What's the best, most effective way to take notes?

This system was developed in the 1950s as part of a university preparatory course.

There are four stages to taking notes:

1. Note taking
2. Note making
3. Note interacting
4. Note reflecting

Always draw up the page for notes the same way.

• At the top, write the topic/key learning objective.
• Divide the page into two columns. The first column should be one-third of the page. It is used for questions and notes. The second column is for notes from the lecture, textbook, video, etc.
• Take notes in your own words.
• Leave spaces and lines between main ideas to add information.
• Develop your own abbreviations and symbols to save time.
• Write in phrases, not full sentences.
• Use bullet points.
• Highlight and colour key ideas.

• Review and revise the note contents.
• Write questions in the left-hand column opposite the answer on the right-hand side.
• Connect key ideas using colour or symbols
• Exchange ideas with other students to see if you understand the material thoroughly.

• Write a summary at the bottom of the page that addresses the key idea and answer the questions from the left margin.
• Build into your study timetable regular times to revise your notes for each subject.
• Before a test, use the questions as prompts and answer without looking at the information on the right-hand side.

• Get a peer, tutor or teacher to give you written feedback on your initial learning phase.
• Address one area of the feedback at a time.
• Before exams and tests, reflect over the entire unit.