Cornell Notes is a systematic note-taking method developed in the 1950s by Walter Pauk, an education professor at Cornell University. It is designed to help students take, organize, and review notes effectively, improving comprehension and retention of material

Structure of Cornell Notes

A typical Cornell Notes page is divided into three main sections:

• Note-taking area (right side): This is the largest section where you write the main notes from the lecture or reading. Notes are usually concise, using short sentences, symbols, or abbreviations rather than long sentences

• Cue column (left side): A smaller column for keywords, questions, or prompts related to the notes. These cues help in reviewing and self-testing later

• Summary section (bottom): A space to write a brief summary of the notes on the page, helping to reinforce the main ideas and facilitate quick review

How to Use Cornell Notes

• During the lecture or reading, write detailed notes in the note-taking area.
• Soon after, fill in the cue column with questions or keywords that relate to the notes, which can be used for self-quizzing.
• Write a summary at the bottom of the page to consolidate the information.
• When reviewing, cover the note-taking column and use the cue column questions to test your knowledge, aiding active recall and deeper understanding

Benefits

• Encourages active summarizing and intentional note-taking rather than passively writing everything down.
• Makes review sessions more effective by organizing notes clearly and enabling self-testing.
• Helps students focus during lectures and synthesize information better

Cornell Notes is widely regarded as one of the best note-taking methods for students at high school and college levels due to its simplicity and effectiveness in aiding learning and revision