How to Use the Cornell Method to Take Better Lecture Notes (And Stop Cramming)
We’ve all had that one lecturer. You know the one. He walks into the hall, starts talking at the speed of light, and expects you to catch every single word.
You write furiously until your hand cramps. You fill five pages with ink. You feel productive.
But when you open your notebook three weeks later to study for exams? It’s a disaster. You can’t find the main points, the handwriting is messy, and honestly, you don’t even remember writing half of it.
If this sounds like your current situation, you need to change your strategy.
In this guide, I’m going to show you how to use the Cornell Method to take better lecture notes. This isn’t just about making your notes look pretty; it’s about hacking your brain to remember more with less stress.
What is the Cornell Method?
Forget the complicated definition.
The Cornell Method is simply a way of dividing your paper to make your brain work smart instead of hard. It was created at Cornell University, but it works perfectly for the Nigerian student struggling with volume.
Most students write notes linearly—just line after line, from top to bottom. That’s passive. The Cornell Method forces you to be active.
It turns your notebook into a study guide before you even leave the lecture hall.
Step 1: Set Up Your Page (The Layout)
You don’t need a fancy iPad or a special notebook. Your regular exercise book or A4 paper is fine.
Draw a vertical line down the left side of the paper, about 2.5 inches (or three fingers width) from the edge. This is your Cue Column.
Draw a horizontal line across the bottom of the page, about 2 inches up. This is your Summary Section.
The big space in the middle? That’s for your actual notes.
Now your page has three zones:
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The Note-Taking Area (Right side)
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The Cue Column (Left side)
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The Summary (Bottom)
Step 2: The Note-Taking Area (During Class)
This is where the action happens while the lecturer is teaching.
But here is the rule: Do not write everything down.
If your lecturer says, “The amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates in 1914 was a pivotal moment spearheaded by Lord Lugard,” don’t write that full sentence.
Simplify it. Use abbreviations.
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1914: N & S protectorates combined (Amalgamation).
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Key figure: Lord Lugard.
Focus on main ideas, dates, diagrams, and key formulas. If you miss a point, leave a blank space and ask a coursemate later. Don’t let the lecturer leave you behind.
This strategy is one of the 10 effective study habits every student should develop, because it forces you to listen first, then write.
Step 3: The Cue Column (After Class)
This is the secret sauce. Most students skip this, and that’s why they fail to retain information.
Immediately after the class—maybe during your break or when you get back to the hostel—look at your notes on the right.
In the left column (the Cue Column), write questions that correspond to your notes.
If your note says “1914: Amalgamation,” your question on the left should be: “When was Nigeria amalgamated?” or “Who amalgamated Nigeria?”
Why do this?
Because when it’s time to study, you can cover the right side (the answers) and quiz yourself using the left side (the questions). It’s active recall, and research from Cornell University shows it’s far superior to just re-reading.
Step 4: The Summary (The Bottom Line)
Now, look at that space at the bottom of the page.
Write a 2-3 sentence summary of what the entire page is about. Imagine you are explaining the lecture to a friend who missed the class.
If you can’t summarize it simply, you didn’t understand the lecture.
This forces your brain to synthesize the information. It clarifies the “big picture” so you aren’t just memorizing isolated facts.
Why This Beats “La Cram, La Pour”
The problem with the traditional way of studying in Nigeria is that we wait until the timetable comes out to start reading.
By then, the notes are cold. You’ve forgotten the context.
With the Cornell Method, you have already done the hard work. You created questions (Cue Column) and you understood the main point (Summary).
When exams approach, you don’t need to re-read the whole textbook. You just go through your Cue Columns. This is a massive time-saver and is essential if you want to know how to prepare for an exam in a short time.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
I’ve tried this method myself, and I’ve seen where students get it wrong.
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Don’t unclutter the page too much. Some students waste time measuring lines with a ruler during the lecture. Just draw the lines freehand before class starts.
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Don’t wait too long. If you wait three days to fill in the Cue Column, you will forget what the scribbles in your notes meant. Do it the same day.
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Don’t be a perfectionist. Your notes don’t need to be Instagram-worthy. They need to be functional.
Final Thoughts
Changing your note-taking style feels weird at first. Your hand will want to go back to writing everything linearly.
Fight that urge.
Try this for just one subject for a week. Maybe pick a difficult one, like Biology or Law. You will notice that when you walk out of the lecture hall, you actually understand what happened.
And when exam time comes? You won’t be sweating in the library at 2 AM trying to decipher your own handwriting. You’ll be testing yourself and confident.
If you want to dive deeper into better academic performance, check out helpful resources from Khan Academy’s study tips or browse more of our guides on surviving school.
Pick up a pen, draw your lines, and take control of your grades.
