The Cornell note-taking system
The Cornell method was developed by Walter Pauk, an education professor at Cornell University, and described in his book How to Study in College. It divides the page into three parts:
- Notes (the large right-hand column, about 6 in wide): write during the lecture or while reading. Short sentences, abbreviations and lists are fine.
- Cues (the left column, 2½ in wide): after class, write questions, key words and prompts next to the notes they belong to.
- Summary (the bottom 2 in): sum up the page in a few sentences in your own words.
How to study with Cornell notes
- Record the lecture in the notes column.
- Question: within a day, write cue questions in the left column.
- Recite: cover the notes and answer the cue questions out loud.
- Reflect and review: write the summary, and go back over your cues each week before the test.
Covering the notes and answering from the cues is a form of retrieval practice, one of the most reliable ways to remember what you learn.
Printing tips
- Print at 100% (Actual size), not Fit to page, so squares and line spacing keep their exact size.
- Light lines (gray or light blue) are easy to write over and fade into the background of a scan or photo; use darker lines for drawing practice or when the paper will be photocopied.
- Need a stack? Set the number of pages and print the PDF once, or print one page and photocopy it.
- Thicker paper (24 to 32 lb or 90 to 120 gsm) takes ink pens and markers without bleeding through.