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Cornell Notes Template Guide: How to Use It Effectively
Cornell notes help you capture, review, and retain information. Learn the layout, best practices, and how to print clean templates.
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The Cornell Note-Taking System is one of the simplest ways to turn “raw notes” into something you can actually review and remember.
The Cornell layout (3 parts)
- Cue column (left): keywords, questions, prompts
- Notes area (right): the main content from class/reading
- Summary (bottom): a short synthesis in your own words
How to use a Cornell template during class
While listening
- Write the main points in the notes area
- Use short bullets, not full sentences
- Leave space for diagrams or examples
After class (the part most people skip)
- Add cues/questions in the left column
- Write a 3–5 sentence summary at the bottom
That second step is what turns notes into study material.
A simple workflow you can follow
- Day 0: take notes
- Day 1: fill cues + summary (10 minutes)
- Day 7: review by covering the notes area and answering the cues
Printing tips
Cornell templates have fixed proportions. Print at Actual Size / 100% so the cue column doesn’t shrink or expand unexpectedly.
If you also use lined paper for other classes, college ruled is a good baseline: