How to Take Effective Notes in College

The practice of note-taking can be traced all the way back to ancient Greece, where the Greeks kept personal records on various topics — from scientific and mathematical developments to their passing thoughts. Good notes are at the foundation of most human progress in technology and philosophy, so imagine what you can achieve academically this semester by putting into practice the age-old technique of note-taking. 

It takes some effort, however, to discover how your brain best understands and retains information. And you are certainly not alone if you find yourself staring at a string of words you wrote during your 8 a.m. lecture, wondering why you cannot understand or remember any of the content discussed.  Don’t worry, we’re here to help. Here is a guide on how to take effective notes in college. 

The Benefits of Effective Note-taking

Taking good notes is fundamental and can greatly enhance a student's academic performance and overall learning experience. It is not just about writing things down — it's about processing, engaging with and applying important information. Here are some of the benefits of taking notes. 

• Develops Critical Thinking Skills: Good notes will allow you to identify patterns, compare concepts and theories, and understand them in a larger context. So, when you summarize, question, and draw connections between ideas, you develop skills that go beyond memorization.
• Improves organization and time management: Note-taking is also an essential tool for staying organized. Keeping track of key concepts, references, and deadlines makes studying more efficient and allows for an easier balance of coursework. 
• Improves focus and engagement: Taking notes during a lecture or while reading requires active participation, allowing you to absorb, and recall information faster. Note-taking forces you to break down information into digestible pieces, rephrase concepts in your own words, and identify the most critical points. This process deepens understanding and ensures that learning is not just passive but engaging.

Choosing the Right Note-Taking Method

Now that you understand the benefits, before diving into memory techniques, it’s essential to ensure that your notes are well-structured and easy to understand. Here are some popular note-taking methods:

• The Cornell Method: Divide your page into three sections — main notes (detailed notes from readings or lecture), keywords/ questions (any keywords or questions related to the notes), and summary (a summary of key points). This allows for better organization and easier review.
• The Outline Method: Use bullet points, letters, numerals, and indentation to structure main ideas and sub points clearly.
• The Mapping Method: Create visual connections between concepts using diagrams or mind maps. Starting with a central theme or topic in the center, then creating branches with related topics, questions, and notes.
• The Charting Method: Use tables to organize facts, comparisons, and relationships between concepts.

The method you choose should align with how you process information best. This may require some trial and error. USF Academic Peer Mentor Emily Jared says the tell-tale sign of whether a note-taking method works or not can only come from you. 

“You'll be able to find out what type of note-taking is sticking in your brain best, based on what it is that you remember after you get out of a lecture,” Jared said. “If you can't remember anything after your class is done, you're not taking your notes right. If you remember some things and not other things, you need to examine how you took notes for what you can remember and how you took notes for things that you can't remember.”

Handwritten Notes

Research suggests that writing notes by hand improves retention because it requires deeper cognitive processing. When students manually write down key points, they are more likely to engage in elaborative rehearsal (a concept you will read more about later), which involves making meaningful connections with the material. 

How to use this note-taking method: 

• Use a structured format like the Cornell Method or outline method.
• Utilize color-coding, underlining, or highlighting to emphasize key points.
• Keep a dedicated notebook for each subject to avoid clutter.

Typed Notes

Typing notes can be beneficial for students who need to capture information quickly, especially in fast-paced lectures. Digital notes also allow for easy searching, categorization, and integration of study apps. However, typing can sometimes lead to shallow processing, where students transcribe information without fully engaging with it.

How to use this note-taking method:

• Use headings, bullet points, and numbered lists for clarity.
• Store notes in cloud-based apps (e.g., Google Docs, OneNote) for easy access.
• Summarize key concepts in your own words to avoid passive note-taking.

Ultimately, the best method depends on your learning style and study preferences. Two hybrid approaches — handwriting notes during lectures for better retention and typing them up later for organization, or scanning your handwritten notes to create digital versions that you can easily search for later — can provide the best of both worlds. 

Now let’s get into the process of taking good notes and making sure you’re getting the most out of them

Engaging with Your Notes

Simply rereading your notes is not enough. The way you interact with your notes determines how well you remember the information. According to Jared, the best way for you to encode information, the process of transferring information from short-term to long-term memory, is through rehearsal. 

“Rehearsal obviously involves ritualistically going over the information you’ve learned in a way that makes it more memorable to your brain,” Jared said.

There are two types of rehearsal:

1. Maintenance Rehearsal: This involves repeating the same information over and over, like memorizing vocabulary words by reciting them. This can be done using your own notes or flashcards. While this can help with short-term recall, it is not the most effective for long-term memory.
2. Elaborative Rehearsal: This is a deeper learning method where you connect new information with what you already know. Ask yourself these questions: How does this relate to past concepts that I already know? How does this relate to my personal life? How does this relate to what’s going on in the world around me?

To maximize retention, try using elaborative rehearsal when reviewing your notes. Other methods include teaching concepts to a friend, creating metaphors, and using mnemonics.

Organizing and Revising Your Notes

Your notes should evolve as you study. Revisiting and revising your notes can help reinforce what you’ve learned.  

To improve your notes:

• Highlight key points: Use colors, underlining, or bold text to emphasize important information.
• Summarize each section: Write a short summary of the main ideas at the end of your notes.
• Fill in gaps: If parts of your notes feel incomplete, use textbooks or online resources to help supplement them.
• Rewrite or condense notes: Rewriting forces you to process the material again, making it stick better.

Test Yourself

Self-testing is a powerful tool to ensure you truly understand the material. Jared advises that creating test items based on your notes is a valuable study method and can help you figure out what information is important and what is not. 

“If you can create a multiple-choice question based on a piece of content from the lecture, then that’s important. If it’s not something that you can create a multiple-choice question for, then it probably isn’t super essential,” Jared said.

Study Smarter, Not Harder

Instead of cramming, space out your study sessions. The brain retains information better when learning is spread over time. This is known as spaced repetition — reviewing material at gradually increasing intervals. Combining spaced repetition with active recall (testing yourself) will significantly boost your retention.

Consider studying in different environments to strengthen memory associations. For instance, if you always study in the library, try reviewing your notes in a coffee shop or at home to enhance recall.

Visit the Academic Success Center

As it stood the test of time since being used by the ancient Greeks, good note-taking is a valuable and consistent skill that can serve you in almost any capacity. Once again, it will take some trial and error to discover what study and note-taking methods work best for you, but you have support.

USF’s Academic Success Center houses many resources tailored to students’ various academic needs, including studying and tutoring services. Utilize your resources, and with practice, you can master the art of note-taking.