
In other words, you should always make clear WHY you are writing something down. Turn off the autopilot.īe sure to include in your notes the ideas that tie details together. Hint: If your teacher says “This is important” make sure you write it down! 10. Try using an arrow to indicate important things such as teacher’s clues in a lecture about what is important to study, definitions, and key ideas. Keep track of direct quotes, personal thoughts, and questions you want answered.įor example, you could underline anything that’s unclear and that you want to ask your teacher about later. Jot down key terms and write in short sentences or phrases. If typing, get familiar with keyboard shortcuts. Try “w/o” for without or “e.g.” for examples. Use abbreviations or your own kind of shorthand to write quickly. Of course, if you’re typing your notes you can always go back and clean them up later. Keep your page organized so you know where to find what you’re looking for. Number your pages-even if writing by hand!īesides keeping you organized, page numbers goes a long way to finding things fast when you're in a study crunch.

Some students jog their memories by labeling every page at the top with the date, class/teacher (if class notes), title/author (if from reading), or even significant happenings of the day. Even if typing your notes is an option, consider this: There is some solid research out there that taking notes by hand is more useful for learning and remembering the information. Your school may have rules about laptops and devices in class. Keep all your notes for a class in one place. Here are our expert tips for perfecting your note-taking strategies. Notes aren’t helpful if they're cluttered with unnecessary details or missing important information. Learn the art of note taking now to give yourself a leg up later. Are you used to your high school teachers handing out outlines or e-mailing copies of their PowerPoint presentations? That's NOT going to be the case in college. It’s a skill that will pay off in college. You can use them to make up sample test questions or even turn them into digital flashcards. Review your notes regularly to get the most out of them.

Notes are a record of what you learned in class-and what you need to review. You were physically in math class last Tuesday but that doesn't necessarily mean you remember what happened (and what might appear on a quiz). Studies on learning have shown that actively engaging with the topic by listening and then summarizing what you hear helps you understand and remember the information later.

Note taking forces you to pay attention and helps you focus in class (or while reading a textbook).
TIPS FOR TAKING GOOD NOTES IN COLLEGE HOW TO
When it comes to good note-taking habits in college, there is a happy medium that can pay dividends with a higher GPA ! Here’s how to take better notes in class and ace your next exam.
