Note-taking is one of those skills you are often asked to perform as an A-level student. Yet it is rarely taught. I am sure many of you are given instructions to ‘read and take notes’ from a particular chapter of a book, or given photocopied information to create your own revision notes from. The ability to take effective, meaningful notes is crucial not only for your A-level studies but also for any future study you might undertake.
There are many different ways to take notes, so you need to find a system which suits you and which is most beneficial to your learning. See Box 1 for items you might need to purchase for really effective note-taking. Once you have your chosen paper and pens, an essential question to ask is why you are taking the notes in the first place. The chances are that you only need to focus on the most important elements of the reading material, so avoid the temptation to capture every aspect of the book, chapter, website or handout in front of you. Your teacher might give you subheadings to focus your note-taking, and this can be a good way to start.
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