Effective Note-Taking Tips
- Oct 10, 2017
- 2 min read
Note-taking is a skill that can help you do well on all your schoolwork — everything from taking tests to researching a paper. Here are some tips on how to take good notes.
1. Write down key facts
If you have a teacher who writes notes on the board, that's a bonus: You can copy them down. If not, write down the most important points from class. It can take time to learn how to listen for the main ideas and key facts, so keep trying and don't give up.
2. Don’t overdo it
Don't go crazy taking notes, though: You'll be frantic if you try to write down every word that's said in class. And if you focus too much on getting your notes right, you might miss listening to what the teacher is saying. Some people actually learn better by listening, writing down a few key points, and then going over the material after class when they have more time.
3. Ask
Don't be afraid to ask the teacher to repeat something you miss. If the teacher's going too fast, chances are your classmates will also be relieved to hear the information again. If you don't want to ask in class, see your teacher afterwards. It's much easier than wondering if you got the notes right as you study.
4. Compare
Keep your notes handy when you're doing your reading assignments. Compare what you wrote with what the readings say — you can add to your notes as you read. Going over your notes with a friend and comparing what the two of you put down can help reinforce what you're learning.
5. Organizing
Keep notes for each subject in one place so you can find everything easily when it comes time for a test. This could mean keeping a notebook or section of a notebook for each subject as you take notes in class.
Comments