--- title: "Effective Note Taking" id: "3588" type: "post" slug: "effective-note-taking" published_at: "2019-05-07T12:12:47+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-17T14:21:48+00:00" url: "https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/effective-note-taking/" markdown_url: "https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/effective-note-taking.md" excerpt: "Taking effective notes and writing down verbatim what your lecturer says are two very different things. Proper note taking not" taxonomy_category: - "Boston City Campus Blog" --- Taking effective notes and writing down verbatim what your lecturer says are two very different things. Proper note taking not only assists with comprehension and attention but transforms you into an active learner. Taking notes during lecturers forces you to: - Tune in & listen - Analyse what is said & identify what’s important - Be an active listener rather than passive – this makes you think about what you’re taking note of The Do’s… - Be attentive to the main points - Take precise notes of formulas, definitions, terminology & facts - Use your own words where possible – this helps with retention & understanding - Use bullet points to indicate related info & distinguish major from minor points - Use highlighters to indicate new terminology - Write legibly – you need to be able to decipher what you’ve written - Create your own system of symbols & abbreviations - Review your notes within 24 hours – Relook words you don’t understand & fill in gaps or questions - Start new notes for each new lecture – remember to date & number your pages - Keep your notes as brief as possible The Don’ts… - Do not try to write every word the lecturer says – seek out the main points & info - Do not use scrappy pieces of paper - Do not record or film a lecture with your phone instead of taking actual notes – by actively taking notes you are processing & retaining the info - If it’s being written on a whiteboard - If it’s in **bold** or CAPS or both! - Emphasis – this can be picked up in two ways 1 Tone of voice & gestures 2 The amount of time the lecturer spends on a certain point - Reviews given at the beginning of a lecture, highlighted points or topics from the previous lesson - Repetition – the lecturer won’t repeat the same point for nothing [https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/effective-note-taking/](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/effective-note-taking/) [https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/effective-note-taking/](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/effective-note-taking/) [https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.boston.ac.za%2Fblog%2Feffective-note-taking%2F](https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.boston.ac.za%2Fblog%2Feffective-note-taking%2F) [whatsapp://send?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.boston.ac.za%2Fblog%2Feffective-note-taking%2F](whatsapp://send?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.boston.ac.za%2Fblog%2Feffective-note-taking%2F) [Newer Group Work: The Basics](https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/group-work-the-basics/) [Back to list](https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/) [Older NB vs urgent tasks](https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/nb-vs-urgent-tasks/) [Close](#) #### Recent Posts - [https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/what-accredited-actually-means-2026-guide/](https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/what-accredited-actually-means-2026-guide/) [What “Accredited” Actually Means: A 2026 Guide for Parents and Employers](https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/what-accredited-actually-means-2026-guide/) - [https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/cogni-enhance-short-courses-child-support/](https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/cogni-enhance-short-courses-child-support/) [New Cogni-Enhance Short Courses for Parents, Educators & Counsellors](https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/cogni-enhance-short-courses-child-support/) - [https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/bachelor-of-education-foundation-phase-teaching-2/](https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/bachelor-of-education-foundation-phase-teaching-2/) [Building Bright Futures with Foundation Phase Teaching](https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/bachelor-of-education-foundation-phase-teaching-2/) - [https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/higher-certificate-network-systems-practice/](https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/higher-certificate-network-systems-practice/) [Higher Certificate in Network Systems Practice for Future IT Professionals](https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/higher-certificate-network-systems-practice/) - [https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/the-future-of-human-resources-are-you-professionally-ready/](https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/the-future-of-human-resources-are-you-professionally-ready/) [The Future of Human Resources: Are You Professionally Ready?](https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/the-future-of-human-resources-are-you-professionally-ready/) - [https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/why-supply-chain-management-has-become-a-strategic-degree/](https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/why-supply-chain-management-has-become-a-strategic-degree/) [Why Supply Chain Management Is Now Central to Business Strategy](https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/why-supply-chain-management-has-become-a-strategic-degree/) - [https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/why-supply-chain-management-is-now-a-strategic-business-priority/](https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/why-supply-chain-management-is-now-a-strategic-business-priority/) [The Modern Chain: Why Supply Chain Management Has Become One of the Most Important Degrees of This Decade​](https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/why-supply-chain-management-is-now-a-strategic-business-priority/) - [https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/sait-endorsement-boston-accounting-tax-career/](https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/sait-endorsement-boston-accounting-tax-career/) [How the SAIT endorsement of Boston Accounting Qualifications Opens New Pathways for Your Career in Tax](https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/sait-endorsement-boston-accounting-tax-career/) - [https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/how-messaging-shapes-organisational-success-and-strategic-communication/](https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/how-messaging-shapes-organisational-success-and-strategic-communication/) [How Messaging Shapes Organisational Success and Strategic Communication](https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/how-messaging-shapes-organisational-success-and-strategic-communication/) - [https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/your-questions-about-postgraduate-study-answered-2026/](https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/your-questions-about-postgraduate-study-answered-2026/) [Your Questions About Postgraduate Study Answered 2026](https://www.boston.ac.za/blog/your-questions-about-postgraduate-study-answered-2026/)