What is the Cornell note-taking method?

It splits your page into three parts: a wide right column for notes during class, a narrow left column for cues and questions you add afterward, and a summary bar at the bottom. The cues and summary turn plain notes into a built-in study tool.

How do I use this template?

Fill in the topic, class, and date if you like, then print it and take notes in the notes column during class. After class, write questions or key terms in the cue column and a short summary at the bottom — then quiz yourself by covering the notes and answering the cues.

Why is Cornell better than plain notes?

The cue column and summary force you to review and organize, which is where learning sticks. And the cue questions make it easy to self-test later — the single most effective way to study from notes.

Free tool

Cornell notes template.

The Cornell method makes notes you’ll actually study from. Add your topic, print the template, and take notes the smart way. Free, no sign-up.

Topic

Class

Date

Fills in the header, then prints a clean template to write on by hand. Struggling to keep up with notes? Read our note-taking guide →

Topic: —Class: —Date: —

Cues & questions

Notes

Summary

How it works

Notes that double as a study tool

Most notes get written once and never used. Cornell fixes that: the cue column and summary make you review and organize what you heard, and the cues let you quiz yourself later — which is how notes actually turn into a good grade.

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