Cornell Note-Taking System
Divide your page into three zones: a narrow left column for cue questions, a wide right column for lecture notes, and a bottom strip for a 2-sentence summary. Your notes become an instant study quiz.
Writing cue questions in the left margin forces you to turn passive lecture notes into an active self-test you can fold over and quiz from.
You transcribe everything the professor says word-for-word on a wall of paper and never look at it again until finals week.
- Draw a vertical line 2.5 inches from the left edge and a horizontal line 2 inches from the bottom.
- Take normal, concise notes in the wide right-hand column during class.
- Right after class, write exam-style cue questions in the left column that match your notes.
- Write a 2-sentence summary at the bottom and cover the right column when reviewing.