What are Cornell notes?

The Cornell notes method is a way to organize class or reading notes so they are easier to review. A page is split into a main notes area, a narrower cue column, and a summary section at the bottom.

Three parts of the page

Notes area

Write key ideas, explanations, examples, and questions in the wider column during a lecture or while reading. Leave enough room to clarify ideas later.

Cue column

After the session, add keywords, questions, or short prompts beside the related notes. These cues help you practice recall without rereading every line.

Summary

Write a few sentences that capture the main point of the page. Summarizing gives you a quick review and can reveal what still needs clarification.

How to study with Cornell notes

Cover the notes column and use the cues to recall the explanations. Check your answers against the notes, then revisit the parts you could not explain. A short review soon after class and again later helps keep the material active.

Make a printable Cornell notes page

Use the Cornell notes generator to choose a paper size, line spacing, and color, then download a PDF for printing. Print at actual size to preserve the page dimensions.