2 Simple Formulas For Writing Test Notes

Notes are a great way to help prepare for exams. They condense long texts into important points and supporting facts. They recapture lectures so details don’t become lost to time. These two simple note taking formulas will help you keep your notes organized and consistent so that you can study with ease when it is time to prepare for exams.

1) Standard Outline

An outline is one of the simplest and most common methods for taking notes. However, many people often use unorganized bullets or lines of text instead. Writing an outline will encourage you to connect main points and synthesize information in a way that will help you when it comes to exams. To start create a heading, the main title for that day’s information. Don’t forget to date the page as well. Under your heading choose a few main points that connect to the overall topic. Follow up these main points with supporting facts, ideas, and information. These are often the points you will have to memorize for exams. However, memorizing them will only help if you have a broad picture of how they connect to the overall topics and concepts. This is how a standard outline should look:

Title (Date)

1) Main Point

  1. Supporting fact
  2. Supporting fact

III. Supporting fact

2) Main Point

  1. Supporting fact
  2. Supporting fact
  3. Supporting fact

3) Main Point

VII. Supporting fact

VIII. Supporting fact

  1. Supporting fact

Mind Map

Start with a circle in the middle. This is your big idea. From here you draw circles that included the main points. Then, draw a line back from the main points to the big idea. In smaller circles draw your supporting facts and ideas. Connect them to the main points they correspond with. An ideal feature of the mind map is that you can connect multiple circles to multiple places when appropriate. A mind map is an excellent tool for a visual learner. They can includes doodles, diagrams, charts and other images that help support the overall concept. You can even color code circles. Below is what a mind map can look like:

Supporting fact

Supporting fact

Supporting fact

Supporting fact

Key Concept

Key Concept

Supporting fact

Main Idea

Supporting fact

Supporting fact

Key Concept

Choosing Your Style

However you choose to take notes, be sure that they are organized and include all of the details. Review them regularly so that you can fill in any missing information and reinforce the material in your memory. Even the act of taking notes can help you remember the information. Work to develop a note-taking method that works for your learning style.

 

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