The Cornell Note-Taking Method: A Page Layout That Makes You Remember More

Taking notes by copying everything a teacher says leaves you with a pile of text that you never open again. The Cornell method, developed by Professor Walter Pauk at Cornell University in the 1950s, turns notes into a study tool.

The page layout

Divide each page into three sections:

• Notes (right, the biggest area): where you write during the lecture or while reading.
• Cues (left, a narrow column): where you write keywords and questions after the class.
• Summary (bottom, a few lines): where you sum up the whole page in your own words.

A common set-up is a cue column about 6 cm wide on the left, a summary area of about 5 cm at the bottom, and the rest for notes.

How to use it, step by step

1. Prepare the page

   Draw the three sections, and write the date and topic at the top.

2. Take notes during class

   Write in short phrases, not full sentences. Use abbreviations, bullet points, and indentation. Leave space between ideas.

3. Review soon after

   Within a day, read your notes and fix anything unclear or missing.

4. Write cues

   In the left column, add key words or questions that each part of the notes answers. For example: "What causes inflation?"

5. Cover and recite

   Cover the notes column and look at your cues. Try to answer each one aloud or in writing. Then check.

6. Write a summary

   At the bottom, write two to three sentences that capture the main ideas in your own words.

7. Review regularly

   Re-test yourself with the cue column a few times in the following weeks.

Why it works

• It builds in active recall, by testing yourself with the cues.
• Writing a summary forces you to understand and condense.
• The structure keeps notes organised and easy to find later.
• It reduces the temptation to copy without thinking.

Digital version

You can use the same layout in a notes app or a table in a document: a two-column table with notes on the right and cues on the left, and a summary box underneath. Many apps and printable templates are also available.

Tips

• Listen for signals like "the main point is..." or "there are three reasons".
• Write quickly, then clean up later.
• Use your own words rather than copying exactly.
• Add diagrams where they help.

What most people miss

• The review is the main point. If you skip it, the method loses most of its power.
• Fewer words are better. Aim for understanding, not a transcript.
• Adapt it. If three sections feel rigid, use just the cue column and a summary.

Sources

• Cornell University Learning Strategies Center: Cornell note-taking system