by Gina Trapani

Copying class notes after the fact is a time-consuming way to study for an exam, but it was the only thing that truly worked for me back in college. But next week I'll be in a classroom again for the first time in 8 years, pen poised over notebook, and this time I'm going to perfect a strategy that gets my notes right the first time: the Cornell Note-taking method.


We've mentioned the Cornell method in passing here and there, but today we'll dive deep into how to transcribe a lecture in a way that makes studying and cross-references a breeze throughout the semester - no copying involved.

Cornell Notetaking Method I wish I'd had a system in place for my own notetaking when I was a student. The Cornell Notetaking Read more


Lay out your page for the Cornell Method

Using the Cornell method, you split your notes page into three sections, as shown below.

Notes column (right) Record the lecture here during class using short sentences and fragments that transcribe the facts you'll need. Eliminate all unnecessary words. Use bulleted lists for easy skimming, and as much shorthand as possible (without sacrificing readability.) Develop a vocabulary of abbreviations you always use, like "ex" for "for example," "v." for "very," "tho" for "though," "1st" and "2nd" for "first and second." Finally, leave lots of whitespace between points and paragraphs so you can go back and fill in sections later.

Record the lecture here during class using short sentences and fragments that transcribe the facts you'll need. Eliminate all unnecessary words. Use bulleted lists for easy skimming, and as much shorthand as possible (without sacrificing readability.) Develop a vocabulary of abbreviations you always use, like "ex" for "for example," "v." for "very," "tho" for "though," "1st" and "2nd" for "first and second." Finally, leave lots of whitespace between points and paragraphs so you can go back and fill in sections later. Cues column (left) After class, review your notes and jot questions and memory joggers in this narrow column that help connect ideas listed in the notes section. When you're studying, you will look at these cues to help you recall the salient facts in your notes, so keep that in mind when you create your cues.

After class, review your notes and jot questions and memory joggers in this narrow column that help connect ideas listed in the notes section. When you're studying, you will look at these cues to help you recall the salient facts in your notes, so keep that in mind when you create your cues. Summary area (bottom) After class while you create your cues, sum up the notes on each page in one or two sentences that encapsulate the main ideas in the bottom area. You'll use the summary section to skim through your notes and find information later.


An example of a page of notes taken with the Cornell method, shamelessly ripped off from a Temple University page, is shown below. (Click to enlarge.)


Study and review your Cornell-formatted notes

The Cornell Note-taking method's creator, Walter Pauk, outlined a six-step study system to use along with this note format. The BYU web site breaks down the 6 R's: Record, Reduce, Recite, Reflect, Review and Recapitulate. While those steps are worth a read, personally I think this system boils down even further.


In short, once you've attended class and filled in the notes area, that evening, review them and fill in the cues and summary area. When the time comes to study for an exam, read through your notes. To quiz yourself, cover up the right side and use the cues on the left to jog your memory and help you rebuild the factual narrative in your mind. When you've got a paper to write, use the summary section of each notes page to flip through and find relevant facts to cite in your paper.

In essence, with the Cornell method, instead of straight transcription, you're creating your study guide as you go instead of waiting till it's time to cram for the test.


Pre-formatted Cornell Notepaper

Unless you like messing around with a ruler and pen or pencil, there are a few templates and notepaper generators that will print out pre-formatted Cornell notes-style pages. Two mentionables include:


How are you taking notes this semester? Had any good or bad experiences with the Cornell method? Let us know in the comments.

Gina Trapani, the editor of Lifehacker, is sharpening her Ticonderoga Number 2's for class. Her semi-weekly feature, Geek to Live, appears every Wednesday and Friday on Lifehacker. Subscribe to the Geek to Live feed to get new installments in your newsreader.