Taking notes is not about transcribing everything the professor says. The best note-taking methods turn lectures into study material you can actually revise from.

• Cornell method: Split your page into cues, notes, and summary sections so you can quiz yourself later without rewriting everything.
• Handwrite first, digitize second: Studies show handwriting improves retention, so write by hand during class and transfer key points to digital notes for searchability.
• Focus on structure, not volume: Capture headings, definitions, examples, and anything the professor repeats or emphasizes, rather than full sentences.
• Review within 24 hours: Spend 10 minutes after each lecture filling gaps and highlighting questions, since that review is where most learning happens.
• Use the Feynman technique: After class, explain the topic out loud in simple terms; the parts you cannot explain are the parts you need to revisit.

The right method depends on your subject, but the common thread is always the same: notes are for reviewing, not just for writing.