Many students write down almost every word a lecturer says, then never look at those notes again until the week before the exam. By then the pages are a wall of text that is hard to revise from. The Cornell Method fixes both problems: it makes you think during the lecture and it turns your notes into a ready-made practice test.
How to set up the page
Divide each page into three parts:
- Notes column (right, about two-thirds of the width): main ideas, examples and diagrams, written during the lecture in your own words.
- Cue column (left, about one-third): key questions and keywords, written after the lecture.
- Summary (bottom strip): three or four sentences summarising the whole page, also written after the lecture.
During the lecture
Write in the notes column only. Listen for structure: “there are three causes”, “the key point is”, “this will be in the exam”. Use short phrases, abbreviations and quick sketches. If something confuses you, put a question mark next to it so you can follow up.
After the lecture (the same day)
- Read through your notes and fix anything unclear.
- In the cue column, write a question for each main idea. For example, next to notes about photosynthesis, write “What are the inputs and outputs of photosynthesis?”
- Write a summary at the bottom in your own words.
This takes about 15 minutes, and it is one of the best-value 15 minutes in your week, because reviewing material within a day greatly improves how much you keep.
How to revise with Cornell notes
Cover the notes column with a sheet of paper. Read each question in the cue column and answer it out loud or in writing. Then uncover the notes and check. This is active recall, the most effective revision method there is, and your notes have set it up for you automatically.
A quick example
Lecture topic: the water cycle. Notes column: “Evaporation: sun heats water, becomes vapour. Condensation: vapour cools, forms clouds. Precipitation: rain, snow. Collection: rivers, lakes, ground water.” Cue column: “What are the four stages of the water cycle? What causes condensation?” Summary: “The water cycle moves water between land, sea and sky through evaporation, condensation, precipitation and collection, driven by the sun’s energy.”
Paper or laptop?
Both work. Handwriting tends to force you to summarise, which helps understanding. A laptop is faster and easier to search. Whatever you choose, keep all notes for one course in one place and leave room on every page for cues and a summary.
Try it now
Use the free SMART Goal Builder, then go deeper with Productive Student, the illustrated guide with a 30-day plan and printable worksheets. You can read the first chapter free.