TIPS ON MAKING EFFECTIVE

STUDY NOTES
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
EFFECTIVE STUDY NOTES

• Easy to understand and remember

• Saves you time
• Contains important ideas and key concepts
• Data to prepare for exam
• Self-made
• Use the methods most comfortable to you
• Clear and easy to read
 KEEPING YOUR STUDY NOTES

• Be organised – you do not want to lose your notes!

• Use a notebook with pages that cannot be removed easily
• If you use loose paper,
• Use a folder to keep them
• Number the pages
• Label your notebook or folder clearly with your name and subject
• Keep your notes in a safe place so you do not lose them
HOW TO MAKE GOOD STUDY
NOTES

1. Understand your learning style!

2. Organise your notes
3. Keep it simple
4. Review your notes
 UNDERSTAND YOUR LEARNING STYLE

• Visual
• Likes pictures, tables, graphs, diagrams, colour, words
• Audio
• Likes listening, read out loud
• Kinaesthetic
• Likes activity and movement
• Write and rewrite, physical activity, senses, practice
 ORGANISE YOUR NOTES

• Divide content into smaller parts

• Use headings and subheadings
• Use lines to divide sections
• Write a summary of each unit
 KEEP IT SIMPLE

• Identify most relevant information

• Make short sentences and points
• Highlight keywords
• Note “new” information first
• Use symbols, shorthand and images
• Use colour – highlight, underline, circle
 REVIEW YOUR NOTES

• Are your notes:

• Clear and easy to read?
• Easy to understand and remember?
• Do they cover all the important points and topics?
• Do they help you review for your exams?
MEMORY AIDS

1. Mnemonic device
2. Stories
3. Mind maps
 MNEMONIC DEVICES

• To remember lists of words in a particular order

• E.g.
• Classification of living organisms: MRS GREN
• Hierarchy of classification:
• King Phillip Came Over For Gooseberry Soup
• How?
• Take the first letter of each word use them to come
up with a short sentence
 STORY

• Make stories with information you have to remember

• E.g.
• Information:
Arteries carry blood away from the heart, veins return
blood to the heart.
• Story:
Arthur always brings apples for lunch so there are none at
home but Vanessa buys apples home.
 MIND MAP

• Brainstorm and understand topic.

• Start with topic in the centre and
branch into subcategories.
• Use:
• A minimum of 3 colours
• Blank paper
• Images, photos, drawings
• Arrows and other symbols
• Keywords