Q&A for How to Take Notes

Teachers don't really give you extra marks if they simply SEE you taking notes, but if you take notes, it's very probable that you will be able to remember and store critical information easier so when it comes to tests or exams, you'll find them a lot easier. So YES! If you take notes well and pay attention, you will receive better grades.

Color code information with highlighters and/or colored pencils. Underline headings and titles. Add illustrations where helpful and appropriate.

Note down the topic(s) discussed in class. When you get home, search for these topics online. Khan Academy is one really good resource.

Flash cards are for testing yourself with, not for note taking. Use a notepad or notebook for taking notes on.

Ask a friend or two to share notes afterward. You're bound to have taken different notes and comparing them will give you a better picture of the whole lesson.

If you are learning out of a textbook, model your notes off of your textbook, or or organize them by topic.

Listen very closely to what the lecturer is saying. Jot down key concepts -- if you try to write too much, you'll quickly fall behind. Make sure you can read your own handwriting; otherwise, the notes are useless.

One notebook should suffice unless your teacher specifically says otherwise. Do what works for you. Most of the time you probably don't need more than one notebook at a time per class.

Ask your teacher to slow down or re-explain the topic for you.

Taking notes in class is allowed in every school, but it's better to ask your teacher's permission.

Yes, this will be helpful, especially when you need to review a lot of terms. You can read your notes and listen to the recording at the same time. It's a two-way process of gathering information, and it will increase your effectiveness and efficiency.

Flash cards are index cards or small pieces of paper where you write down important information so you can easily refer to it - for example vocabulary words, key dates and terms, math formulas, etc. Some people also write questions on flash cards with answers on the reverse side. This way you can quiz yourself, or ask someone else to hold the cards and quiz you.

You can practice taking notes. For example, say that you are watching a video. Take notes using the instructions in this article, without pausing or slowing down the video. It's also helpful to start journaling, especially bullet journaling, since it helps you develop your own method of note-taking.

As long as you are allowed to have your phone in class, and it's not going to distract you, that's totally fine. You should still pay attention though, don't rely on the fact that you're recording the lecture.

You could draw on post-in notes and put those into the book. That way you can take them out when you're finished using the book without leaving any damage behind.

It's better to use a notebook because then all the information you jotted down will all be together in one book.

Yes, unless you can remember what the teacher said and do it at home. Usually, abbreviated notes will suffice at school, and at home you can expand on what the teacher told you.

Look at the overall content of what you're reading. Figure out what it's about and pick out the main "characters" or people involved. From there, narrow down the ideas in the content; figure out which ones are meant to be the most important and which ones are meant to be supporting evidence.

Write down the key points the speaker talks about and write down any examples which will help you understand better.

Organize your notes by subject and then date or by topic, depending on what makes the most sense or which you prefer.

Write relevant points on flashcards and keep them organized. Make different color flashcards for different subjects. Have someone quiz you, or just look over the cards and quiz yourself.

Yes. it may be easier that way, as you can then take notes at your own pace. Ask your teacher for permission.

You should use a notebook, some sticky notes, and your pens.

Practice writing as quickly and neatly as possible, in cursive. You could also learn or develop your own shorthand, so your note-taking can be even faster.

Most commonly bought for this include pens, highlighters, sticky notes or flashcards, notebooks, pencils, erasers, and sharpeners.

Tell her seriously that you don't appreciate this behavior. If she continues, consider putting your notes somewhere she can't reach. Or say really loudly: "Stop drawing on my class notes!" so everyone hears and stares. If nothing else works, ask the teacher to intervene, she or he can explain the value of the notes.

Why do you need to keep your note-taking private? It's a great thing to do. However, if you feel that you are not ready to share your behavior, consider keeping your writing movements small and the writing time little. You can just jot down the keywords--that decreases the possibility of people finding out because it so quick that they probably won't notice.

It depends on how neat your cursive is. If you write terribly in cursive, then your notes won't be so neat when you attempt to do so in cursive.

Yes! Good notes help you concentrate and give you a clear way forward. If your notes cover all of the important points in class, and you review them on a regular basis, then you can get better in class.

Your notes don't have to be state-of-the-art to be good. It's better if your notes are precise and to the point. You just need to note down the important concepts in class. If you are unhappy with how your notes look, maybe you can revise and add the final touches after class.