How to Take Better Notes

X

wikiHow is a “wiki” site, which means that many of the articles here are written by multiple authors. To create this article, 129 people, some of whom are anonymous, have edited and improved the article over time.

There are 10 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.

This article has been viewed 54,567 times.

Whether you want to do well in school or excel in your professional career, effective note-taking is always a valuable skill for storing, remembering, memorizing and recalling information. If you follow the simple steps and tips below, you will not only learn how to take notes, but also take notes more effectively, which will help you apply your knowledge and retain documents.

Table of Contents

Prepare

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/1/18/Take-Better-Notes-Step-1-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes- Step-1-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/18/Take-Better-Notes-Step-1-Version-2.jpg/ v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes-Step-1-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Gather items to take notes. This may sound obvious, but it’s really important to keep your notes organized and ready before class, meeting, or listening to a presentation.

If you’re taking notes with pen and paper, you’ll need an A4-size notebook with plenty of blank pages and two pens for each ink color. If you’re using a laptop, make sure the battery is fully charged or sit near a place where it can be plugged in.
If you wear glasses, don’t forget to bring them so you can see when the teacher/lecturer writes important information on the board. You also need to remember to bring a microfiber cloth to clean the glasses when needed. In addition, you should aim to sit in your room so that you can see and hear the presenter clearly.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/74/Take-Better-Notes-Step-2-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes- Step-2-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/74/Take-Better-Notes-Step-2-Version-2.jpg/ v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes-Step-2-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Prepare. Before going to class, lecture or meeting, you need to review your last notes. This will help you keep up and ready to absorb new information from where you left off last time.

If you are advised to read the material in advance to prepare for the class, make sure to complete the assignment. This will help you understand any topic, concept, or idea that the teacher/lecturer will teach in class. It is a good idea to plan ahead for the chapter, section, or lesson to be studied. You should write an outline on one side to take notes on the other side. ^{[1] X Research Source}
Remember the saying “Failing to prepare means preparing to fail”.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/6/6b/Take-Better-Notes-Step-3-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes- Step-3-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/6b/Take-Better-Notes-Step-3-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes-Step-3-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Active listening. When taking notes, many people make the mistake of mechanically rewriting every sentence without really understanding what they mean.

This is a mistake. If you don’t try to understand the material in class, you will lose valuable opportunities to absorb the material.
Therefore, you should try to understand the information the first time you listen to the lecture, because it will reduce the amount of work you have to do later and you will also be less confused when reviewing the lesson.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/f/f5/Take-Better-Notes-Step-4-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes- Step-4-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/f/f5/Take-Better-Notes-Step-4-Version-2.jpg/ v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes-Step-4-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Take notes with pen and paper. Although laptops offer convenience when taking notes, a Princeton University study found that people who write by hand are actually better at retaining information.

This is thought to be because computer users tend to transcribe every sentence they hear without actually processing the information.
In contrast, handwriting speeds were not fast enough to transcribe word for word verbatim, so paper scribes were forced to focus more on the content to select the most important and relevant information. ^{[2] X Trusted Source Association for Psychpogical Science Go to Source}
As such, you should try to write by hand whenever possible.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/35/Take-Better-Notes-Step-5-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes- Step-5-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/35/Take-Better-Notes-Step-5-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes-Step-5-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. When you come across something you don’t understand, don’t just jot it down and tell yourself you’ll save it for later – ask your teacher/lecturer for an explanation.

Think of it this way – if you don’t understand something now, it will be doubly difficult to understand later when you look back.
Also don’t be afraid to ask the teacher/lecturer to repeat – especially when you feel that what they say is important.

Take notes as efficiently as possible

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/9d/Take-Better-Notes-Step-6-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes- Step-6-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/9d/Take-Better-Notes-Step-6-Version-2.jpg/ v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes-Step-6-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Focus and key words and concepts. The single most important change you can make to improve your note-taking skills is to focus only on the key words and concepts.

Identify the most relevant information. Rewrite the key words or phrases that are most relevant to the topic being studied – elements such as dates, names, principles, definitions – only the most important details are selected. Get rid of all the filler words and extra details – you can read the textbook if you want to review those.
Think about what information you want to keep . Why did you choose to take this class? Why did you join this conference? Why did your boss send you to that conference? Your first instinct may be to write down verbatim what you see or hear, but remember that you are taking notes to learn something – not writing a narrative.
Give priority to any “new” information . Don’t waste time writing what you already know – it’s pointless to you and a waste of time. Focus on jotting down any information you’ve never heard of before – this will give you the most valuable information.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/c/ce/Take-Better-Notes-Step-7-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes- Step-7-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/ce/Take-Better-Notes-Step-7-Version-2.jpg/ v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes-Step-7-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Use the “question, answer, evidence” method. This is an effective method of note-taking, as it forces you to focus on the content as you write and allows you to express yourself in your own words. This method of interpreting information has been shown to help students understand and retain lesson content much more effectively. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Instead of writing down information, you should listen carefully to what the speaker is saying and try to understand the content. Once you’ve done this, present your notes as a series of questions from the lesson, and then fill in your own responses.
For example, if the question is “What is the main theme of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet ?”, the answer might be “Beyond a tragic love story, Romeo and Juliet discuss the consequences of their tragedy. the cultivation of hatred”.
Under that answer, you can provide additional evidence for your conclusion by giving specific examples in the document. This tactic allows you to record all relevant information in a concise and easy-to-read presentation.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/0/0e/Take-Better-Notes-Step-8-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes- Step-8-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/0/0e/Take-Better-Notes-Step-8-Version-2.jpg/ v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes-Step-8-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Use shorthand. An average student can write 1/3 words per second, while the average person speaks 2/3 words per second. Therefore, building your own shorthand system can help you write faster and avoid falling behind.

Try abbreviating words like “ko” for “no”, “ng” for “person”, “ntn” for “how”. Put a plus sign instead of the word “and”. You can also write long phrases that are repeated throughout the class or lecture – for example, instead of writing “people’s sovereignty” 25 times during history class, just write “CQND”.
After that, of course, you have to be able to read your initials – if you’re afraid of getting stuck, you can write down key words to decipher the abbreviations. You can also rewrite for completeness after school.
If your teacher or presenter speaks too fast for you to take notes even after taking shorthand, you might consider bringing a recording device into the next class – so you can listen again. and fill in the blanks in your notebook.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/f/f5/Take-Better-Notes-Step-9-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes- Step-9-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/f/f5/Take-Better-Notes-Step-9-Version-2.jpg/ v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes-Step-9-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Present your notes in an attractive way. You will be afraid to go back and study your notes if they are too squiggly, messy and difficult to read, so it is important that the layout is easy on the eyes! Here are some suggestions for creating more engaging note-taking sections:

Always start with a new page . You will find that your notes are much easier to read if you turn to a new page to take notes for each class or topic. Enter the date in the upper right corner and write on only one side of the paper, especially if you are using a bold ink pen.
Make sure the handwriting is easy to read . It’s useless to take notes if you can’t read them afterwards! No matter how fast you write, you need to make sure your handwriting is neat and clear, avoiding cursive writing.
Wide margins . Use a ruler and pen to draw a vertical line on the left side of the page. Wide margins help keep the page from feeling cramped and give you room to add additional information as you review your notes.
Use symbols and diagrams . Symbols such as arrows, boxes and dots, diagrams, charts and other visual aids are often great ways to associate and remember important concepts, especially if you are a learner. by sight.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/5/59/Take-Better-Notes-Step-10-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes- Step-10-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/59/Take-Better-Notes-Step-10-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes-Step-10-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Color-code notes. Many people find that using color in notes can make information easier to read and remember.

This is because color stimulates the creative regions of the brain, making notes more interesting and therefore easier to retain. Color coding helps you associate colors with memory, allowing you to remember the contents of those notes without too much effort. ^{[4] X Research Sources}
Try using different colors of ink to write different sections – for example, you could write questions in red ink, definitions in blue ink, and conclusions in green ink.
You can also use a highlighter to highlight keywords, dates, and definitions. Don’t overdo it, though – you shouldn’t confuse coloring notes with actual learning.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/ea/Take-Better-Notes-Step-11-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes- Step-11-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/ea/Take-Better-Notes-Step-11-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes-Step-11-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Take notes from the textbook. After class, you may want to add information from your textbook. Taking notes from textbooks is another skill you need to master.

Preview the document: Before diving right into the lesson, preview the document to get a brief overview of the content. Read all the introductions and conclusions, the main and subheadings, the first and last lines of each paragraph. You should also glance at any charts, illustrations, or diagrams.
Read the content actively: Now go back to the beginning of the article and read from beginning to end. When you’ve finished reading a passage, go back and highlight important words, facts, concepts, or quotes. Find visual cues right in the textbook – but cues like bold or italic text and colors and bullet points are often used to emphasize important points.
Note: When you have finished reading the entire text, go back and take notes from the information you have highlighted. Try not to copy entire sentences from the book – it’s just a waste of time – and put it in your own words when possible. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Review the notes

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/f/fd/Take-Better-Notes-Step-12-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes- Step-12-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/f/fd/Take-Better-Notes-Step-12-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes-Step-12-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Review your notes afterwards. Reviewing your notes after school or at other times during the day will help you remember information much more effectively. You don’t have to study too much – every night you just need to spend 15-20 minutes reviewing it.

Fill in all blanks. Take advantage of your review time to fill in additional information that you remember in class or lecture.
Write a summary. Another powerful tool for making your notes stick in your memory is to summarize the information in your notebook at the bottom of the page.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/e0/Take-Better-Notes-Step-13-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes- Step-13-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/e0/Take-Better-Notes-Step-13-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes-Step-13-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Self check. You can test your understanding by covering the notes and trying to paraphrase the text for yourself – either out loud or in your head.

See how many important details you can remember, then read the notes again to add any information you may have missed.
Lecture to friends. Explaining or paraphrasing a lesson to a friend is a good way to check that you have fully understood the topic, and that your notes are complete.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/90/Take-Better-Notes-Step-14-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes- Step-14-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/90/Take-Better-Notes-Step-14-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Take-Better-Notes-Step-14-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Memorize the notes. You will really see the benefits of effective note-taking when it’s time for a test and you have to memorize all the lessons. If you spend 20-30 minutes every night patiently reviewing, this will be much easier. Here are a few popular memorization methods you can try:

Line after line learning method: If you have to memorize a passage, a good method is to read the first line a few times, then try to repeat it out loud without looking at the page. Read the second line a few times, then repeat out loud both the first and the second line without looking. Continue doing this until you can repeat the entire paragraph.
Story Learning Method: This method turns the information to be learned into a simple story that is easy to remember. For example, if you want to remember the first 3 elements of group 1 in the periodic table (hydrogen, helium, and lithium), you can use the following story “(H)uy and (H)stay home (Li) )el”. Your story doesn’t have to be logical – in fact, the funnier it is, the better.
Memorization tools: Using mnemonic tools is a good way to remember lists of words in a certain order. To create a mnemonic, you just take the first letter of each word you need to remember and make a sentence where each word starts with a letter in it. For example, to remember an EGBDF staff, you could use the mnemonic “Baby Girl Attends”. ^{[6] X Research Sources}
For more detailed instructions on memorization methods, check out this article.

Advice

When taking notes, underline important words that may appear on the test.
While a calculator can help with taking notes, you should try to write by hand. Studies have proven that handwritten notes help you recall more effectively (not to mention it also improves your writing speed).
If you’re reading during class, be sure to bring a pad of sticky notes, as you may not be allowed to take notes in the book.
Use a separate notebook or a new page for each subject, and remember to label it.
Be sure to bring plenty of pencils and/or pens with you in case the pencil breaks or becomes dull, or the ballpoint pen gets clogged or dries up.
Take 2-3 pages of notes each day or as required – attach those pages to your main document.
If there is an open test, use your notes wisely. Try not to use them unless absolutely necessary.
If the teacher or presenter repeats something twice, it is probably an important detail that deserves attention.
Listen to exactly what the teacher says and use colored highlighters to make your notes clearer.
Mark your notes with numbers or bullet points. Title your notes so you know where they are and organize them so they’re easy to find when reviewing for an upcoming test.
After rereading your notes, look up questions online or have someone at home write down questions on the topic. If you can’t answer the questions with your notes, maybe next time you should try to write better.
Remember that taking notes is to make the textbook easier to remember, so you don’t have to read the entire textbook. Don’t rewrite everything verbatim, or you won’t learn anything.

Warning

Don’t let yourself be distracted by anyone other than the person speaking.
Write down a separate sheet of paper or bring sticky notes for extra notes, and number both sheets to see which part corresponds to which (optional).
Ask your teacher/professor before you use the recording device.

Things you need

At least two pencils or pens
Eraser (if your pencil doesn’t have an eraser attached)
Eyeglasses or other assistive device
Lots of paper
Highlighter pens (at least 2 colors) or colored ink pens
At least one set of multicolored sticky notes
File cover to organize notes (for neatness)

Steps