paragraph to determine what the chapter is about. Then, read the text thoroughly and highlight any keywords, facts, concepts, or important quotes. Add this information to your notes. [8]
    • Try not to copy full sentences from the text, and instead paraphrase the information in your own words.
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Section 2 of 6:

Note-Taking Methods

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  1. The Outline method is one of the most structured and visibly organized note-taking methods. Add your main points as bullets, then include additional relevant information as nested bullet points below your main point. The finished page resembles an outline for a paper, hence the name. [9]
    • When to use this method: When you need to write down information quickly (like during a lecture) or to see a hierarchy of information
    • Pros: Highlights key points, groups related points, highly structured and visibly organized
    • Cons: Doesn’t work well for subjects that require a lot of diagrams, graphs, or other visuals
  2. Cornell notes are one of the most popular note-taking methods, designed to make you actively think about what you’re writing. Divide your paper into 3 sections—a 2-inch horizontal section on the bottom, a 2.5-inch vertical section on the left, and a large section on the right. Write all your class notes in the large section, comments and questions in the section on the left, and summarize the information you learned in the bottom section. [10]
    • When to use this method: Use Cornell notes when you know you need to study a lot, as it’s easy to revise with the page setup.
    • Pros: Helps you find the main ideas, the summary gives you a better understanding of the information, notes are logically organized and easy to skim
    • Cons: Takes more effort than other note-taking methods, requires extra time to set up the page
  3. The Boxing method is a highly visual note-taking method that provides an at-a-glance overview of your topic. Divide your page into two columns, then add topic headers for each main idea. Expand each section with key points directly below the main idea. After completing notes for each idea, draw a box around the entire note section and header. The final page will contain several different-sized boxes for each topic and its notes. [11]
    • When to use this method: Use this method for revision, using a different page for each course or topic.
    • Pros: Helpful for studying and revising, provides a quick overview of each topic
    • Cons: Not suitable for lecture notes, can be a hassle if you’re drawing the boxes freehand (as opposed to using a note-taking app)
  4. The Charting method allows you to organize concepts that share several properties or connections. Set up a grid where each column has its own category of information and each row has its own topic. Add words, phrases, and main ideas in the square correlating square where the rows and columns intersect. [12]
    • When to use this method: Use the Charting method when you need to compare items across a certain set of characteristics.
    • Pros: Good for comparison, summarizes a series of items in a systematic way
    • Cons: Not good for linear note-taking or notes that follow a story or progression of information
  5. The Mapping method is a visual note-taking method that allows you to divide your notes into branches to establish relationships between topics. Write your main idea at the top of your page, then draw arrows to the left, right, and below, and add your subtopics. Add supporting ideas to your subtopics the same way. [13]
    • When to use this method: Use this method when individual points require a lot of explanation or when your notes follow a linear progression.
    • Pros: Easy to create and follow ideas, easily demonstrates relationships between information, allows you to elaborate on points without cluttering your page
    • Cons: You may run out of space depending on how many branches you need (usually works better for note-taking apps than handwritten notes)
  6. Mind Mapping is similar to the Mapping method, as it is a visual way to show connections between information and ideas. Start with a central topic in the middle of your page, then add branches and sub-branches to connect related ideas. Mind maps are a great way to synthesize new ideas, as your ideas easily flow from one to the next. [14]
    • When to use this method: Mind Mapping is good for revising and brainstorming new ideas.
    • Pros: Breaks down large ideas into smaller pieces, allows you to create and discover new connections between ideas, visually presents how ideas are related
    • Cons: Not the best for recording lectures or meetings in the moment
  7. The Zettelkasten method is designed to help organize knowledge for long-term reference and development. Write one idea on a notecard (a “zettel”) and store it in a box (a “kasten”). Then, create connections between your notes by using tags. This allows you to create a growing encyclopedia of knowledge about a certain topic. [15]
    • When to use this method: While the Zettelkasten can’t be used during a lecture, it works well if you need to learn a lot of information about a certain topic, like for your college degree. Create a Zettelkasten during your first year and continue adding information throughout your college career.
    • Pros: Stores all your knowledge in one place, easy to review because of concise notes
    • Cons: Can take some time to set up, better for long-term knowledge than short-term revising
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Section 3 of 6:

How to Review Your Notes

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  1. Reviewing your notes after class or later the same day will help you retain information much more effectively. You don’t need to study them intensely—just spend 15-20 minutes going over them each night. [16]
    • As you review, add any additional information that you remember from the class or lecture.
    • Write a summary. Another effective tool for committing your notes to memory is to summarize the information at the bottom of the page.
    • Reader Poll: We asked 387 wikiHow readers and 50% of them agreed that the most effective study guide format is a summary sheet . [Take Poll]
  2. Test your understanding of the material by covering up your notes and trying to explain the topic to yourself, out loud or in your head. See how many important details you can remember, then read the notes again to recap any information you might have missed. [17]
    • Alternatively, try to explain the material to a friend. This is a good way to test whether you’ve fully understood the topic and whether your notes are comprehensive.
  3. Consistently review your notes for 20-30 minutes each night to memorize them for a test . This way, you’ll actually know the information so you don’t have to cram the night before. Here are some popular memorization techniques: [18]
    • Line-by-line method: To memorize a chunk of text, read the first line a couple of times, then try to repeat it out loud without looking at the page. Read the second line a couple of times, then try to repeat the first and second line out loud. Keep going until you can repeat the entire text without looking at the page.
    • Story method: Turn the information you have to memorize into a simple story. For example, to memorize the first 3 elements of the periodic table (hydrogen, helium, and lithium), use a story like “(H)arriet and (He)nry went to the (Li)brary.” The sillier the story, the better.
    • Mnemonic devices: This helps you remember a list of words in a particular order. To make a mnemonic, take the first letter of each word and come up with a short sentence where each word starts with those letters. For example, to remember the lines on a musical staff (EGBDF), use the mnemonic “Every Good Boy Does Fine.”
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Section 4 of 6:

Being Prepared

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  1. Have all of your note-taking materials organized and ready to go before your class, meeting, or lecture . If you take notes by hand, have extra pens or pencils and a notebook with plenty of blank pages. If you use a laptop, make sure it’s fully charged and bring a charger just in case. [19]
    • It also helps to review notes or background reading from your previous class. This helps bring you up to speed so you’re ready to pick up where you left off.
    • If you wear glasses, have them with you so you can see important information on the whiteboard or screen. Sit somewhere you can effectively see and hear the speaker.
  2. When note-taking, many people make the mistake of writing down every word without really comprehending what is being said. Instead, actively listen by focusing on what’s really being said and asking questions about what you don’t understand. This will help you know what is important to write down. [20]
    • Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Think about it—if you find something confusing now, it’ll be twice as confusing when you review your notes later.
    • Determine the best time to ask questions, then raise your hand to get the instructor's attention. They'll appreciate that you're listening attentively and want to understand.
    • Do your best to understand the information during class so you won't have to work so hard during the review.
    • If you have trouble focusing in class, academic tutor Daron Cam says, “Make sure you get enough sleep, [and] request to sit in the front row. [If] someone’s distracting you in class, please advocate for yourself and don’t be afraid to ask for seating changes.” [21]
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Section 5 of 6:

Benefits of Taking Good Notes

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  1. In order to take good notes, you must truly understand the information being taught to you. [22] This forces you to pay close attention to what your teacher or professor is saying so you can copy down the most important information. It also encourages you to ask questions about what you don’t understand.
  2. If you blindly write down every single word your teacher says or every word that’s on the PowerPoint, you likely won’t pay attention to what’s actually being said. When you focus on keywords, themes, and terms, you must think about what you’re writing so that you retain important information. [23]
  3. When you write something down, you’re more likely to remember it. Taking notes on every lesson allows you to see what you’ve learned and how it relates to previous lessons. This is very beneficial for preparing for tests, as it allows you to create connections you might not have realized otherwise. [24]
  4. When you take notes, you have a physical reminder of what you learned in class. Having concise notes can save you time and energy when you study, as you’ll have all the important information right in front of you. Looking over your notes each day can help you avoid having to cram for tests. [25]
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Section 6 of 6:

Handwritten vs Digital Notes

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  1. Although taking notes on your laptop is convenient, research shows note-takers actually retain information better when they handwrite their notes. This may be because people typing on a laptop tend to transcribe every word without understanding the meaning, while people writing by hand are forced to pick out relevant information in order to keep up. [26]
    • If you do take notes by laptop, don’t try to get down every word. Make sure you understand the meaning of what’s being said.
    • Using a laptop in class is also a distraction, as you may be tempted to go online rather than paying attention to your lecture.

Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What should my goal be when I'm taking notes?
    Daron Cam
    Academic Tutor
    Daron Cam is an Academic Tutor and the Founder of Bay Area Tutors, Inc., a San Francisco Bay Area-based tutoring service that provides tutoring in mathematics, science, and overall academic confidence building. Daron has over eight years of teaching math in classrooms and over nine years of one-on-one tutoring experience. He teaches all levels of math including calculus, pre-algebra, algebra I, geometry, and SAT/ACT math prep. Daron holds a BA from the University of California, Berkeley and a math teaching credential from St. Mary's College.
    Daron Cam
    Academic Tutor
    Expert Answer
    You want to break everything down into replicable or repeatable steps. So if your notes are too specific or too vague, you won't be able to follow everything you've written down!
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 9 Helpful 46
  • Question
    What's the easiest way to take notes in math?
    Daron Cam
    Academic Tutor
    Daron Cam is an Academic Tutor and the Founder of Bay Area Tutors, Inc., a San Francisco Bay Area-based tutoring service that provides tutoring in mathematics, science, and overall academic confidence building. Daron has over eight years of teaching math in classrooms and over nine years of one-on-one tutoring experience. He teaches all levels of math including calculus, pre-algebra, algebra I, geometry, and SAT/ACT math prep. Daron holds a BA from the University of California, Berkeley and a math teaching credential from St. Mary's College.
    Daron Cam
    Academic Tutor
    Expert Answer
    You shouldn't always be looking for the easy way out! Solid notes should be thorough, but easy to scan. You don't need to write down every single thing you hear, but you do need to be able to comprehend what's driving the numbers to change in whatever concept you're studying. It's all about finding that balance.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 12 Helpful 37
  • Question
    How do you take good notes fast?
    Daron Cam
    Academic Tutor
    Daron Cam is an Academic Tutor and the Founder of Bay Area Tutors, Inc., a San Francisco Bay Area-based tutoring service that provides tutoring in mathematics, science, and overall academic confidence building. Daron has over eight years of teaching math in classrooms and over nine years of one-on-one tutoring experience. He teaches all levels of math including calculus, pre-algebra, algebra I, geometry, and SAT/ACT math prep. Daron holds a BA from the University of California, Berkeley and a math teaching credential from St. Mary's College.
    Daron Cam
    Academic Tutor
    Expert Answer
    Focus on what the teacher or lecturer is really saying rather than trying to copy down every word they say. Stick to the main points, then ask any follow-up questions that come to mind.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 11 Helpful 31
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      • If the speaker repeats something more than twice, then it's probably important and worth paying attention to.
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      • When you take notes, underline keywords that might appear on your test.
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      • Make sure to have a separate notebook or page for each of your subjects, and label them so you stay organized.
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      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • Make a notebook and rewrite major points in different colored pens. Color-coding things helps cement them in your mind. Trust me, this works!
      • Rewriting your notes after class can really help the information sink in. Writing things out twice reinforces your memory.
      • Use Post-It notes to mark important points in your notes for easy review later. Flagging key concepts makes them stick.
      • Look over your notes again before bedtime. Reviewing them last thing helps you remember better.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://post.edu/blog/preventing-information-overload-note-taking-tips-students/
      2. ↑ David Jia. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 23 February 2021.
      3. ↑ https://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/sites/default/files/docs/learningguide-notetakingabbreviations.pdf
      4. ↑ https://post.edu/blog/preventing-information-overload-note-taking-tips-students/
      5. ↑ Jennifer Kaifesh. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 8 November 2019.
      6. ↑ https://success.oregonstate.edu/learning-corner/studying/note-taking
      7. ↑ https://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/sites/default/files/docs/learningguide-notetakingabbreviations.pdf
      8. ↑ https://www.cornellcollege.edu/registrar/academics-registration/study-tips/reading-textbooks.shtml
      9. ↑ https://www.csum.edu/university-advising/media/effective-note-taking-strategies.pdf
      1. ↑ https://www.umfk.edu/offices/student-success/successful-note-taking/
      2. ↑ https://libguides.cam.ac.uk/physicalsciences/notetaking
      3. ↑ https://www.csum.edu/university-advising/media/effective-note-taking-strategies.pdf
      4. ↑ https://www.csum.edu/university-advising/media/effective-note-taking-strategies.pdf
      5. ↑ https://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/sites/default/files/docs/learningguide-mindmapping.pdf
      6. ↑ https://zettelkasten.de/overview/
      7. ↑ https://www.csum.edu/university-advising/media/effective-note-taking-strategies.pdf
      8. ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/enhancing-your-memory/
      9. ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/enhancing-your-memory/
      10. ↑ https://sites.austincc.edu/student-skills-workshops/taking-effective-notes/notetaking-strategies/
      11. ↑ https://sites.austincc.edu/student-skills-workshops/taking-effective-notes/notetaking-strategies/
      12. ↑ Daron Cam. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 29 May 2020.
      13. ↑ https://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/sites/default/files/docs/learningguide-notetakingabbreviations.pdf
      14. ↑ https://teaching.uic.edu/cate-teaching-guides/inclusive-equity-minded-teaching-practices/note-taking/
      15. ↑ https://teaching.uic.edu/cate-teaching-guides/inclusive-equity-minded-teaching-practices/note-taking/
      16. ↑ https://teaching.uic.edu/cate-teaching-guides/inclusive-equity-minded-teaching-practices/note-taking/
      17. ↑ https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/take-notes-by-hand-for-better-long-term-comprehension.html

      About This Article

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      To take better notes, listen actively and focus on writing down new information instead of noting everything your teacher says. You can also use shorthand and abbreviations to help you write efficiently so you don't fall behind. Additionally, concentrating on key words and concepts like dates, names, theories, and definitions can help you take more productive notes. Finally, don't forget to show up prepared with a writing utensil and something to write on! To learn more about color coding your notes and how to review them, read on!

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