3 Common Note-Taking Mistakes
(and How to Fix Them)
Taking notes is essential for learning, yet most students never get formal instruction on how to do it effectively. As a result, they fall into common traps that make studying harder, not easier.
Maybe they don’t take notes at all. Maybe they’re not sure what to write down. Or maybe they write down everything—only to realize later that they’ve created a textbook, not usable study notes.
Sound familiar?
The good news: great notes aren’t about writing more, they’re about thinking more. Let’s break down the three biggest note-taking mistakes and the research-backed strategies to fix them.
The Three Most Common Note-Taking Mistakes
1. No Notes at All
Some students skip note-taking entirely because the professor provides slides. It seems logical—why write something down when you already have a perfect transcript?
The problem? Slides don’t capture what was happening in your brain. They’re static. They don’t reflect your questions, insights, or connections. And when it’s time to study, they don’t jog your memory the way self-created notes do.
2. Not Sure What’s Important
Other students try to take notes but struggle to figure out what matters. They leave class with a handful of disconnected points, only to realize later that they don’t actually have the information they need.
The problem? Notes should be a tool for thinking, not just recording. Without a clear strategy for filtering information, notes end up incomplete or unfocused.
3. Writing Everything Down
Some students go to the opposite extreme, transcribing every word their professor says. Ironically, research shows that the more students write in class, the less likely they are to return to their notes later.
The problem? Copying everything doesn’t mean learning anything. If note-taking is purely a passive process, the brain isn’t engaged in making sense of the material.
So, if these are the biggest mistakes, what’s the solution? A smarter, more intentional way to take notes.
The Three-Step System for Smarter Note-Taking
1. Become a Big-Picture Thinker
Students often fixate on tiny details—names, dates, definitions—at the expense of seeing the bigger picture. But the truth is, those details can always be looked up later. The real value of notes is capturing connections and insights.
Before writing something down, students should ask themselves:
What’s the main idea here?
How does this connect to what I already know?
What’s confusing or interesting about this concept?
Research on the generation effect shows that actively rephrasing ideas improves understanding and retention. Instead of passively copying, students should translate information into their own words.
💡 PRO TIP: After class, highlight the biggest takeaway from each section of your notes.
2. Get Visual—Ditch the Linear Format
Most students default to a rigid outline format because that’s what they’ve always done. But learning doesn’t happen in neat bullet points—it happens through connections and patterns.
According to dual coding theory, incorporating visuals strengthens learning. And no, students don’t need to be artists. Just making notes more structured, intentional, and spatially organized can help.
Simple ways to do this:
Arrows to connect related concepts.
Circles or boxes around key terms.
Diagrams instead of long paragraphs.
White space to leave room for later additions.
💡 PRO TIP: Free yourself from the notebook grid. Let your notes flow naturally across the page.
3. Pay Attention to Signals—Professors Give Hints
Most students don’t realize it, but professors constantly drop clues about what’s important. The key is learning to recognize these signals.
Things to listen for:
Changes in tone—Slowing down, pausing, or emphasizing a point = pay attention.
Discussion questions—If the professor asks a question, the answer is probably valuable.
Personal stories or examples—Often not in the textbook but great for understanding.
Phrases like “This is key” or “You’ll want to remember this”—No-brainer. Write it down.
💡 PRO TIP: If your professor speeds up, slows down, or emphasizes something, it’s probably worth writing down.
the CHALLENGE
Follow these simple steps in your next lecture and watch how it transforms your focus, productivity, and learning:
📌 Handwrite—Research shows that students who handwrite notes retain information better than those who type
📌 Be messy—Learning is messy, and so are great notes since they are capturing your learning process
📌 Actually take notes—Even if slides are provided, writing things down in your own words will increase learning
Better notes lead to smarter studying, stronger retention, and less stress when exams roll around. And it all starts with rethinking how we take notes in class.
At Alma Modern, we equip students and educators with practical, research-backed strategies for better learning. Try this system, and let us know how it transforms your notes!
