Study Skills: How to Take Cornell Notes, by Atomi on YouTube. 6 min 16 s.
- Video length
- 6 min 16 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Draw a horizontal line about 5 cm (2 inches) from the bottom of the page. That bottom strip is where your summary will go.
Draw a vertical line down the page, about 6 cm (2.5 inches) from the left edge, stopping at the bottom line. You now have a narrow left column, a wide right column and a summary strip.
Write a heading at the very top: the subject, the topic and the date. This makes pages easy to sort when you revise.
Take your main notes in the wide right column during class or while reading. Use short phrases, bullet points and abbreviations rather than full sentences.
Leave the narrow left column empty while you take notes. It gets filled in later, so do not write in it during the lesson.
Soon after the session, write a question or keyword in the left column next to each block of notes. For example, "What caused the war?" beside the causes you listed.
Write two or three sentences in the bottom strip summarising the whole page in your own words. If you cannot sum it up, you need to review that section again.
To revise, cover the right column with a sheet of paper and answer each cue question out loud from memory. Uncover the notes to check what you missed.
Tips and common mistakes
Fill in the cue column within a day of the lesson, while the material is still fresh.
Keep cues as questions where you can, because they force you to recall answers instead of just rereading.
Write the summary in your own words, not copied from the notes or the textbook.
Keep one page per topic so your cue questions and summary stay focused and easy to review.
Questions
Do I need a special template?
No. A ruler and a pen are enough to draw the three sections on any lined page. A printed template just saves time and keeps the layout consistent.
Can I use Cornell notes for maths or science?
Yes. Put worked examples and formulas in the right column, then use the left column for the rule or method each example tests.
How often should I review my notes?
A short review within 24 hours, then again each week before an exam, works well. Covering the notes and answering the cues is faster than rereading them.
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.
