StudySkills@TheLibrary
With the end of the year fast approaching, it is time to seriously think about making study notes – especially if you haven’t been doing them regularly throughout the year. Make a quick mind map of each subject and topic so you can see an overview of what you need to note, then start making point form notes.
How to colour code your notes
Top 5 Tips to Improve Your Notes:
POINTS: Avoid long sentences and condense content into key points.
TABLES: Use tables wherever you can to create structure and make the content easier to learn.
KEY WORDS: Pull out key words and capitalise them.
HIGHLIGHT: Make sure the main content stands out (but don’t go crazy with colour).
FEEDBACK: Show your notes to teachers, parents and friends so they can suggest ways to improve them.
It is helpful to retain your study notes from each subject and organise them by topic. You would be surprised how helpful the notes from the previous years can be. Ensure that you can read and understand your notes: no point spending time making study notes only to find them confusing and non-helpful.
It is worthwhile spending some time over the break to create and organise your study notes. Make it a practice to do study notes at the end of every topic. This way, the information is fresh in your mind. It also gives you the chance to approach your teachers if you find that you are unsure about something. It is also much more time effective to spend a little time at the end of each topic rather than summarising a whole year's worth of notes.
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