Making notes in class comes very handy when you sit down to study. Note-taking is a skill that can help students to do well in all of their school work, tests, exams or assignments.

Usually teachers give handouts before starting the class, sometimes they write on board and students can copy them down. Different teachers do differently, some may not give any handouts and just deliver verbal lecture, for those lectures you need to have good listening skills and knowledge of how to take notes.

To know how to take notes effectively can improve in study and work habits. Remember to note down all the important information.

Sometimes students are deceived that they have listened to what the teacher has said in a class and they understand everything at the moment therefore they will remember it later too. That is the biggest mistake they usually make. Because eventually they forget everything the teacher has said. So it is always better to take notes along the lecture.

Here are some tips on note taking:

1. Don’t write down everything that you read or hear. Be alert and attentive to the main points. Concentrate on the “meat” of the subject and forget the trimmings.
2. Notes should consist of key words or very short sentences. If a speaker gets sidetracked it is often possible to go back and add further information.
3. Take accurate notes. You should usually use your own words, but try not to change the meaning. If you quote directly from an author, quote correctly what the meaning is.
4. Think a minute about your material before you start making notes. Don’t take notes just to be taking notes! Take notes that will be of real value to you.
5. Have a uniform system of punctuation and abbreviation that will make sense to you. Use a skeleton outline and show importance by indenting. Leave lots of white space for later additions.
6. Omit descriptions and full explanations. Keep your notes short and to the point. Condense your material so you can grasp it rapidly.
7. Don’t worry about missing a point.
8. Don’t keep notes on oddly shaped pieces of paper. Keep notes in order and in one place.
9. Shortly after making your notes, go back and rework (not redo) your notes by adding extra points and spelling out unclear items. Remember, we forget rapidly.
10. Review your notes regularly. This is the only way to achieve lasting memory.

Reference: Academic Skills Center, Dartmouth College 2001