We’ve all heard it before: taking notes is important! It helps you to understand concepts, retain information, and study effectively for exams. But the truth is, most students are never taught how to take good notes during lectures.
You may not have needed to take notes in high school, and as you start college or university, you might be wondering how it’s done. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place: this article is a step-by-step guide to taking useful, usable notes in post-secondary.
Let’s get started!
Step 1: Paper or digital?
Digital notes and paper notes both have some key advantages, so it can be difficult to decide between the two methods. Most people can type faster than they can write, and digital notes generally look tidier. However, research shows that handwriting your notes will help you to retain information better, and it’s easier to draw graphs and diagrams on paper. If you’re struggling to decide, it might be worthwhile to try out both methods and see what you like best. You can also use a different method for each class based on your professors’ different teaching styles. If you want the best of both worlds, you might consider taking notes on a tablet, and using a note taking app like or which allow you to “handwrite” using a stylus, but also give you the option to type your notes as well.
Step 2: Gather your supplies
If you’re taking notes on paper, you’ll probably need a lined-paper notebook for each of your classes or a binder with loose leaf paper, as well as some pencils or erasable pens. You may also want to grab some highlighters or sticky notes to organize and label different sections of your notes.
If you’re taking notes digitally, be sure to bring your laptop or tablet (and the corresponding charger) with you to class. You may also want to install a note-taking app on your device - check out for an in-depth look at some different note-taking softwares available.
If your instructor provides lecture slides ahead of time, it is always a good idea to print a copy or download and save the file to your device before class.
Step 3: Find the right mindset
Taking high-quality notes requires a lot of dedication and concentration on your part. It’s important to be entirely focused during your lectures, so make sure to get enough sleep and eat a healthy snack or meal beforehand. You may also want to limit distractions by turning off your phone and closing your email, social media, and news tabs on your laptop.
Step 4: Label it!
At the start of every lecture, flip to a new page in your notebook (or open a new section, if you’re taking notes digitally) and write the date, unit/module title, and subject of the lecture. This will make it easier for you to find the information you’re looking for later on. Make sure to number your pages as well!
These four steps are a great start to taking good notes at post-secondary school, and we've only scratched the surface! In our next post, we’ll cover 5 more steps to help you get the most out of taking notes in lectures.