Note-Taking Tips and Study Skills

Note-taking is an important and valuable skill to have. Taking well-organized notes helps you keep track of important information, better retain that information, and even make studying more fun. To prevent you from having to re-read everything and to make it easier to study information before a test, here are five note-taking tips to help improve your note-taking skills.

1. Handwrite your notes instead of typing them. Since writing takes more time, you’re more likely to remember the information as opposed to typing them.

2. Use different color highlighters for important people, dates, and events. Using multiple colors helps you recognize what’s what at a glance.

3. Write your notes on flashcards. Instead of using lined notebook paper, which can be overwhelming around test time, the flashcards work great for reviewing material in short bursts.

4. Use post-it notes. Mark areas in your notes that you’re having trouble remembering. The post-it notes remind you what to focus on when reviewing.

5. Try pictures. Especially if you’re a visual person, studying a subject like science where there is a lot of terminology, can be made simpler by sketching a picture or two that pertains to the subject your studying.