The Cornell Method for Notes: Adapting It to a Phone Notes App

The Cornell method was developed at Cornell University in the 1950s by education professor Walter Pauk, and it remains one of the most recommended ways to take study notes. It was designed for paper, but its logic transfers neatly to a notes app.

The idea in one sentence

Take notes during a lecture or reading, then immediately add questions and a summary, so that the notes become a tool for testing yourself rather than a pile of text.

The three sections

Traditional Cornell pages are split into three parts:

1. Notes area (main section). Where you record facts, explanations and examples during the session.
2. Cue or question column (left side). Filled in afterwards with keywords or questions the notes answer.
3. Summary (bottom). A few sentences in your own words capturing the main points.

Setting it up in a notes app

A phone screen is narrow, so use headings instead of columns. Create one note per session, with this structure:

Title: Subject, topic, date

Notes

• Bullet points as you go
• Key terms in bold

Questions / cues

• What causes X?
• Why does Y happen?
• Define Z.

Summary Two or three sentences in your own words.

Rich text formatting makes this easy: headings for the four sections, bullets under Notes, and bold for key terms.

During the session

Write short, clear points, not full sentences. Leave gaps where you missed something so that you can fill them in later. Don't try to organise perfectly while you're listening.

Within 24 hours

The Cornell method depends on review soon after the session:

• Fill in the questions. Turn each cluster of notes into one or two questions.
• Write the summary, without looking at the notes if you can. It's a memory test.
• Add tags for the subject or exam.

Reviewing

Cover the notes section and try to answer each question from memory. Check your answers, and mark questions you missed. Repeat over several days, spacing the reviews out. This kind of active recall is far more effective than rereading.

When it works best

• Lectures and talks
• Textbook chapters
• Training sessions
• Podcasts or videos you want to remember

When to use something simpler

For quick reminders and shopping lists, the Cornell method is overkill. Use it for material you need to learn and remember.

Adding reminders

Set a reminder for the review session, for example the evening of the same day and again three days later. The reminder text could say "Review Cornell notes: Biology Ch 4".

Common mistakes

• Skipping the questions and summary, which are the whole point.
• Writing too much during the session.
• Never reviewing.

Take structured notes with EasyNotes →