How to Take Effective Notes | Jack Mondel

In order to retain more information when studying, it is important to take effective notes. Good note-taking can make a difference when trying to recall a class lecture or meeting later in life. Taking helpful notes allows you to be prepared for an exam and can cement information into your mind that would normally just be forgotten over time. Here are some tips on taking effective notes to get the most out of your study session.

1.Prepare Ahead

Be prepared with an agenda for each class meeting or lecture you have. Having a list of topics to be covered will help you focus while taking notes and allow you to prioritize important information when planning time to study.

2.Focus on the Main Points

It is always best to take notes in paragraph form, recording sentences rather than phrases or words while trying to find multiple ways to understand and express important concepts while taking notes. By summarizing the main points of a lecture, you will recall what you are studying later.

3.Use Effective Symbols

Figures such as arrows and circles can be used to represent the main points of a lecture or concepts that may need extra time spent studying. Connecting two separate notes by drawing a line between them will help you determine the relationship between different pieces of information.

4.Take Notes in Your Own Words

Your own personal interpretation of a lecture topic will provide the most success when recalling information later on. Never copy notes word for word; instead, summarize ideas or concepts into your own words to have memorized instead of just being read on paper.

5.Practice Makes Perfect

After taking notes, it is important to practice recalling the main points from your notes. This will help you discover your strengths and weaknesses while simultaneously testing how well you can recall information from a lecture or meeting later on in life.

6.Review, Review, Review

Reviewing old notes at least four to six times while making new ones may seem tedious, but it is necessary to comprehend the material being studied.

With these tips, you will be able to take effective notes while studying and make the most out of your study session.

Syndicated from Jack Mondel’s blog. Visit JackMondel.com to learn more about his career!