Are you feeling overwhelmed by all the material you need to learn? You are not alone!
Effective note-taking can be a game-changer, helping you to absorb, organise, and retain key concepts with ease.
Well-structured notes don’t just make revision easier—it also boosts understanding, improves memory recall, and enhances overall exam performance.
Read on to explore the best note-taking techniques and revision strategies so you can study smarter, not harder.
What is Note-Taking?
Note-taking is the process of writing down important points while actively engaging with the material.
Whether you’re:
- Listening to a lecture,
- Reading a textbook,
- Watching an educational video, or
- Researching for a project,
Jotting down main points helps transform passive learning into an active process, making it easier to absorb new ideas and retain knowledge over time.
However, not all note-taking techniques are equally effective. The way you structure your notes can significantly impact how well you understand and remember the material.
Let’s explore some of the most effective note-taking methods to enhance your learning!
Best Note-Taking Methods
1. Cornell method
The Cornell method is a highly structured system that encourages active learning and easy revision.
Here’s how to do it:
Divide your page into three sections and label them as-
| Key Points | Notes | Summary |
| Write down key terms, questions, or main ideas. | Record details, explanations, and supporting information. | At the end of your study session, summarise the key takeaways in your own words. |
No matter how you lay out your notes, the basic concept of the Cornell Method is that you have a dedicated place for key points, facts, and a summary of your lesson.
Why choose Cornell notes? It:
- Encourages better organisation.
- Helps with quick reviews.
- Effective for subjects with a lot of information such as Science and History.
Perfect for class lectures, textbooks, and online resources!
2. Outline method
The outline method uses a hierarchical structure with bullet points and indentations to organise information logically.
Here’s an example format:
Main Topic (Aligned Left)
- Subtopic/Idea (Indented)
- Supporting Information (Further Indented)
- Subtopic/Idea (Indented)
- Supporting Details (Further Indented)
In outline notes, supporting ideas are nested under the point they’re related to, so you can easily see the hierarchy of ideas and how the information relates to each other.
The outline method is well-suited for topics that involve detailed theories, concepts, and explanations, such as Literature, Business Studies, or Social Sciences.
Benefits of outline method:
- Helps in understanding relationships between ideas.
- Visually structured for easy scanning.
- Reduces overwriting and organises key points logically.
3. Mind Mapping method
Mind maps are non-linear graphical diagrams that allow you to visually represent your ideas and their relationships.
How to create a mind map:
- Write the main topic in the centre of the page.
- Draw branches for key subtopics.
- Add supporting details (keywords, symbols, or even images).
- Use colours to make the map visually engaging.
If you’re on a creative journey, mind maps are you best brainstorming aid to visualise your roadmapping process without worrying about order and structure.
Mind mapping is perfect for:
- Subjects that require concept linking (e.g. Biology, Literature, Business).
- In-depth analysis and memory recall.
- Memorising complex topics using visual cues.
4. Charting method
Also known as grid notes, this method organises information into table format by dividing the document into columns and rows.
Here’s an example format:
| Topic | Definition | Example | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newton’s Laws | Three laws explaining motion | Car acceleration | Used in physics and engineering |
This technique is ideal for subjects with lots of facts and figures like History, Biology, and Economics, to compare facts and statistics.
Advantages of charting note-taking method:
- Visually clear, making revision faster and more efficient.
- Helps identify patterns and relationships between topics.
5. Sentence method
Characterised by its straightforwardness and simplicity, the method involves writing every key point as a separate sentence to capture information quickly.
The sentences can also be numbered or ordered for a simple organisation, which will help you track the sequence of ideas.
This method is best for:
- Fast-paced lectures where writing everything down is not possible.
- When information flows quickly (e.g. Law, Philosophy, Sociology).
- Numbering sentences allows for easy referencing later on.
6. Digital method
With modern technology, most students prefer to create, organise, and store information with their phones, tablets, or laptops.
Here are some popular digital note-taking tools:
- Notion – Organises notes like a digital notebook.
- OneNote – Offers a freeform digital workspace.
- Evernote – Supports multimedia notes.
- Google Docs – Great for collaborative studying.
These tools allow users to add text, images, links, audio recordings, and other media, making the notes more interactive and comprehensive.
Benefits of digital note-taking:
- Notes can be edited, organised, and searched easily.
- Cloud storage allows for access on multiple devices.
- Perfect for group projects where you need to share ideas and lecture notes with peers.
Effective Revision Techniques
Now that you have well-structured notes, how do you revise effectively?
Choosing the right revision method can greatly improve exam performance and make studying more efficient.
Below are some proven revision techniques you can try:
Active Recall
Instead of just passively rereading your lecture notes, test yourself by recalling key information without looking.
This technique forces your brain to recall and retrieve details from your memory, which strengthens the retention of the information.
Active recall will help you efficiently prepare for exams, especially for subjects with heavy details, like Biology and History.
Feynman Technique
Another great way to learn is by teaching the concept to someone else or pretend you’re explaining to a 5-year-old.
If you find yourself struggling, revisit your lecture notes and simplify again using your own words until you can break it down effortlessly.
This technique will help you gain a deeper understanding of complex topics and identify gaps in knowledge.
Spaced Repetition
Instead of cramming up to the last minute, review your lecture notes at increasing intervals—daily, weekly, and then monthly (e.g. Day 1, Day 3, Day 7).
Keep track of the topics that you struggle with and use revision aids like flashcards or digital apps to help automate your revision.
This method reinforces learning over time and improves retention of information and key concepts.
Summarisation & Condensing Notes
In your own words, convert the large amounts of detailed notes into easily digestible key points, bullet lists, or visual summaries.
You can also use colour coding, charts, or symbols to further enhance your understanding!
This process will help identify core concepts at a glance and make your revision faster and more focused.
Flashcards
Create flashcards with a question on one side and the answer on the other.
Through this method, you can use them to quiz yourself regularly which reinforces learning and helps track progress.
There are 2 ways you can do this:
- Manually writing down the questions and answers on physical cards helps in retaining information.
- Using digital apps like Quizlet or Anki to automate the tracking of your progress and optimise your review sessions.
Choose whatever works best and convenient for you! This technique is great for memorising definitions, formulas, facts, and key concepts.
Past Papers & Practice Questions
Apply your knowledge by practicing with past exam questions under timed conditions.
By checking the topic of the questions which you got mostly wrong, it will help you to identify weak areas that need improvement.
This method stimulates actual exam scenarios which allow you to familiarise with the different question styles and exam formats.
If you don’t know where you can find practice questions, try searching online for open-source and free resources.
There are a lot of online websites, like The Nuggets Academy, that offer free math resources you can use during your revisions and more.
Revision Bootcamps
Have you tried all of the methods listed above and still find yourself struggling with revisions? Try joining revision boot camps!
Revision bootcamps are intensive, structured study programmes designed to help students prepare for major exams such as PSLE, O-Levels, and A-Levels.
These boot camps are led by experienced educators who provide targeted revision, exam strategies, and valuable insights to help students perform their best.
Benefits of joining a revision bootcamp:
- Structured Learning: Covers essential exam topics in an organised manner.
- Expert Guidance: Led by professional tutors with years of experience.
- Peer Learning & Motivation: Group study sessions help reinforce knowledge.
- Exam Practice: Exposure to mock exams and real-time feedback.
The Nuggets Academy offers holiday bootcamps, including mid-year and end-of-year revision programmes, as well as headstart and bridging workshops.
These bootcamps are designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in their exams and transition smoothly between academic levels.
Ace your tests with The Nuggets Academy!
Improving your note-taking skills and mastering the art of revision isn’t just about studying harder—it’s about studying smarter.
Finding the best note-taking method that works best for you and developing effective revision techniques can significantly impact your learning process and your ability to retain and apply knowledge.
Don’t worry, the Nuggets Academy is here to help you refine these skills and maximise your learning potential!
Our end-of-year revision bootcamps provide expert guidance, structured revision, and exam-focused strategies to ensure you walk into your tests with confidence.
Discover how we can help give you the best chance at acing your exams!