The Note-Taking Method That Actually Works (Cornell Notes), by StudyPuff Academy on YouTube. 6 min 3 s.
- Video length
- 6 min 3 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Draw a horizontal line about 2 inches from the top and another about 2 inches from the bottom. Then draw a vertical line about 2.5 inches from the left edge.
Label the narrow left column Cues, the large right area Notes and the bottom strip Summary. Keep the cue space empty until after class.
During the lesson, write the main ideas and supporting details in the Notes area. Use short phrases, bullet points and abbreviations, and leave a blank line between topics.
Review your notes soon after class. Write a question or keyword in the Cues column beside each main idea, for example What causes inflation or the stages of mitosis.
Cover the Notes area and answer each cue aloud in your own words. Check your notes, then repeat any cue you could not explain.
Write a summary of the page in the bottom strip in two or three sentences. Use your own words and focus on the main point, not every detail.
Build a routine: review the cues and summary for 5 to 10 minutes within 24 hours, then again later in the week. Add the review to your study timetable.
Before the next class, self-test from the cue column and summary. If an answer is weak, go back to the notes and rewrite that cue more clearly.
Tips and common mistakes
Write cues as questions, not as extra notes, so you can test yourself later.
Keep the notes area for ideas and details; save the summary for the end of the page.
Do not copy slides word for word. Put the key points in your own short phrases.
Review within a day; leaving it until exam week makes the cues less useful.
Questions
How wide should the Cornell note sections be?
A common layout uses a cue column about 2.5 inches wide, a notes area about 6 inches wide and a summary strip about 2 inches deep. Adjust it to fit your page or screen.
Do I need a special Cornell notes template?
No. You can draw the lines in any notebook or make a three-column table in a notes app. The structure matters more than the paper.
Can I use Cornell notes for maths or science?
Yes. Put worked examples and formulas in the notes area, then write cues that ask you to explain each step or recall the formula.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
