The Cornell Notes System

I’ll be completely honest with you…

I love taking pretty notes.

I mean, that’s literally why I bought an iPad—
and not just any iPad… a Pro. With an Apple Pencil.

And of course, GoodNotes.

I was obsessed with those “study aesthetic” Pinterest boards. You know the ones.

Perfect handwriting. Color-coded everything. Highlighters working overtime.

I did this for almost my entire freshman year.

Do you know what I actually got good at?

Color theory.

Seriously—I could match colors like a designer… but ask me what I studied? No idea.

So yeah, unless you’re a fashion design student, let’s not fall into that trap.

Instead, let me introduce you to something that actually works:
the Cornell note taking system.

What Is the Cornell Notes System?

The Cornell system is a simple way to organize your notes so your brain actually processes what you’re writing.

You start with dividing your page into three sections:

1. Main Notes (right side)

2. Cues / Questions (left side)

3. Summary (bottom)

That’s it. ↓

Simple structure → better thinking → better memory.

But What Do You Do Now!!!?

Step 1: Take Notes Normally (But Smarter)

In the main section:

• Write key ideas

• Keep it short (no essays)

• Use bullet points, diagrams, shortcuts

This is where most of your Cornell notes will go.

Step 2: Add Questions on the Left

After you finish studying, go back and fill the left column with:

• questions

• keywords

• triggers

For example:

• “What is photosynthesis?”

• “Why does this formula work?”

This is where the magic starts happening.

Step 3: Write a Quick Summary

At the bottom, write:

• a 2–3 line summary of the page

This forces your brain to:

• process

• simplify

• understand

And not just copy.

A Simple Cornell Notes Example

Let’s say you’re studying biology.

Right side (notes):

• Photosynthesis = process plants use to make food

• Uses sunlight, water, CO₂

• Produces glucose + oxygen

Left side (cues):

• What is photosynthesis?

• What are the inputs/outputs?

Bottom (summary):

• Plants convert sunlight into energy using water and CO₂

That’s a basic Cornell notes example.

Simple. Clean. Actually useful.

Why the Cornell Notes Method Works So Well

The Cornell notes method is better than normal notes because:

You’re Not Just Writing, You’re Thinking

Most note-taking is passive.

But with the Cornell note taking system, you:

• write

• question

• summarize

That’s active learning.

It Builds in Revision Automatically

The left column turns your notes into a quiz.

So instead of re-reading, you can:

• cover the right side

• answer questions

• test yourself

Which is WAY more effective.

It Works Perfectly with Spaced Repetition

Combine the Cornell system with spaced repetition and you’ve got:

• structured notes

• built-in revision

• better retention

Basically a cheat code.

Your Notes Actually Make Sense Later

This is underrated.

With normal notes, you come back and think:
“What was I even trying to say here?”

With Cornell notes, everything is organized and clear.

Future you will be very grateful.

Should You Use a Template?

If you don’t want to draw lines every time, just use a:

• Printable Cornell notes template

• Digital Cornell notes format

• or you can pre-draw it on your notebook before classes

It saves time and keeps things consistent.

Always Remember

Not everything that looks good… is good for you.

That applies to life, and yeah, your notes too.

Pretty notes might look amazing, but if they don’t help you understand or remember anything, they’re kind of useless.