How to Take Notes

Taking notes is one of the pleasures of life. Depending on your skill at it, you will either have a source of information to refer back to later, or no information at all.  This, of course, will determine if you’ll pass a test or bomb a test. So, in essence, all you actually have to do is to take notes the correct way. These are the steps to take notes and to actually enjoy doing so: 

1. Find a comfortable place to take notes: You have to be comfortable to actually enjoy it. 
   1. Put on some music. (But only if you can concentrate while listening to it)

1. Organize your thoughts: what parts of the reading are the most important, what sections will be on the test/quiz. 
   1. Separate the information into different colors and sections. 
      1. Use loads of headings for main ideas and concepts. 
         1. Use subheadings for points within those ideas. 
      2. Stick to one point per line. 
   2. The most effective color of pen to take notes is blue!
2. Write only what is necessary: 
   1. Rambling on the page will only confuse you. 
3. Anything that you can not seem to remember… write it down! 
   1. Underline keywords. 
   2. You can also use numbering to keep yourself organized. 
   3. Use abbreviations – and don’t worry about using full sentences.