Effective Note-taking: the Basics

Note-taking is something that I find is essential for really acing that final exam. It may not be the most effective for everyone when it comes to studying, but several studies have shown that writing is more effective for remembering something as compared to the classical reading. Here, I will be talking about some tips and tricks that I have picked up in my experience of note-taking, which is sadly limited to only textbook-based notes, as I don’t see the need to make lecture notes just as yet. On a final note (ha, note, get it), these are things that have worked for me, and may not work for everyone.

Have a note-taking code. What I mean by this is that you need to have a certain method of note-taking. You will discover what works best for you as you make more notes. For example, I use two color pens for making boxes around important things: blue (what I write my notes with) for not-so-important things which are only summarized in the form of, say, a table, and purple (for highlighting) to mark out the extremely important things for last-minute revision, like definitions.
Your notes should be legible. There’s no point in making notes if you won’t understand what you’ve written when you actually get around to studying them. Although, you have no obligation to make your notes comprehensible to anyone else. Remember, these are your notes.
Make yourself look forward to it. Buy pretty notebooks, amazing pens, make your notes aesthetically pleasing, do what you can to make yourself look forward to note-taking. I personally enjoy note-taking as compared to reading as it keeps my brain active because I have to focus on what I need to take down and how.
Don’t waste too much time on making your notes look ‘pretty’. Now, I know how tempting it is to achieve the look of those pictures of notes on Pinterest, but note-taking should revolve around functionality and usefulness, not aesthetics. I know this somewhat contradicts my previous point but if you’re taking more time to decorate your notebook than taking actual notes, there’s going to be a problem.
Draw those diagrams. Since you’re going to be making notes only once (hopefully), drawing the diagrams in your textbook will help you visualize it during the exam. Draw a fair diagram once in your notebook, annotate it instead of just labeling (this means writing down one line about each labelled part), and try doing this without looking at the textbook. This works especially well for visual learners, even though this mainly applies to more scientific subjects such as biology and chemistry.
Don’t go overboard with highlighting. Notes are supposed to be a summary of the most important parts of the topic. Highlighting notes does help in last-minute studying, but highlighting everything simply defeats the purpose of notes. I personally don’t use highlighters, but instead I underline or draw a box with a mildly colored (contrasting) pen so that I don’t end up staring at a page of neon green.
Compile notes from different sources. When you have everything relating to a single topic at one place, studying becomes several times more convenient. Notes allow you to do just that. You can summarize out annotations in your textbook, extra information provided by your teacher, and even information from online videos and articles. That way, you have everything in one place and don’t have to go looking for other books and references.
Know that this is mostly for last-minute studying. Notes are helpful if you need to quickly revise a concept some time before the exam. This does not mean that you will not read the textbook. Unless you’ve copied down the whole text, reading the text refreshes concepts you didn’t even know you’d forgotten. Don’t rely on notes for complete exam studying.

Exam season prep tips

‘Warm up’ your brain before studying. I got this tip from studytee on YouTube, but it really works! What I mean by this is that before you start an intense study session (or any study session at all), you should prepare your brain for the ordeal of the next few hours, so that is absorbs information more readily. You can do this by solving some simple puzzles. This ‘activates’ your brain, in a way.
Practice, practice, practice. This applies most to science subjects, especially math and physics, as these subjects have more of an application of the concepts you have learned. You may think you understand a concept well, but you have to be prepared for even the most difficult questions, through practicing. This also applies to subjects like English and social science. Here, you learn how to think and answer questions based on topics you’ve probably already prepared. Do practice papers, textbook questions, workbooks, whatever you can find.
Time your tests for a shorter amount than the actual. For example, if you have a math test that is 2 hours long, do a practice paper or a past paper within an hour or an hour and a half at most. This technique prepares you for faster writing and gives you more confidence that you will finish your paper in time. It also leaves margin for checking your answer script or for a question you get stuck on.
Do not depend on the answer scheme. If you know you have the answers to a practice paper, you will not have enough motivation to give your best on the paper. Your mind-set will become something like this: ‘I don’t really care if what I am writing on this practice paper is right or not, I can just check my answers from the mark scheme’, in other words, you are likely to give up easily. This can become a problem for difficult questions, as you would not even attempt to solve them. So, try doing some papers without checking them with the answer scheme.
Don’t forget to read the textbook. If exams are just around the corner, and you’ve already prepared by making notes and flashcards, you might think that all you need to do at this point is practice. As I mentioned earlier, this is important, but practice tests often ask only some parts of the syllabus. Read the textbook once again, you might even realize that there were things that you have forgotten,
Do not let stress get the best of you. A stressed-out brain is less efficient. There are so many methods to relieve stress, take time, a short while before exams, to figure out which technique works best for you. Some methods include meditation, exercising, doodling or journaling. Again, I haven’t listed all the methods, and there may be others which work for you. But please make some time in your busy day for things like these. Remember, your mental health is important, too.
Forgive yourself. Everyone makes mistakes. It is important to forget that perfectionist personality for some time and go easy on yourself if you make a mistake. This is again important for your mental health. Mistakes are a sign that you are learning (but don’t forget to learn from your mistakes!).

The Eco-Friendly Student

Simple, overlooked ways to go environment-friendly while studying

Source: Association for Psychological Science

Switch to mechanical pencils. Mechanical pencils use lesser wood, and last much longer than wooden pencils. If you continue this, and spread the word to others, a lot of wood will be saved. Also, mechanical pencils produce much less waste. Although keep a few wooden pencils handy as several exams require you to use only a wooden pencil.
Go digital as much as you can. I guess this is a little obvious, but going digital saves a lot of paper (and a lot of trees). If you are sensitive to screen exposure, you can still read eBooks on devices such as Kindle Paperwhite, which is much safer. You can even listen to audiobooks: you still have the book, low screen exposure, and it’s still digital!
If you are up for the digital life, use portable devices. Laptops, tablets, and mobile phones use 50-90% less energy than desktop computers or television sets. Over time, this saves a lot of energy, even more if you encourage the people around you!
Not only is it good for your health and keeps you motivated, studying during the day in a well-lit place also saves the energy costs of lighting. I know this is very situation-dependent, but try to study during the day as much as possible.
Study in a public place. Now this sounds very cliché, but studying is a public place such as the library, a café, or a park is better for the environment, as you’re simply using the electricity (for lighting, air conditioning, etc.) that is meant for the general public anyway.
Print Light. This also cuts down on certain costs, in a way. Whenever you have to print something, print is a shade of grey that is a few shades lighter than black (or several shades lighter, you can try different documents in different colours and choose what’s best). This may not work for some laser printers is there isn’t much difference between your document colour and black.
Use the library, or even second-hand books, as much as you can. The more books that are shared, the less that needs to be printed, and it even saves a few bucks.
If it’s possible, use refills. Here, since this a study blog, I mean pen ink refills (if you can find any), but this rule applies to anything that can be refilled, such as shampoo or dish soap.

Avoiding distractions while studying

Distractions seems to be one of the most common and frustrating problem while studying. Sure, staying connected with your friends and the world around you is important, but it becomes troublesome when it gets in the way of your studying. Not only that, there are so many things going on around us, and they seem infinitely more interesting when we get around to studying. Here I’ve listed a few tips to avoid distractions while studying; you do not have to try all of these, and I’m not saying they’re 100% effective, but they’re worth a shot

Keep. Your phone. Away.

There is literally no more direct way to say this. The closer you are to your phone, the more likely are your fingers to itch when you receive a notification. Studies even show that keeping your phone in a different room (or somewhere else where you cannot see or hear it) actually greatly increases your concentration. I say from experience that this is very true, as you are more focused on the task at hand. If you think you can manage checking notifications and studying, you’re wrong. It’s not easy for the brain to switch so quickly between different tasks which are highly visually and mentally demanding, so you’ll find yourself thinking about that Instagram caption more than what’s good for you, especially while studying.

Lo-fi music is best

I mean, it was created for this purpose. I’d actually suggest not listening music while studying, but if that’s what works for you or you are in a noisy place where even the slightest of disturbance causes you to lose focus, lo-fi music is best. This may be known as ‘reading music’ in some places and websites. It usually has a slow, calm beat and no lyrics. No lyrics are really important, whatever music you’re listening to. They keep your mind from straying (no, listening to music in a language you don’t understand won’t work, because there’s still change in the lyrics and music). Finally, I wouldn’t suggest listening to any music which is staccato or has sharp note changes.

Don’t do something intense right before studying

This includes listening to loud and intense music, watching a movie or an episode of a show, or playing video games (light video games such as Colour Switch are okay, but only before your study session begins). This reduces chances of your mind straying to the activity you just did. Instead, you can go for a walk, make yourself a snack, or clean your room a little.

Study actively

This is, by far, how I’ve managed to keep my distractions to the minimum. Make notes, use flashcards, do practice questions, quiz yourself, anything works as long as you’re not simply moving your eves across the page. I often find myself reading and re-reading the same line multiple times because I simply cannot focus. So, I always try to read actively, such as reading from the point of view of note-taking (what I’m going to write down and what information isn’t the most important) or as if I’m preparing to answer a question, or even thinking the possible questions which could come from a particular topic (this works less effectively but I only use it as a last resort or for tougher topics). Not only does this make your brain absorb information more readily, it prepares you for situations in the examination.

Conquering English Literature

English literature may feel like a useless subject, but alas, it is very much mandatory (for most schools at least). Unfortunately, many students also find it difficult and just because of this one subject, their average grades fall spectacularly. Or at least, this is what the students I know have told me.

Writing as someone who got 92% on their English literature exam, I can say that there are a few things people easily miss when it comes to analyzing texts and poetry and writing their answer. Here I’ve listed a few things you as a student can do to improve your English literature grade. These aren’t obviously fool proof, but maybe some of these can actually help.

Every word has a purpose

Yes, some words which seem absolutely irrelevant when it comes to analysing a text also serve a purpose, however small. This is a formula, a sort of rule with few exceptions. For example, if the author describes a door being coloured red, it may signify an emotion connected with the word red or simply be giving details about the setting (e.g., the door may be standing out from an otherwise neutrally-coloured background, or it may be a detail the author found interesting, etc.), it depends upon the context.

Your paper is an argument

When the question asks you to comment on a particular theme, you become a salesperson selling that theme to the examiner. Every point you make has to relate to that very theme, no matter how distant the connection is. If the text given has already been studied in class, then your teacher may have made you highlight some important parts of the text. It is ESSENTIAL to use that in your answer, because chances are that it is very complex, that is, it has many aspects and can fit into any theme. Also, if there is a point which amplifies the theme in a way, then be sure to use it.

Notes and quotes

Although you may be often suggested not to waste time planning your answer when you are giving your exam, I always found it beneficial to spend 2-5 minutes making some bullet points, along with quotes, in pencil about what approaches I can take to answer the question. It’s always better to jot down your thoughts (even if they are not organised), as one thought can lead to another. Also, you will have some idea how your answer will look, and you can decide to not add a few elements, or write about something else along the way. It is also important to add a lot of quotes to your answer; the shorter the quotes the better, as this way you can fit more quotes (limit them to a few words). This enhances the evidence part of the answer, and shows that you know your text well and have also properly understood what the writer is trying to convey.

Write wisely

Think your answer through. Although stating more points will get you a higher score, the points you state have to be relevant. You cannot go beating around the bush with points nearly identical to each other throughout your answer. Try to keep similar points to one paragraph, splitting it if you think you’ve written too much. This again emphasises the need to make a rough plan, however small. A really good technique I learned is to come up with 3-5 points for an answer and write a paragraph on each point. Also, simply mentioning the figure of speech isn’t very useful; you have to explain how the figure of speech affects the rest of the writing and how it is relevant to the question. In fact, I barely mention any figures of speech in my answer, occasionally mentioning ‘metaphor’ or ‘simile’ in the most complex and obvious of scenarios.

Revise quickly but carefully

Revision is pretty crucial for writing an answer, even if it may only help you correct some grammatical mistakes. I advise spending not more that 5 to 10 minutes for this. While revising, you should think like an examiner would think. You wouldn’t have time to write a lot, but there are some things you can correct. Is this paragraph relevant enough? Is there a sentence or two I can add to clarify my point better? Have I used my quotes as correctly as I can remember? Will someone who is not me understand what I am trying to say? These are some of the questions you should ask yourself while revising. If you feel like a word isn’t quite readable in your handwriting, feel free to strike it out and write the same word on top.

Five Essential Study Tips

Set goals for each day, but always give yourself more time than you think you need. You might get stuck, which will take more time than you had initially intended, which will obviously lead to stress. Stressing yourself out for no reason will make studying less efficient.

When you’re tired, stop. DO NOT STUDY ANYMORE/TAKE A BREAK. This can mean either physically or mentally tired. Your health comes first. It’s also much better to rest for 2-3 hours than waste the entirety of the next day lying sick in bed. I usually stop studying at 7:30 pm, but if I’m tired I do something light like printing out past papers.

Again, take breaks. How you do this is totally up to you, but it has to be efficient. It takes some time to figure out the perfect schedule and length of breaks, so don’t panic when it doesn’t work the first time. For days of intense studying, I can fit 7.5 to 8 hours of efficient and productive studying in the whole day, still saving enough time for meals, some light cardio and 9 hours of sleep.

During your breaks, do not do something intense. The whole point of breaks is giving your brain enough time to rest and properly process the information you have just studied. I recommend listening to some calm music (with or without lyrics; that’s up to you) or maybe cleaning your room/desk area, or even going for a walk outside. I do NOT recommend watching Netflix or anything visual (even social media, especially social media), or listening to loud music.

Find time for things you love. This might seem a little absurd, but Not Going Insane is pretty important during exams. Doing the things you love and make you happy is so important for your mental well-being. A healthy mind will also help you study better. Don’t actively indulge yourself so much that it’s all you think about, and don’t take on any more large projects. You can do this during “longer” breaks or for unwinding.

Allons-y!

So. I’ve finally set up this blog, after what was several more minutes than I had originally thought. Now that it exists, it’s only fair that you know a little about me.

I’m a high school junior (as of 2019) and pretty much rely on memes and vines to maintain my sanity (I’d say that I’m kidding, but honestly even I don’t know how much of that statement is actually false). I passed my GCSEs with flying colors, getting 6 A*s out of 9, with the rest being As. And guess what? That led to a lot of people asking me how I did it. Honestly I had the idea of creating this blog so that i can just shut them off by giving them a link, but now I guess I’m doing this for myself and all the struggling students who are going to bother reading this.

Expect a lot of study tips and hacks, and some tips on productivity in general. Also maybe some motivational pictures of my own!

So, allons-y (french for “Let’s go!”)!