1. Effective Note Taking

Effective note taking is a skill which is essential to all students. Preparation is key in accomplishing this skill so it’s important to have all the necessary equipment for each class. For example if you haven’t got a notepad you could get some pages from a classmate but these pages often end up being lost which is no help when exam time comes around.



Another valuable preparation method is to research the topic which is due to come up in class. This allows you to gauge what information is important within the specific area which is vital as not every word needs to be written into your notes. By preparing in this way and by paying attention in class you should now be in a position to determine which information is significant.

When you are writing notes it’s important to put a format in place. For example, you could use a highlighter to distinguish the major points in each class. You could also use different coloured pens for headings, sub-headings and for writing other key points. Another tip would be to put spaces between each section instead of trying to stuff all the writing onto one page. This will be helpful when you return to study the notes. If you have time in class diagrams or charts can also be beneficial.

When your notes are created it’s helpful to read back over them a short time after the class. This could be seen as tedious if exams are a few months down the line but it helps to refresh what you have learned.