Are you looking for the most effective note-taking methods to take study notes when reading? I've put together a list of the most effective ways to help you capture a lot of information and actually remember what you've read while in the textbook chapter.
According to research by Harvard University, taking notes during reading can help to improve recall and comprehension of new material.
We all know that listening to hours of lectures or reading till the small hours can frazzle your brain, but writing your own notes in your own words has long been proven to help with recall!
So if you’re looking to get the most out of your studying sessions, it pays to learn how to hit up your study note goals!
Join me to discover 12 of the best ways to make sure you get the most out of what you read!
This post is all about how to take study notes when reading.
BEST STUDY NOTE-TAKING TECHNIQUES WHILE READING
12 ways to take study notes when reading
1. Utilise highlighters and post-it notes
2. Outline your notes
3. Mark questions with stars or flags
4. Create summaries
5. Connect ideas with arrows
6. Use colour coding
7. Create flashcards
8. Take short notes
9. Use a mind map
10. Talk it out
11. Take breaks
12. Make audio recordings
Ok, so with the short answer in place, let's take each one of the 12 ways to take study notes when reading and get into the details!
1. Utilise highlighters and post-it-notes
How to take study notes effectively // Photo by Felipe Furtado on Unsplash
Everyone loves a highlighter and quite possibly a post-it note! these 'boomer' ways of highlighting key ideas are a tried and tested way of drawing attention to what is important.
An obvious contender in my list of 12 ways to take study notes when reading!
Depending on the type of material you are working with, using different coloured highlighters can help identify various topics or ideas more easily.
Post-it notes are great for highlighting specific points so that they stand out from the rest of the text. Its a great way to add additional notes in a page.
They also allow you to move them around as necessary and keep track of your thoughts and ideas quickly and easily.
Try writing out points that you want to remember or mark sections that require further review; this will help you sort through information later when studying for tests or exams.
2. Outline your Notes
The outline method involves writing down key words /key points about each topic in bullet points and linking them together for easy reference later on.
This is especially helpful when you need to draw connections between several different topics.
Topics that may not be directly related but will help to build an overall understanding of the material.
Outlining works by providing a clear structure which you can fill in with facts and information as you go along.
There are other note taking methods that you can use:
- Cornell Method- which uses a two-column approach.
- Concept Maps- which is a great method for noting general ideas and abstract ideas and connecting them to one big picture.
- Linear Notes- which are the most similiar to basic outlined notes, involves taking detailed information but their is a greater risk of transcribing everything instead of putting the most important thing first.
3. Mark questions with stars or flags
Asking questions can help bring clarity to confusing topics or areas where more research needs to be done.
It is a good idea to ask your own questions phrased in your own words. This is a great way to better take in and connect with the material.
Again, super simple but hugely effective!
Watch this Youtube video from Thomas Frank on taking notes from books.
4. Create summaries
Summarising key concepts and chapters that you've read can help reinforce understanding.
It works by forcing you to read actively and identify the key information such as the main idea and supporting details.
When summing up are naturally forced to think about concepts critically and identify main points.
It is also brilliant for helping you laser-focus on what's most important!
Writing summaries will also be a boon for review sessions, exams or other assessments.
5. Connect ideas with arrows
I love this one! If certain topics discussed in the text are linked together, use arrows between your notes to illustrate that connection by linking back to the central idea..
This can help contextualise the material and make it easier for you to recall when studying later on.
So simple but so effective!
6. Use colour coding
Utilising different colours can help organise your study notes into categories or sub-topics, which can also save time when studying later on.
This can be combined with post-it notes or other visual aids too.
For example, if you are reading about the history of a certain subject matter, use pink for people, blue for places, green for dates and yellow for events.
Voilà – now your notes are colour coded!
7. Create flashcards
Though creating flashcards may seem a little baby-ish at first glance, they can be an incredibly helpful resource when trying to remember specific facts or terms related to a subject.
Flashcards can also be useful when trying to remember material for a test or exam. They can also help you better understand complex topics using visual cues that promotes active learning.
Quizlet is a great online resource to help you create and organise them.
8. Take short notes
If you’re reading long passages of text, it may be difficult to write down every single detail mentioned in the material.
Instead, focus on taking short notes that capture the most important points from the text.
This will make it easier for you to study later on without having too much information to sort through or remember all at once.
To find out more about how I aced note-taking in a super smart 'study shorthand' head over to
Note-Taking Shortcuts - The Easy Way
9. Use a mind map
Effective note making techniques // Photo by Husniati Salma on Unsplash
A mind map is an intuitive way of organizing information visually so that it is easier to process. It involves creating a web-like structure with main ideas as branches and sub-topics as offshoots or leaves.
This will enable you to see the relationships between concepts more easily and help you understand them more easily.
There are some great resources to help you understand mind mapping including Mind Mapping by Tony Buzan and Mural.
It may take a little time to get familiar with it, but it's a fantastic way of summarizing and remembering reading material.
So what else have you got to do during that long hot summer before Uni begins?
10. Talk it out
This is a really good method and also helps your friendship-making goals!
If possible, talk about your studies with someone else as it can help solidify understanding and provide a different perspective on the material.
Having an outside point of view on the subject can also help spark additional questions or discussion which can further your knowledge base on the topic.
11. Take breaks
This goes without saying. Often when you are relaxing your mind has time to clear, focus and energise.
So you can smash all the 12 ways to take study notes when reading!
Taking breaks throughout studying will help keep your mind fresh and alert so that you can focus more effectively.
This could include taking a quick walk or just standing up and stretching your body.
Find out more about Why Student Wellbeing Is Important - 5 Ways To Get Energised!
12. Make audio recordings
Some people find it helpful to record themselves reading out loud from their notes or text.
This kind of goes alongside reading aloud, but adds an extra dimension as you can easily refer back to it when beefing up for exams!
This can be beneficial for those who have auditory learning styles, as the material will become embedded in their memory through the sound of the words.
Having your voice talking about concepts you are trying to learn can be especially useful!
Final thoughts on how to take study notes while reading...
Taking notes while reading is a super effective way to help remember important concepts and ideas.
With 12 different ways to take study notes, there’s sure to be something that works for everyone!
From highlighting keywords and writing summaries to recording yourself and using flashcards, these methods for taking notes can help boost your understanding of the material and make learning more enjoyable.
So give them a try – you may find that it’s just what you needed!
For more help on studying like a boss, head over to my other helpful article.
This post was all about 12 ways to take study notes when reading.
Other posts you may like:
Note-Taking Shortcuts - The Easy Way
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8 Secret Techniques To Improve Notetaking: Try These Now
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