Improving Your Comprehension Skills - How Taking Proper College Notes Can Help



When in college, you are expected to document large amounts of information every day in the form of notes. Note-taking itself can initially seem very daunting. However, if you neglect to take notes that adequately document what was taught in class, you will most likely not comprehend the subject matter and thus perform poorly on assignments and exams. The reason that most students are unable to fully comprehend the material discussed in lectures is due to ineffective note-taking methods.

Fortunately, there are several strategies for taking effective college notes that can aid in increasing your comprehension skills and improving your overall grades. Continue reading for our tips for taking notes that are both informative and easy to comprehend when studying. 

Taking Notes in College Improves Comprehension Skills 

Simply attending class and listening to lectures is not enough to adequately comprehend information. In fact, by the time class is over, the average student who neglected to take notes will forget more than half of the lesson before the next class. Those who opt to not take notes risk making lower grades, developing a bad reputation with their instructor, and, ultimately, wasting the large amounts of money required for attending college. 

For these reasons, it becomes imperative to actively take notes throughout the entire duration of the lesson. It’s been proven that by listening to the instructor, taking relevant notes, and reviewing the notes at a later time, students are much more likely to comprehend the lessons and achieve successful results when exams come around. 

Best Way to Take Notes in College: Several Strategies That Guarantee Success

Generally, there are three proven strategies for taking notes, each of which caters to the unique way that individuals process information. While there are three different methods, some people combine various aspects from each in order to get the most out of their notes. Remember, though, it doesn’t matter which strategy you choose as long as you’re adequately documenting and comprehending the information presented to you. The best way to take notes in college is ultimately whatever works best for you.

The three most prominent strategies for taking notes include:

The Outline Method: Using a hierarchical structure, key points and corresponding facts are written down in the chronological order of the information given. This type of note-taking strategy helps provide an overview of everything discussed in class for that particular lesson. Charting Data: Charting your notes is beneficial when dealing with numbers, formulas, and multiple topics that overlap with one another. Essentially, you can chart your notes by dividing your page into several columns, each of which will focus on a specific topic. By using this method, you’re able to clearly see multiple topics and how they relate or differ from each other, all without turning the page.   Mapping Information: This method of note-taking works best for visual thinkers. If you find yourself unable to make connections and comprehend complex ideas and topics, using the mapping strategy for note-taking is for you. Start by jotting down the most important fact in the center of the page. From there, add additional information and supporting details by drawing lines that connect back to the central idea. Once completed, you will have a large, branching graph that contains all of the information covered in the lesson.  Revolutionize How to Take Notes in College With Lightmap

We hope that after reading through our tips for how to take notes in college, you have a better idea of how you can approach note-taking. When in college, simply showing up to class is not sufficient in comprehending the information taught by your instructor. Instead, you must make additional efforts at increasing your comprehension by taking relevant, quality notes. And, sometimes, this includes incorporating standardized note-taking methods. 

At Lightmap, we provide college students with an advanced computer note-taking app that is guaranteed to improve not only the way that you take notes but also your overall comprehension skills. In addition to taking notes, users also have access to a range of other innovative features that aim to revolutionize their note-taking experience. 

To learn more about our services and start taking better notes, please visit our website today!