Studying
The Cornell method, explained in five minutes.
One page, three areas: how to turn your class notes into something you can actually study from.
Contents
Where the method comes fromHow to set up the pageThe five stepsHow to write good cue questionsCover your notes and quiz yourselfThe summary at the bottomCommon questionsThe bottom line- Split the page into three areas: notes on the right, cue questions on the left, a summary at the bottom.
- During class, only write in the right column. Add the questions on the left afterward.
- To study, cover your notes and answer the questions from memory.
Most lecture notes never get looked at again. The Cornell method fixes that with one simple idea: the page is set up from the start so you can study from it later. Here is how to lay it out and use it in five steps.
Where the method comes from
Walter Pauk developed it at Cornell University, where he taught students how to study. He described it in his book How to Study in College, which has gone through many editions since. The idea behind it: taking notes, condensing them and reviewing them all happen on the same page.
How to set up the page
On a blank sheet, draw a vertical line so there is a narrow column on the left. Leave a strip free across the bottom of the page. Now every page has three areas, each with its own job.
| Area | Where | What goes in |
|---|---|---|
| Notes | right, the rest | Key points, sketches, examples |
| Cue column | left, about 2.5 in. | Questions about your notes |
| Summary | bottom, about 2 in. | Two or three sentences |
The five steps
Pauk breaks the work into five steps, often called the five R's: record, reduce, recite, reflect and review. You do the first two on the day of the lecture. The other three are where the actual studying happens.
How to write good cue questions
The left column is the heart of the method. Don't copy your notes a second time. Write questions that the right side answers. A good cue question is one you can only answer if you actually understood the material.
MitosisA keyword alone doesn't ask anything. You recognize it, but you never have to explain it.
What happens during metaphase?A clear question with an answer you have to pull from memory.
Cover your notes and quiz yourself
This is the step that makes the difference. Put a sheet of paper over your notes so only the cue column shows. Answer each question out loud or in writing, and only then check.
Rereading feels like studying. Remembering is studying.
Mark the questions you missed with a dot on the left. Next round, start with exactly those. That way every page becomes a small test that shows you where you stand.
The summary at the bottom
Finally, write two or three sentences at the bottom about what the page covers. It forces you to put the material in your own words. If you can't, you know exactly what to reread.
Your checklist for the next lecture
- Split a page into three areas or open the template
- During class, take notes only on the right
- Add three to five cue questions on the left the same day
- Write a two-sentence summary at the bottom
- The next day, cover your notes and quiz yourself
Common questions
The bottom line
The Cornell method turns your notes into a study sheet. Take notes on the right, ask questions on the left, sum up at the bottom. Try it with a single page in your next lecture, then quiz yourself the day after.
