Introduction
Open any used history textbook, and you will likely see a sea of neon yellow. It looks impressive. It looks like whoever owned that book studied incredibly hard. But there is a big difference between coloring a page and actually learning the material.
When you hold that marker, you feel productive. You feel like you are doing your job as a student. But we need to ask the hard question: Is highlighting notes actually helpful or a waste of time?
For decades, students have relied on highlighting as their main study tool. It is comfortable and easy. However, scientists who study the human brain have found that this popular habit might actually be hurting your grades rather than helping them.
In this post, we are going to look at the reality of highlighting. We will cover:
The "Illusion of Competence" and why your brain tricks you into thinking you know the material.
What the science says about highlighting compared to other methods.
The "Traffic Light" system (the only way you should be using a highlighter).
Three powerful alternatives that actually guarantee better results.
How to use AI to replace your marker and study faster.
Let’s put the cap back on the highlighter for a moment and look at the facts.
The Illusion of Competence (Why Highlighting Feels Good)
Why do we love highlighting so much if it isn't great? The answer lies in a psychological trick called the "Illusion of Competence."
When you read a sentence and mark it with color, your brain sends you a signal of satisfaction. It says, "Okay, I marked this. I have captured this information." When you look back at your notes later, you see the yellow marks and your brain recognizes them. You think, "I know this."
But recognizing something is not the same as being able to remember it on a test.
Passive vs. Active Learning Highlighting is a classic form of passive learning. You are letting the information just sit there. It is like watching a workout video on YouTube. You might watch someone lift weights, and you might understand how they are doing it, but that doesn't mean your muscles are getting stronger.
To really learn, you need active learning. Your brain has to work for it. If studying feels too easy, it usually means it isn't working very well. Highlighting feels easy because it doesn't force your brain to build new connections; it just decorates the old ones.
What Research Says About Highlighting (The Hard Truth)
In 2013, a team of researchers led by Professor John Dunlosky conducted a massive review of study techniques. They wanted to see what actually worked for students. They looked at everything from flashcards to re-reading.
The results were disappointing for highlighter fans. They rated highlighting as having "Low Utility."
What does "Low Utility" mean? It means that for most students, highlighting does not help them remember facts any better than just reading the text normally. In fact, the Association for Psychological Science notes that highlighting can sometimes hurt performance because students focus more on individual words than on the big ideas.
The "Paintbrush" Problem Think of your brain like a muscle. To make a muscle grow, you have to lift heavy things. You have to struggle a little bit. Highlighting is like lifting a feather. It involves movement, but there is no resistance.
When you simply paint over the text, you aren't asking "Why is this true?" or "How does this connect to the previous chapter?" You are just marking it and moving on.
If You Must Highlight, Do It This Way
Old habits are hard to break. If you absolutely need to use a highlighter to stay focused, you need to change how you use it. Stop using one color for everything.
Instead, try the Traffic Light System.
This method forces you to think about why you are highlighting. You will need three colors: Green, Yellow, and Red.
1. Green: "I get this completely." Use green for things you understand 100%. These are facts you could teach to someone else.
Why this helps: It tells you what to skip when you review later.
2. Yellow: "I need to check this." Use yellow for things that are a little clear, but you might forget.
Why this helps: This becomes your review list. These are the items you need to look at one more time.
3. Red: "I am lost." Use red for things that make no sense to you at all.
Why this helps: This is your "Ask for Help" list. You know exactly what to ask your teacher or your AI tutor.
The Golden Rule: Never highlight on the first read. Read the whole paragraph first. Then, go back and highlight. This stops you from highlighting entire pages and forces you to pick only the most important parts.
Better Option #1: Active Recall
If highlighting is the "feather" of studying, Active Recall is the heavy weight. This is the single most effective way to learn, according to almost every study on the topic.
What is Active Recall? Active recall means testing yourself before you feel ready. Instead of putting information into your brain (by reading), you try to pull information out of your brain.
How to do it:
Read a section of your book.
Close the book.
Take a blank sheet of paper.
Write down everything you can remember.
Open the book and check what you missed.
It sounds simple, but it is mentally difficult. You will feel frustrated. That frustration is the feeling of learning.
Using AI for Active Recall You can use AI to make this process much smoother. We have a specific tool designed for this exact purpose.
Recommended Prompt: Memory Coach This prompt helps you memorize definitions and facts through active recall. Instead of giving you the answers, it quizzes you one question at a time until you get it right.
Where to find it: Go to the Vertech Academy Prompt Library and search for "Memory Coach."
Better Option #2: Spaced Repetition
Have you ever crammed for a test, got a good grade, and then forgot everything a week later? That is because of the "Forgetting Curve." Your brain deletes information it doesn't use.
Spaced Repetition solves this. It means reviewing information at specific times just as you are about to forget it.
The Schedule:
Day 1: Learn the material (Active Recall).
Day 2: Review it (10 minutes).
Day 7: Review it again (5 minutes).
Day 30: Review it one last time (2 minutes).
Highlighting usually happens all at once. Spaced repetition spreads the learning out, moving the info from your short-term memory to your long-term memory.
External Resource: If you want to understand the timing better, Edutopia has a fantastic breakdown of the science of spaced repetition that explains exactly how to schedule your reviews.
Better Option #3: The Cornell Notes Method
If you prefer using a pen and paper, the Cornell Method is far superior to highlighting. It turns your notes into a built-in study guide.
How to set up your page:
Draw a vertical line down your page, about 2.5 inches from the left edge.
Right Side (The Notes): Write your class notes here. Keep them short and simple.
Left Side (The Cues): After class, look at your notes. On the left side, write questions that correspond to the notes. (e.g., If the note says "Photosynthesis requires sunlight," write "What does photosynthesis require?" on the left).
Bottom (The Summary): Write a quick 2-sentence summary of the page at the very bottom.
Why this works: When you study, cover the right side. Read the questions on the left and try to answer them. You are instantly doing Active Recall.
How AI Can Replace Your Highlighter
We have tools now that make old study methods look ancient. AI tools like ChatGPT or Gemini can act as your personal tutor.
Instead of highlighting a paragraph you don't understand, paste it into an AI and ask: "I don't get this. Can you explain it to me using a real-world example?"
This turns studying from a monologue into a dialogue. As we discussed in our guide on talking to AI like a friend, having a conversation with your study material is one of the best ways to make it stick.
Conclusion
So, is highlighting a waste of time?
If it is the only thing you do, then yes. It creates a false sense of security. It feels like work, but it produces very little actual learning.
However, you don't have to ban highlighters forever. Just use them smarter. Use the Traffic Light system to spot your weak points. But more importantly, start using the techniques that actually build brain power:
Active Recall: Quiz yourself constantly.
Spaced Repetition: Review over time, not all at once.
Cornell Notes: Organize your page to test yourself later.
Learning isn't about how colorful your notebook is. It is about how well you can use the information when the book is closed. It requires a little more effort, but that effort is exactly what leads to better grades.
Next time you study, try putting the marker down. Challenge your brain instead of coloring the page. You might be surprised at how much more you remember.
