best homework notes

The 13 Most Effective Note-Taking Methods

These are efficient note-taking methods that anyone can pick up and use to take better notes.

• By Sander Tamm
• Mar 19, 2024

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“Genius is 1% talent and 99% percent hard work.” Albert Einstein

When you’re first learning a new concept, you’re taking in further information that has to go through the process of memorization.

The human brain, however, is inefficient at remembering things. 

Within  24 hours  of leaving class, your brain will have forgotten more than half of what it remembered at the end of the class.

This phenomenon is described by the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve , which perfectly illustrates the need for note-taking .

Compare the right-side green line with the left-side red line. 

Someone who takes notes and reviews them three times (green line) remembers nearly everything after a week. On the other hand, a person who doesn’t review their notes at all (red line) forgets everything within a week.

Don’t be the red line – make sure you’re one of the green lines instead! To do so, you’ll need to learn how to take  effective , visually interesting , and/or aesthetical notes .

To help you do so, these are the best note-taking methods:

Best Note-Taking Methods

Outline note-taking method.

Best for:  Most subjects except science classes such as physics or math

Difficulty level:  Medium

The  outline method of note-taking  uses indentation to store information in a clear hierarchy. When applicable, the outline method is one of the most efficient note-taking formats as it creates meticulously well-organized notes. The method can also be used in both  deductive and inductive  order.

Outlined notes are some of the easiest to review, as it’s one of the few systems that allow you to see space relationships between topics. However, the method is not always suitable for taking notes during a live lecture, and outlining requires a clear lesson structure. 

Advantages:

• Space relationships between topics are visible,
• Information is recorded in a logical, hierarchical manner,
• Outlined notes are quick and easy to review pre-exam,
• Special notepaper & preparation not required,
• Research on the outline method  has been positive,
• Usable during class (slow to medium-paced lectures).

Disadvantages:

• Unsuitable for some STEM subjects,
• Learning materials/lectures require a clear structure,
• Outlining notes requires intense concentration and thought.

Cornell Note-Taking Method

Best for:  Recording main concepts & forming study questions

Difficulty level:  Easy

The  Cornell note-taking method , developed over half a century ago, is a tried-and-true strategy for taking effective notes. It uses two top columns (the “cue” and “note” columns), together with a single bottom row (the summary section), to record notes. 

The method is versatile, usable for most subjects, and one of the simplest yet most effective note-taking methods. By mastering the Cornell system, you’ll always have at least one solid note-taking skill under your belt. The Cornell system is one of the most popular note-taking strategies in the world for a good reason.

• Organized and systematic for both recording and reviewing notes
• Time-efficient and requires little effort,
• Taking Cornell notes is very easy to learn,
• Suitable for most subjects (except equation-based subjects),
• Fulfills a  natural learning cycle  within one single page,
• Ideal for extracting major concepts and ideas.
• Requires creating or purchasing Cornell-style pages,
• Large quantities of Cornell notes can be challenging to organize,
• Not great at reducing the size of notes,
• Research on the Cornell method  is mixed.

The Cornell method is a variant of the split-page note-taking method  (also known as the two-column method). Try the split-page method if you are finding the Cornell method a bit too restrictive but you like the basic approach of cues or keywords combined with more detailed notes.

Boxing Note-Taking Method

Best for:  Digital note-taking with a stylus pen

The  boxing method of note-taking uses boxes to visually separate topics within a page. While the boxing method was designed for digital devices, it’s a technique that can be easily adapted to handwritten notes. 

Using the boxing strategy results in notes that are visually pleasing and easy to review. The method also takes full advantage of digital-only features such as lassoing, resizing, and moving notes after writing. Together with mind mapping, it’s one of the most effective note-taking strategies for visual learners.

• Takes advantage of digital note-taking tools,
• Great for learners with a visual learning style,
• Aesthetically pleasing notes,
• Notes reduce well.
• Slightly time-intensive,
• Not always practical for note-taking during lectures.

Charting Note-Taking Method

Best for:  Recording facts and statistics

Difficulty level:  Hard

The  charting method of note-taking , also known as “matrix note-taking,” uses charts to classify information within rows and columns. While the method is not usable for many subjects, it is a remarkable tool under the right circumstances. This method is best used with subjects with factual or statistical information that can be categorized into tables.

On the other hand, it’s not suitable for note-taking during live lectures, very detailed topics, and subjects where the space relationships between content are essential. It’s also not well-suited for subjects that have many equation-based problems.

• A compelling method for subjects with lots of facts and statistics,
• Easy comparisons between different topics,
• Reduces note sizes better than any other method,
• Charted notes are straightforward and efficient to review,
• Very efficient for studying comparisons.
• Unsuitable for most subjects,
• Requires a basic understanding of the topic,
• Very time-intensive.

Mapping Note-Taking Method

Best for:  Analyzing visual connections between key ideas and concepts

The mapping method of note-taking , also known as “concept mapping,” connects different thoughts, ideas, concepts, and facts through visualization. Both Leonardo Da Vinci’s and Albert Einstein’s notebooks reportedly contained mapping-style notes that connected drawings to words and notes.

The mapping method starts with a central topic in the middle of the page before branching into smaller subtopics, supporting topics, and more minor details. The method provides a one-of-a-kind graphical overview of lecture content that is irreplaceable for visual learners. 

Mapping is best used in content-rich college classes where the information is structured. However, taking notes in a live class with this method is very rarely possible due to its time-consuming nature.

 Advantages:

• An excellent method for visual learning styles,
• It gives a comprehensive overview of a large subject,
• It helps you understand the connections between small elements within a major topic,
• Maximizes active participation,
• Reviewing mapped notes is very efficient.

 Disadvantages:

• Requires a good understanding of the topic,
• Requires strong concentration,
• It cannot be used effectively during class,
• It can be difficult to correctly include all relationships ,
• Mapping is very time-consuming.

Sentence Note-Taking Method

Best for:  Quick, unstructured note-taking

Difficulty level:  Very easy

The  sentence method of note-taking uses sentences separated by lines to quickly transcribe as much information as possible from the information source. It requires quick handwriting or typing skills to be used effectively, and it’s likely the most commonly used note-taking method due to its simplicity. 

Using the sentence method results in oversized notes that are notoriously difficult to review afterward. However, the sentence method can sometimes be the only viable choice for fast-paced, unstructured lessons you’re unprepared for. It’s often a good idea to rewrite notes taken with the sentence method after class.

Try not to rely on this method when you have a choice, but keep it as a backup plan when you can’t use an alternative note-taking strategy.

• It can be used for any subject and type of class,
• Very easy to implement,
• Suitable for quick note-taking during class.
• Reviewing sentence method notes after class is difficult and time-consuming,
• No inter- and intra- relationships between notes are visible,
• The main points are indistinguishable from more minor details,
• Quick handwriting or typing speed required,
• No element of metacognitive note analysis during note-taking.

Blurting Note-Taking Method

Best for:  Studying and memorizing complex topics

Difficulty level: Medium

Unlike passively highlighting text or rereading notes, the Blurting Method is truly one of the most efficient ways to understand where you are at in your knowledge and do something about it at the same time.

The blurting method of note-taking is an  active recall  technique that can be used to help you learn and remember information. Active recall is basically a learning technique that involves testing yourself on the material that you’re trying to learn and has been shown to be a very effective way to make.

The blurting method, at its simplest, is reading a section of text or notes, then closing them and writing down as much of the information as you can remember. This makes your brain work harder to retain the information, making it really hammer the info down into your long-term memory.

• It can help you identify the areas where you need to focus in your study time, thus making sure that the gaps in your knowledge are covered.
• It gives you a better understanding of the material, as you are forced to put the information into your own words.
• Recall ensures information is retained longer.
• It’s a flexible method that can be modified to suit your needs.
• The method can be used on any type of written learning material – but also after listening to lectures and online course videos.
• This method is time-consuming, and some might find it tedious.
• It does not replace note-taking during on-going lectures.
• It is mentally taxing.
• It is not the most efficient method for memorizing a lot of facts – use flashcards or a similar method in this case

Q/E/C Note-Taking Method

Best for: Argumentative subjects (such as history, philosophy, and literature)

The Question/Evidence/Conclusion (Q/E/C) method of note-taking is a simple but powerful method for organizing and recording information from lectures. Focused on capturing the big ideas and how they relate to each other, the method is structured around concepts that require arguing and evidence to create a clear and concise summary. Each concept is divided up into three parts: question, evidence, and conclusion.

The Q/E/C is ideally suited for most subjects in the humanities, especially ones that tend to present in an argumentative form, such as history, philosophy, and literature. It is also a very useful method to include in your toolbox for other subjects, including technical ones, where it can be suited for certain classes.

The method is also an excellent way to outline or plan for your essays, as it helps you develop a clear structure and will likely help you identify additional questions and counterarguments along the way that you may need to consider.

• Helps you focus on the bigger picture
• Helps you keep track of the relationship between the overall topic and the arguments/evidence
• An excellent way to clearly record more argumentative presentations
• Clear way of presenting arguments and counterarguments
• Forces you to synthesize arguments and write a conclusion
• A good fit for the humanities and non-technical subjects
• Matches the way many lecturers present (and view the world)
• Useful method for outlining argumentative essays
• Less suitable for technical subjects or for concepts with more complex relationships
• Challenging to use during fast-paced or poorly structured lectures
• Requires concentration and reflection
• Can be difficult to use if you don’t yet have an overall grasp of a new subject

Morse Code Note-Taking Method

Best for: Quickly absorb large volumes of course material in argumentative subjects.

Difficulty level: Hard

A fairly recent addition to the realm of note-taking methods – but one that many academics swear by – is the Morse Code note-taking method , a variant of the Q/E/C method . Not to be confused with Morse Code itself, this note-taking method uses dots and dashes to mark up course literature while you are reading it . Importantly, it enables you to keep reading while taking notes rather than pausing to jot down your notes.

Dots are used to denote the main ideas, and dashes for supporting facts, arguments, and examples. After you have finished reading the entire text, you use your notes in the margin to type up notes and then condense them into a format that is useful for further review.

• As you do not stop reading, it is among the most efficient methods for covering larger quantities of text.
• It helps extract the main and supporting points from a text.
• It promotes active reading through the note-taking
• It facilitates reading comprehension and critical thinking through the decoding and condensing stages.
• It is not applicable to all types of reading material (in particular, material that is not structured in an argumentative academic style).
• Very little information is captured in your notes – if you wait too long to decode your notes, you may have forgotten the context.
• Less suitable for readers who tend to lose their focus when engaging in continuous reading (who may benefit from pausing and processing their notes paragraph by paragraph or page by page.

Flow Note-Taking Method

Best for: Understanding interrelationships between concepts at a higher level

While linear note-taking methods (such as the sentence and outline methods) have their place in your toolkit, you will want to complement these with non-linear methods that force you to actively engage with the topic at hand as a whole. Using such methods translate into a better understanding of an area and how its different component parts relate to each other. One of the main non-linear approaches that you should become familiar with is the flow method of note-taking .

It can look similar to the mapping method, but the focus of this method is on the higher-level concepts and ideas and how they relate to each other. Detailed descriptions and paraphernalia have to take a step back. The relationships are indicated using arrows and lines, in whichever way you find useful.

• The flow method aims to have you learn during class by having you engage actively with the content.
• Even though you are actively learning during class, you also get useful notes for revision – while the notes are not in the most useful format for revision, they tend not to be terrible
• It’s a flexible method that suits most subjects.
• It is a good choice for note-taking after having followed a class or after having read all material to solidify your understanding.
• The method can be personalized to suit individuals’ needs and preferences.
• The flow method is not well suited for topics of which you have no prior understanding, as it can be difficult to pick out what is more or less important and figure out how they relate to each other during the class.
• While engaging mainly with the bigger picture, you risk missing important details during lectures.
• Flow notes can easily turn out quite messy and are not ideal for revision (you can try to mitigate this by adding cue words to your notes to prompt you to describe relationships during revisions).
• It can be difficult to find the time to actively engage with a topic during fast-paced lectures, forcing you to take detailed notes and apply the flow method after class instead.
• Practice with the method is needed as you need to figure out how to best use it to suit your learning style.

REAP Method

Best for: Active reading to build deeper understanding of texts

The REAP method (Read, Encode, Annotate, Ponder) was developed by Marilyn Eanet and Anthony Manzo at the University of Missouri at Kansas City in 1976 as a response to what they saw as inadequate teaching methods for developing active reading. The method is designed to help students be able to understand the meaning of texts through reflecting and communicating on their content.

REAP consists of four stages:

• Reading:  Reading the text provided to identify the ideas expressed by the author.
• Encoding:  “Encoding” the main ideas identified in the text in your own words.
• Annotating:  Writing “annotations” of the ideas, quotes, etc., in the text.
• Pondering:  Reflecting on the content and writing comments or criticisms of the text, and discussing with others.

This will make you return to a text multiple times, each time from a different vantage point, and let you gradually analyze the text at a higher and higher level.

• A scientifically proven effective method for improving reading comprehension and recall
• Helps build capacity to engage critically with texts
• Provides a framework for re-engaging with a text from multiple vantage points
• Method that takes a lot of time, focus, and mental energy
• Not suitable for note-taking during lectures
• Less suitable for all texts (such as some college textbooks) or learning purposes (such as more detailed memorization)

Focused Question Clusters Method

Best for: Preparing for multiple-choice or other fact-based tests

Focused Question Clusters is a method, proposed by Cal Newport, to help students use their textbooks and existing lecture notes to prepare for MCQ-style exams by writing questions and then quizzing themselves. 

Focused Question Clusters involve the following main steps:

• Identify your main topic and the relevant subtopics.
• For each subtopic, write a series (or a “cluster”) of questions that relate to it, covering the main points. The questions should be clear and possible to answer with a few words.
• Write a few background topics to the topic as a whole.
• Use these questions to review (you might want to employ one of the relevant study methods for how you quiz yourself, such as active recall )

Although this kind of rapid-fire questions will help most with preparing for multiple-choice style exams, the engagement with the material will also help your brain to make the connections to get a deeper understanding of the topic.

• An effective way to gain and retain knowledge about a topic
• Particularly effective for MCQ-style exams
• A useful tool for studying in groups
• Question drafting can be divided up and the results shared as a resource between students studying together
• Drafting the questions takes a considerable amount of time and effort
• Not the best way to engage with more argumentative topics

Highlighting Method

Best for: Quickly marking up a text that you plan to review later on.

Difficulty level: Easy

Highlighting is a popular study technique that involves marking important passages in a text. The overall idea is to highlight important points in a text – common ones are key numbers, dates, names, and other key points – that can then be easily spotted when reviewing the whole material. In its pure form, it does not involve writing any notes, but in practice, it is often combined with   other note-taking methods .

This a useful method for students, researchers, and anyone else who needs to go through a lot of material as it allows them to quickly find the information they need later on. Note, however, that while this method is very commonly used, it has been the topic of scientific studies that have found it of questionable value for studying.

• Easy to get started with.
• Does not require writing.
• Provides you with a marked-up text that can help you revise more efficiently.
• It’s easy to go on autopilot with the method and become a passive reader rather than actively engaging with the text.
• Studies have found it to be of questionable value.

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The best note-taking strategies for students.

As much as we don’t want to let go of summer, we have to admit that our heartbeats quicken at the thought of shiny new school supplies . Whether you’re heading off to high school or college, this is the perfect time to reevaluate your study habits and adopt some new tools. To help you prepare, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite note-taking strategies that will help you power through the semester.

• Use a separate notebook for each class.
• Incorporate note-taking systems that help you process information.
• Attach index tabs to pages you reference often.
• Use different loose leaf sheet styles according to your notes.
• Create summaries and revisit them to refresh your memory.
• Use translucent sticky notes to trace important diagrams.
• Use multiple colors to color-code your notes.
• Pinpoint important information with highlighters.
• Sketch out general ideas on a whiteboard.
• More Resources
• Shop This Post

If you prefer keeping your notes in a binder , consider using a set of dividers to keep your notes organized.

The Ruled Maruman Spiral Note Basic Notebook has tick marks at the top and bottom of the page that make it incredibly easy to draw vertical lines. Don’t forget a ruler to keep your lines neat! We like the Midori Multi Ruler because it’s compact when folded, yet extends to cover the length of a B5 notebook.

If you need to draw attention to a specific passage, try Beverly Cocosasu Page Markers . Tear the page marker at the microperforation and use the short end to point directly at a line, then bookmark the page with the long end.

Summaries can be created on index cards , though they can be difficult to keep organized. These Kokuyo Tack Memo Sticky Notes are large enough to fit a paragraph of text and can be attached directly to the start of a section. If you take notes on loose leaf paper, you can use Mini B7 Maruman Loose Leaf Papers as flash cards. These loose leaf sheets are available in a variety of sheet styles and fit neatly in compatible binders .

However, we do recommend limiting yourself to three or four colors. Using a dozen colors can overwhelm you and make your notes more difficult to parse when you revisit them.

Our project planning guide isn’t specifically about studying, but we share tips on how to use whiteboards to examine problems and brainstorm solutions that students may find helpful.

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• Video: Aesthetic Note-taking Tips For Lazy People Like Us
• Video: Note-Taking Tips That Are Actually Helpful
• Video: Study Tips: How To Take Neat & Effective Notes

We hope these tips will help you become more effective in your studying as you begin this new school year! Do you have study tips that you would like to share? Let us know in the comments below.

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The Best Note-Taking Methods for College Students & Serious Note-takers

Which is the best note-taking method for you?

There are hundreds of different ways you can take notes — but not all are created equal.

The most effective note-taking methods will help you not only understand the concepts you’re learning better, but help you easily revisit and revise the material easily when exams roll around.

But the best one for you can depend on your subject/topic, learning style, and even how your lecturer teaches.

So, here’s an overview of the best note-taking methods for college students, how to apply each, and when you should (or shouldn’t) use each one!

1. Note-taking method #1: The Outline method

The Outline Method is one of the most structured note-taking methods, and visually looks very organized.

Add your main points as bullet points, and elaborate on them underneath. For any piece of supporting information, create a nested bullet point below it. Remember to keep your points brief, preferably around one sentence per point.

The finished note should look similar to an outline.

When to use this note-taking method

The outline method is ideal for when you need to jot down information quickly, like during lectures or meetings.

With its clear structure, you can easily see the hierarchy of information, and what ideas correlate to which point.

• Highlights key points of the topic
• Allows you to group related points together
• Highly structured and visually organized, making it revision friendly
• Not great for subjects that require many diagrams, charts, or visuals

2. Note-taking method #2: The Cornell Method

The Cornell note-taking method is one of the most popular and renowned note-taking techniques, created by Prof. Walter Pauk of Cornell University in the 1950s. It’s designed to make you actively think about your notes as you go along, rather than mindlessly jotting things down.

• All notes from the class go into the main note-taking column.
• The smaller column on the left side is for comments, questions or hints about the actual notes.
• After the lecture, you should take a moment to summarize the main ideas of the page in the section at the bottom which will speed up your reviewing and studying process immensely. The best part is that many people already remember and digest the information while they write a summary like this.

Cornell notes are especially effective for studying, because of how easy it is to revise from afterwards.

• Helps you extract the main ideas
• Writing the summary gives you a better level of understanding on the topic
• Your notes are already logically organized and easy to skim when it comes time to revise
• Takes a bit more effort when taking notes
• Requires some time to set up the page

(To help you get you started, try this free Cornell notes template .)

3. Note-taking method #3: The Boxing Method

The Boxing Method is a highly visual note-taking method. It gives you an at-a-glance overview of your topic.

Each section or subtopic of your notes will live in its own labeled box

This method was originally coined by a GoodNotes user, ipadstudying. Note-taking apps like GoodNotes are especially helpful for this method, because you can draw boxes and straight lines without the help of a ruler .

We recommend using this for revision. Each page or set of notes will be for one course or topic. In each of the boxes, summarize the key points from each individual lecture (or subtopic). Label the boxes accordingly.

At the end, you have one summary page of all the key points for that course.

• Helpful to create during revision
• Gives you a summary of each lecture, chapter, or subtopic at a glance
• Not a suitable method for lecture or meeting notes, when you have to be able to jot things down quickly
• Can be a hassle if you’re drawing boxes freehand (as opposed to using a note-taking app)

4. Note-taking method #4: The Charting Method

The charting method is a great way to organize different items or concepts that all share several properties.

For example, if you were studying up on chemical elements, each row would be a different element, and columns would list out their properties, such as atomic mass, melting point, color, etc.

Here is a summary of this article in a note written with the charting note-taking method:

Charts are useful when comparing items across a certain set of characteristics.

• Great for comparison
• Summarize a series of items in a systematic way
• Not effective for more linear note-taking or notes that follow a story/progression of information

5. Note-taking method #5: The Mapping Method

Another visual note-taking style is the Mapping Method.

It allows you to organize your notes by dividing them into branches, enabling you to establish relationships between the topics.

Start with writing the main topic at the top of the map. Keep dividing it into subtopics on the left and right as you go down. You can also try a mind map format, where you start in the middle and branch outward.

When to use this note-taking method:

This method is perfect for when individual points require a lot of explanation. It also works for when your notes follow a linear progression or a story.

• Easy to create and follow ideas
• Easily demonstrate relationships between information
• Elaborate on points without cluttering your page
• You may run out of space on the page if you have many branches of information

Goodnotes Tip : If you run out of space while writing in Goodnotes, just switch to a larger paper template, or lasso tool all your writing and shrink it.

6. Note-Taking Method #6: The Zettelkasten Method

Ever wanted to create your own personal wiki? 

The Zettelkasten method is designed to help capture and organize knowledge for long-term reference and development. You write one idea or learning onto one card (a "zettel"), and store it in a box (a "kasten"). You create connections between note cards with tags. In this way, you create a growing encyclopedia of knowledge over a certain topic.

These aren't the type of notes for recording lectures or meetings, but works well for accumulating knowledge on specific topics over time.

While you wouldn’t use the Zettelkasten note-taking method during a biology lecture, you could create a Zettelkasten at the beginning of your degree and continuously add your learnings about biology throughout the four years. 

• Great way to create a homebase for your knowledge
• Easy to review, as notes are concise
• Can take some time to set up if you want to do it digitally

7. Note-taking Method #7: Mind Mapping

A mind map is a visual way to show information and ideas. It starts with a central topic and uses branches and sub-branches to connect related details or ideas.

Mind maps are amazing for synthesizing new ideas. Without a lot of structure, you can let your ideas flow from one to the next, and see where it takes you.

Mind maps are great to use as a revision method or brainstorming aid. Simply put down everything that comes to mind, and create connections between them.

• Break down large ideas into smaller pieces
• Create and discover new connections between different ideas
• Visually presents ideas and how different elements are related
• Not the best for recording meetings or lectures in the moment

Curious about the app featured in this article?

Goodnotes is one of the most popular note-taking apps for handwritten notes on the iPad — especially amongst students. With GoodNotes you can:

• Take handwritten notes and search them afterwards
• Annotate your PDF or PowerPoint lecture slides or articles
• Easily organize your notes into notebooks, folders, and keep everything synced across your iPad, Mac, and iPhone

Get Goodnotes for free today, and start taking more effective notes !

Taking Better Notes: 5 Effective Strategies for Students

Note-taking is a vital, handy tool in school and later in life. It helps keep you alert, organized, and focused on what you’re listening to. It basically forces you to pay attention so you know what to write down. People who take better notes often remember specific details better than those who only listen. In one study at Ohio University, researchers found students who regularly took notes scored 13% higher on tests than students who didn’t write information down in class.

5 Types of Note-Taking

Different note-taking strategies aren’t always taught in the classroom and sometimes students need help understanding why it’s so important and the best ways to go about it. In this blog, we’ll explain five different note-taking strategies to set your student up for success.

1. Freestyle Method

Freestyle note-taking consists of writing down everything that you hear , in any format. It is a great method for students who need to quickly jot down notes and have time to process the information later. However, freestyle note-taking can be very disorganized and hard to study.

2. Outline Method

Many students have better luck staying organized with the outline method. This consists of writing a heading (the main topic), subheadings, and details under each subheading. The outline method is great for students who are able to synthesize information while listening to the teacher. 

Brianna Bown, M.Ed., a virtual tutor at Educational Connections , says when students use the outline method their notes are already organized and simple to skim through, which makes it easier to study.

“If you have a student who likes the freestyle method, then they can take their notes and later put them into the outline method,” explained Brown.

3. Cornell Note Method

This is a research-based method, that’s best for middle, high school, and college students. The Cornell method helps students connect everything they are writing to a question . 

“Teachers love to see that students are thinking from a question-based perspective because they’re going to be asked a ton of questions on tests and in class. So if they organize their thought process, it’s going to keep them stay on task.”

To use the Cornell Method, students can draw two simple columns with one merged column on the bottom. The key ideas or terms should be written in the left column and all of the important details related to the main ideas should go in the right column. 

The bottom section is reserved for a summary. Here the student should reflect on what they have just learned in their own words.

“You can take various notes, but if you don’t sit down and analyze it, of what it means to you, it’s not going to be effective. Because you can write it down and then it’s out of your brain.”

4. Creative Note-Taking Methods

Many visual learners enjoy taking their freestyle notes and turning them into colorful drawings or illustrations. These are great strategies for students who love to be creative.

To make a web , students can write the topic in the center and have subheadings branch off from it. When creating a mind map , students can write the main ideas and connect them with keywords, details, and pictures. Both methods can help draw connections between ideas and concepts .

5. Digital Note-Taking Methods

For many students, notetaking has moved from a notebook to a laptop. The benefits of digital note-taking include easy organization and a smaller chance of losing notes after class.

However, there are many studies including this one that found students are often more distracted in class when using a digital device to take notes . Also, it’s much easier to try to type everything you hear. Researchers found that taking verbatim digital notes can reduce how much a student remembers compared to when they paraphrase while writing by hand.

There’s a variety of programs students can use to take digital notes, including Microsoft’s OneNote and Google Docs.

N ote.ly a virtual post-it note board that does not require a subscription. It allows students to easily create a note for each topic, which they can type or draw on. They can then drag and drop the notecards in order of importance. For example, they can move cards that contain information they already know to the bottom of the pile and move everything they need to focus on to the top. 

Important Notes on Better Note-Taking 

No matter the method of notetaking, it’s always important for students to watch someone model the process . This shows the student the proper way to organize notes and includes a thorough explanation of the thought process they can use in class.  Students should also get in the habit of:

• Paraphrasing – Put information into your own words to reinforce the meaning.
• Using abbreviations – It’s okay to abbreviate and write in incomplete sentences as long as you can understand what you wrote.
• Using main ideas, supporting details, and bullet points – This helps keep the notes organized.
• Highlighting/color coding and underlining- This can help with memorization, but don’t overdo it and use too many colors or lines.
• Drawing pictures or using photos- Drawing a picture of the topic or adding a digital photo (while digital notetaking) can be an effective way to help with memorization.
• Including the date and page numbers – This will help the student keep track of their notes.

Teaching Healthy Note-Taking Habits

Getting in the habit of keeping concise, well-organized notes will make reviewing and studying that much easier. And the benefits of developing great note-taking skills will extend well beyond the classroom. 

I f your student needs help learning to take better notes and to keep organized, our  executive function coaches  are here to help. 

What’s the best, most effective way to take notes?

Associate Director, The Victoria Institute, Victoria University

Disclosure statement

Claire Brown received funding from the Higher Education, Participation and Partnerships Program (HEPPP) to implement and research the Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) program in Australia. That funding has now ended.

Victoria University provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU.

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If it feels like you forget new information almost as quickly as you hear it, even if you write it down, that’s because we tend to lose almost 40% of new information within the first 24 hours of first reading or hearing it. If we take notes effectively, however, we can retain and retrieve almost 100% of the information we receive.

Learning how to retain information

The most effective note-taking skills involve active rather than passive learning. Active learning places the responsibility for learning on the learner. Research has found that, for learning to be effective, students need to be doing things with the material they are engaging with (reading, writing, discussing, solving problems).

They must also be thinking about the thinking ( metacognition ) involved in engaging with the material. This means that, while students are learning the content, they should also be thinking about how they are learning it. What is causing confusion? How does your thinking change about this topic as you are learning? What has worked well for you in learning this topic that you should do next time? What hasn’t worked so well so you don’t make that learning mistake again?

Studies have found note taking is most effective when notes are organised and transformed in some way or when a teacher gives examples of good notes . An effective note-taking strategy requires effort. Half the battle with students is helping them understand the reasons for needing to take and interact regularly with their notes.

Students often tell teachers they have excellent memories and don’t need to take notes because they can easily recall information. Research says this is not the case.

The goal of effective note taking is to help recall what has been learned and retain that information over time. German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus in 1895 conducted some of the first experiments on memory and recall, and spaced learning. He developed the forgetting curve , which shows how information is lost quickly over time if there is no strategy or effort to retain it.

The rate of forgetting is minimised if students interact (re-read/discuss/write/engage) with their notes within 24 hours. A second repetition for a shorter period of time within a day brings recall back up to 100%. A third repetition within a week for an even shorter time brings recall back to 100%.

What are the most effective ways to take notes?

I teach the Cornell Note-Taking System , which was developed in the 1950s as part of a university preparation program ( AVID ). Effective note taking is interactive and involves using the original notes many times over to build memory of the content, rather than seeing note taking as just a one-off copying activity. The important features of this system are captured in the images below.

There are four stages to good note taking:

• Note taking
• Note making
• Note interacting
• Note reflecting

In note taking , students:

• Prepare a page to take notes the same way each time. An essential question at the top of the page focuses the learner on the key learning objective that they should be able to discuss upon leaving the class

• Rule the page into two columns, with the first column taking up about a third of the page. The space on the left is for questions and notes that may be added in later as students reflect on their notes. The space on the right is for the student to take notes from the lecture, textbook, laboratory experiment, video, audio, whatever the source

• Listen and take notes in their own words – paraphrase what they hear so it makes sense to them rather than write down verbatim what they hear/see

• Leave spaces and lines between main ideas for revising later and adding information

• Develop their own consistent system of abbreviations and symbols to save time as they take notes

• Write in phrases, not complete sentences

• Use bullet points and lists where possible

• Learn how to listen for important information versus trivial information

• Take cues from the lecturer or source, e.g. “This is important…”

• Use highlighters and colour to indicate key ideas, changes in concepts or links between information.

In note making , students:

• Review and revise the content of their notes

• Write questions in the left-hand side near where the answer is contained on the right-hand side

• Connect key chunks of material in the notes pages using colour or symbols

• Exchange ideas and collaborate with other students to check for understanding and test the comprehensiveness of each other’s notes.

In note interacting , students:

• Link all the learning together by writing a summary that addresses the essential question and answers the questions from the left margin. Note that a summary is different from a reflection that focuses on the student’s response to the learning task or content

• Learn from their notes by building in to their study timetable regular times for revising their notes for each subject

• Cover the information on the right-hand side and use the questions as study prompts before a test.

In note reflecting :

• Written feedback should be provided by a peer, tutor or teacher to check for the student’s understanding in the initial learning phase

• Students should address the feedback by focusing on one area of challenge they are experiencing in their learning

• Students should also reflect over an entire unit on a regular basis leading up to exams and tests.

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• The best way to write study notes

As a student, it’s likely you’ll have done a lot of note-taking by now. But are your study notes messy, disorganised or confusing to read? If so, it’s probably because you haven’t learned how to write study notes effectively yet.

Writing notes in your own words is one of the best ways to ensure you’ve remembered and understood what your teacher is saying in class or what you’ve read in a textbook.

However, unless your notes are concise, structured and well-organised, it’s unlikely they’ll be much help when it comes to reviewing what you’ve just been taught or revising for an exam.

There are many different ways to take good notes; you just need to find the one that suits you best. In this article, we’ve outlined some of the most popular note-taking methods – which you can try out next time you’re in class.

What’s the best way to write study notes?

There’s no one best way to write study notes, but some of the most popular methods include the Cornell Method, the Outline Method, the Mapping Method, the Flow Notes Method and the Bullet Journaling Method.

Some tips for helping you take effective study notes are to make sure you focus only on the key points and phrases, consider drawing pictures if you’re short on time and remember to clarify anything you don’t understand.

Keep reading to learn more about writing better notes.

Why is it important to take good study notes?

As mentioned above, taking your own notes helps you to remember and understand key topics and concepts much better. This is because:

• You have to think about what you’re writing down
• You’ll be actively listening to what your teacher is saying
• You’re more likely to be able to make connections between topics
• You can review everything you’ve learnt once the class is over

Effective study notes will also make exam time less stressful, as they’ll be really helpful when it comes to revising.

What are some of the different note-taking techniques?

The cornell method.

Created at America’s Cornell University, this note-taking technique has been around for decades.

It’s great for taking structured notes, as you divide your paper up into easily-digestible sections:

• Notes – This is for the notes you take during class, which you can structure however you like, although we recommend the Outline Method (see below).
• Cues – This section can be written during or straight after class. It’s where you fill out the main points or potential exam questions. The words you write should jog your memory, to help you remember bigger ideas.
• Summary – Your summary can be written straight after class or when reviewing your notes. It should be a summary of the whole lecture.

You can also use the Cornell Method for taking revision notes from textbooks. It’s particularly helpful for testing yourself, as you can cover up the notes and summary sections of the page and see how much you can remember from your cues.

The Outline Method

This is one of the easiest ways to take notes, and most people find it comes quite naturally.

It’s useful for learning about detailed topics, as you use headings and bullet points to organise the information straight down the page.

Here’s how to use the Outline Method:

• At the start of each lesson, write a headline for the main topic at the top of the page and underline or highlight it
• As the lesson progresses, write subheadings for each subtopic, indenting them slightly to the right
• List key information underneath each subheading using bullet points

The great thing about this method is that it’ll help you to pay attention to what’s being said. The downside is that reviewing your notes afterwards can be overwhelming. To combat this, you could try highlighting keywords straight after class, so that only the most relevant information stands out.

The Mapping Method

Also called the Mind-Map Method, this note-taking method is ideal for visual learners, and it’s useful for when you’re being taught about the relationships between different topics.

You start by writing the name of the main topic you’re learning about in the middle of your page. Then you write headings for each subtopic branching off the main topic, with important notes underneath each one. You can then have more subtopics branching off each of the previous subtopics, continuing this pattern as needed.

This method is perfect for subjects that have interlocking topics or complex, abstract ideas, for example, history, chemistry and philosophy.

The Chart Method

This is another good technique to use if you’re learning about the relationships between topics, however, it’s really only useful if you know what the topics are before the start of your lesson.

To use it, divide your page into several columns, labelled by category. Then, when your teacher mentions information relating to one of the categories, jot it down in the relevant column.

It’s handy for lessons that cover lots of facts and figures as it enables you to organise information in a way that’s easy to review.

The Sentence Method

If your lessons are fast-paced and cover a great deal of information, you may find this note-taking method helpful.

This is because each time a new topic is introduced, you jot down the main points on a new line. This enables you to cover lots of details quickly and helps you to identify which information is worth writing down.

If you want to organise your notes further, use headings for each main topic.

The Flow Notes Method

Rather than simply transcribing a lesson, the Flow Notes Method allows you to actively learn while you’re writing, so you spend less time reviewing your notes after class.

The aim is to engage with the material in a way that connects with you, from drawing doodles, diagrams and graphs to use your knowledge of other subjects to make connections with what’s being said in your current class.

If you’re an auditory and visual learner with a fantastic memory, you might find that taking notes in this way suits you best, although pairing this technique with Cornell notes can make it easier to revise for exams.

The Writing on Slides Method

Some teachers are kind enough to provide their students with course material before the lesson. If you’re lucky enough to be in this position, use it to your advantage!

By printing off presentation slides beforehand, you can save time by annotating the key concepts that are already there in front of you, instead of frantically trying to keep up with everything that’s being said.

As well as being an easy way to write notes, it’s effective for reviewing and revising too, as actually seeing the slide means it’s more likely you’ll remember what your teacher was saying at the time.

The Bullet Journaling Method

Another one for visual learners, the Bullet Journaling Method allows you to be as creative with your note-taking as you want to be.

With this technique, you take aesthetically-pleasing notes and sort information in the way your mind works – which can involve blending multiple note-taking methods.

The aim is to make your bullet journal as attractive and organised as possible. Although, this can be difficult to do when you’re scribbling down notes in a classroom environment, so you can always use another technique when writing notes in class and then transfer them to your bullet journal when reviewing them afterwards.

Is it better to hand-write study notes or type them up?

As you now know from reading this article, there are multiple ways in which you can take good study notes, and it’s up to you to decide which method is best suited to the way your brain understands and retains information.

Similarly, whether you prefer handwriting notes or typing them up on a laptop or tablet, it’s your choice how you record the information you’ve learned from a lecture or textbook.

It could be argued that because typing is quicker, you’re less likely to process information properly in order to condense it into note-form. Or that electronic devices provide more opportunities for distraction. However, self-disciplined students may benefit from taking in-depth digital notes they can study extensively once a class is over.

What are some tips for taking better study notes?

If you’re struggling to take effective study notes, you might find the following tips helpful:

• Don’t try to write everything down – just focus on key points and phrases.
• But don’t write too little either, as this could lead to ambiguity.
• Avoid the temptation to copy everything, word-for-word. Write in short, succinct sentences, organising and rewriting the original material in your own words. This will also help to ensure you’re not plagiarising.
• If you’re short on time, use abbreviations and symbols, or try drawing pictures or diagrams instead.
• Colour-code what you’ve written after the initial note-taking; not during.
• If you don’t understand something, remember to go back later and clarify it.

How to get the most out of your study notes

Throughout this article, we’ve spoken about reviewing your notes, and we can’t stress enough, the importance of doing this.

You should review your notes within the first 24 hours to make sure you retain as much information as possible, and then go back over small portions of your notes every day up until an exam or test.

Your study notes will also come in handy when doing research or assigned reading, as you can refer to them to ensure you have a good understanding of the subject matter.

Writing study notes in your own words is one of the best ways to make sure you’ve remembered and understood what your teacher is saying in class or what you’ve read in a textbook. It will also make exam time less stressful, as your study notes will be really helpful with revision.

When it comes to taking good notes, there are many different methods – you just need to find the one that suits you best.

Some of the most popular note-taking methods are the Cornell Method, the Outline Method, the Mapping Method, the Chart Method, the Sentence Method, the Flow Notes Method, the Writing on Slides Method and the Bullet Journaling Method.

Some tips to help you take effective study notes include making sure you focus only on the key points and phrases, drawing pictures if you’re short on time and remembering to clarify anything you don’t understand.

Once you’ve taken your notes and class is over, it’s extremely important to go back over them to increase the chances of the information staying in your head.

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories .

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Tips and Tools to Help Students Study, Take Notes, and Focus

With a new academic year rolling around, students of all ages will be looking for help and guidance with their work—and there are a wealth of options on mobile app stores and the web to help you succeed.

Here we've picked out some of the best apps and services across multiple categories, including time management, homework help, note-taking, and more. Put them together and you've got a comprehensive toolkit for making sure that this year is a good one.

No matter what your requirements, courses, or study habits are, there should be something here for you (or for the young student in your life). You might be surprised at just how much difference the right app can make.

Trello can adapt itself to whatever purpose you have in mind.

The main appeal of Trello is its versatility: You can adapt the simple card-based interface in whichever way you want—whether to keep track of individual homework assignments or to log multiple research strands in an essay—and the software will adapt accordingly.

You can assign categories and deadlines to cards, attach files to them, and drop in to-do lists. However you decide to use Trello, you're going to find it straightforward to get around the app with easy drag-and-drop operations and a ton of options and features.

Trello (freemium for web, Android, iOS)

Get help from Socratic with just about any topic.

Powered by Google's artificial intelligence engines, Socratic is here to answer any question on any topic, whether you need step-by-step math explanations, a quick overview of a historical event or work of literature, or details of a particular set of biological processes.

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Matt Burgess

Brenda Stolyar

All you need to do is ask a question (or even in the case of a math or geometry problem, take a photo). You might be surprised at the comprehensiveness of the answers that Socratic can give you, and the app comes with a variety of curated study guides as well.

Socratic (free for Android, iOS)

There isn't much that WolframAlpha doesn't know.

WolframAlpha is a search engine and knowledge library that makes Google look plain and dumbed down by comparison: It covers everything from mathematical equations to political geography, and it's a resource that you'll find yourself turning to again and again.

Using a finely tuned set of algorithms, the WolframAlpha engine can tell you the plots of novels, the histories of countries, the solutions to algebra problems, the compositions of materials, and much more—check out the examples it gives you for some tips.

WolframAlpha (freemium for web, Android, iOS)

Google Keep is one of the best note-taking apps around.

When it comes to note-taking apps, you've got a wealth of options to pick from, but Google Keep can hold its own against the best. It looks simple to begin with—and is very simple to use—but there are plenty of advanced features to make use of if you dig a bit deeper.

Whether you're tracking lessons or study assignments, you can associate times, dates, tags, and pictures to your notes, and you can even collaborate on notes with other people if you need to. There's also the option to quickly convert notes into documents in Google Docs.

Google Keep (free for web, Android, iOS)

Keep track of everything academic with myHomework Student Planner.

The name of this app tells you pretty much all you need to know about it: myHomework Student Planner gives you a well-designed, flexible, intuitive suite of tools to make sure you're always on top of everything you need to do academically throughout the year.

You can track classes, homework, larger assignments, and tests through the app, and everything syncs seamlessly across whatever devices you happen to be using. Some of the useful features here include deadline reminders and customizable theme options.

myHomework Student Planner (freemium for web, Android, iOS)

Headspace has meditations specifically for kids.

You may well have come across the Headspace meditation app, and Headspace for Kids is the part of the main app dedicated to younger people. It covers the fundamentals of meditation with scaled-down sessions specifically made for those who are still growing up.

These sessions cover breathing exercises, showing kindness to others, and staying focused. And of course, as kids get older they can move on to the adult sections. There is a monthly fee, but you can try it for free, and it gives you a big return on your investment.

Headspace for Kids ($13 a month with a free trial for Android, iOS)

Keep study sessions on track with Bear Focus Timer.

Staying concentrated and on task can make the difference between success and failure when it comes to study sessions, and Bear Focus Timer is one of the best apps around when it comes to making sure your mind doesn't wander when you need to be working.

You set a customized session time, and then Tom the bear will keep you on course with encouragements, reminders, and white noise if necessary. It's one of the more unusual focus apps out there, which is what makes it particularly effective in doing its job.

Bear Focus Timer ($2 for iOS)

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College Info Geek

How to Take Better Notes: The 6 Best Note-Taking Systems

C.I.G. is supported in part by its readers. If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read more here.

Heading off to college is kind of like leveling up in a video game. In high school, the tests and courses were smaller bosses that you could take down with low-level equipment. Now that you’re in college, you’re going to need to upgrade some of those items you’re taking with you if you want to succeed. This is a whole new adventure, my dude.

One of the tools you have at your disposal is your notes. Maybe in high school you were pretty good at taking notes, and now you just need to upgrade them a little bit. Maybe you’re feeling like I did in college, and you’ve realized you’ve never properly learned how to take notes.

Never fear! Your guide to taking awesome, effective notes is finally here . Your days of looking back at what you scribbled down in class and trying to decipher useful information from them before a test are over.

In this guide, we’ll talk about how to prepare yourself to take good notes in class, introduce some popular techniques for taking notes, and cover the best ways to get the most out of your notes after class.

Prepare Well Before You Get to Class

“The most important single factor influencing learning is what the learner already knows” – David Ausubel

Before you even think about heading to class, make sure that you’ve read (or at least skimmed) all pre-assigned reading from your professor. Even if you don’t have assigned reading, try and familiarize yourself with the topic before you get to class so you know what to expect.

A 2004 study by Spies and Wilkin found that the law students who were responsible for reading a legal case before they got to class displayed a greater understanding of the learning materials than students who were not expected to prepare before class.

Also, don’t forget to pack all the things you need to learn effectively. Make sure you have multiple pencils (or some backup lead), a notebook, pens, highlighters, sticky notes, your textbook, and your laptop.

Don’t forget water! It’s tempting to bring coffee or some other form of caffeine to class. Try to stick to water and consume caffeine intelligently. While coffee doesn’t dehydrate you , and coffee in moderation certainly helps you focus and stay alert, caffeine dependency interferes with your quality of sleep and impairs mental function, ultimately impacting your ability to pay attention during class.

Lastly, grab a snack before you head out the door for class. Avoid high-salt or high-sugar options, and aim for a “complete snack” that includes fat, protein, and carbs.

Apples and peanut butter, crackers and cheese, or even certain power bars are good options. These snacks will leave you feeling full for longer, ensuring that you won’t be distracted by how much you want a burrito in the middle of your professor’s lecture about the structure of a cell.

The Note-Taking Mindset

The other thing you should get in order before coming to class is your brain. I know that when I’m in a good mood and have a positive attitude, I’m way more likely to learn.

I hate math. I suck at math. I’m like, the worst math student ever . I failed my high-school algebra courses three times . That’s how bad at math I am!

When I got to college, my college-level algebra course was the one thing holding me back from actually finishing my associate’s degree. I decided that I was going to pass the class.

So, I showed up every day with a (more or less) positive attitude, made an effort to make friends with a classmate I could study with, and paid attention to the lecture, working out problems myself as we went along.

In the end, I may not have gotten an A in the course, but I did get a B…which was the highest math score I had gotten since elementary school.

Moral of the story? Attitude is everything.

Quick tip: If you notice during class that your professor has mentioned the same fact twice or more, or has repeated a fact that was talked about in the previous lecture, make a note to yourself. Circle it, underline it, something to tell your brain to pay attention. It’s definitely going to be important later. Keep an eye out for repetition.

The 6 Best Note-Taking Systems

Now that you’re ready to take notes, let’s talk about some popular note-taking techniques. Everyone has a slightly different way that they learn, and certain subjects lend themselves to different styles.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different techniques to find one that’s right for you!

Structured: The Outline

This is for people who like simplicity. It’s one of the easiest ways to take notes, and it comes pretty naturally to most people.

When taking your outline notes, start by choosing four or five key points that will be covered in your lecture. Beneath those points write some more in-depth sub-points about each topic as the professor covers them.

If you’re taking outline notes by hand, be sure to leave enough space on each page so that you have plenty of room for all your sub-points. Or, you can take them on a computer and simply rearrange them as you go in your text document.

This is a great, simple approach to taking notes. It’ll help you follow along and pay attention during class, but it can be overwhelming to review these notes later .

To aid in reviewing these kinds of notes, try to read each main point and summarize it yourself without looking too much at your notes. Use your notes to test yourself on how much you actually know rather than simply rereading them over and over.

For Review: The Cornell Method

The Cornell Method is a pretty good way of dividing up your notes if you’re looking to get the most out of your review time.

In this method, you divide your paper into three sections: notes, cues, and summary.

Your notes section is for the notes you take during class. You can structure them however you like, but most people like to use the outline method.

Write your cues section either during or directly after class. This section can be filled out with main points, people, or potential test questions. Use this section to give yourself cues to help you remember larger ideas.

You can write your summary section directly after class, or later when you’re reviewing your notes. Use this section to summarize the entire lecture.

Keep your cue and summary sections as simple as possible. However, feel free to fill up the notes section with doodles, diagrams, page references, and whatever else you need to properly represent the material presented in class.

In-Depth: The Mind Map

The mind map is a great way of taking notes for specific types of subjects. Class subjects like chemistry, history, and philosophy that have interlocking topics or complex, abstract ideas are perfect for this method. Use the mind map to get a handle on how certain topics relate, or to go in-depth with one particular idea.

For instance, if you’re attending a lecture about the Fall of the Roman Empire, start with that concept in the center and then draw “nodes” of all the things that led to Rome’s fall as your professor lists them. Things like debt, irresponsible emperors, attacks from the surrounding barbarian tribes, and so on.

Later, to review, go more in-depth and add smaller sub-concepts onto each branch. Things like dates, formulas, supporting facts, and related concepts make for great branches. In the end, it might look something like this:

Holistic: Flow Notes

This note-taking method is great for students looking to maximize their active learning within the classroom and minimize their review time later. The point of flow notes is to treat yourself like the student you are, and not a lecture-transcribing machine.

Jot down topics, draw arrows, make little doodles and diagrams and graphs. Go crazy. Engage with the material. Try to actively learn as you’re writing.

Perhaps you’re in history class and your professor is talking about the Battle of Hastings, and you remember that it happened in 1066 and that there were other things happening across the globe in the year 1066, too. Write those facts down and draw connections.

The sky’s the limit on this one. It’s great for people who hate rules.

Caution: while this method is great for learning in the moment, it can be difficult to review flow notes later. If you’re an auditory and visual learner and retain a lot of what you learn from your lectures, maybe that works fine for you. If not, try pairing your flow notes with the Cornell Method to make them easier to review for tests.

Easy: Writing on Slides

Let’s be honest, this is note-taking for lazy people…and there’s nothing wrong with that!

It’s super effective, and it’s easy.

If your professor is kind enough to provide you with the slides that they’re using in their lectures, go ahead and download the files and print them out at the computer lab. The slides give you a leg up on the outlining process. The professor already did the work for you! All you have to do is take notes and expand on key concepts already presented in the slides.

It works great, too, because later you can look at the slide and more or less remember what the professor was talking about when they reached that slide. It’s like having a step-by-step walkthrough of the lecture, and you hardly had to do a thing to get it!

Visual: Bullet Journaling

This is my personal favorite. It’s the note-taking style I use most often, both in and out of the classroom.

If you’re super into aesthetics, like to doodle, or are a particularly visual learner, this method might be best for you.

When you write in your bullet journal , you turn a blank page into a beautiful representation of your thought process. Try using it to combine different aspects of other note-taking styles.

You can have one page that’s dedicated to mind maps, another that’s dedicated to your flow notes, and even sneak in a class schedule or a doodle of Sonic the Hedgehog in somewhere. It’s your bullet journal. I don’t know, do what you want! It’s your journal!

This method does have drawbacks. It can be difficult to take notes quickly. The goal of bullet journaling is to keep your journal organized and attractive, which can be hard when you’re scribbling down information as fast as you can.

One way to combat this is to take notes during class in an outline or using some other method, and then organize them later in your bullet journal as a form of review.

Need ideas for what your journal should look like? Just go on Pinterest or google ‘BuJo ideas’, or, specifically, ‘BuJo ideas for students’, and knock yourself out. There’s tons of stuff out there!

With a proper productivity system, nothing ever slips through the cracks. In just one hour, you'll learn how to set up your to-do list, calendar, note-taking system, file management, and more — the smart way.

Should You Use Your Computer to Take Notes?

So, should you use your laptop to take notes, or write them longhand? Students, scientists, and teachers have been debating this ever since laptops were allowed into classrooms. The short answer? No.

The longer answer is a bit more complicated.

In a study published in 2014, students who took notes on a laptop were more likely to simply copy down what their professor said verbatim.

This actually impaired their learning because their brains were processing the information shallowly, instead of taking larger concepts and condensing them into note-form. These students performed poorly on conceptual tests compared to others who took notes longhand.

Not only that, but another study published in 2010 showed that most students who take their laptops to class are only working on class-related material about 58% of the time.

The other 42% is taken up by going online, working on different assignments, or playing Space Invaders . These students were more likely to fall off task and were less satisfied with their education when asked about it.

The studies concur: using laptops to take notes in class might not be the best choice.

How You Use Your Computer Matters!

Of course, it all depends on how you use your computer. If you’re a self-disciplined person, you might benefit from having your laptop to take verbatim notes you can study extensively later.

One history class I took in college was actually better because we had access to our laptops , and could quickly check facts for our professor. They were put to good use during discussion times, since students could do a tiny bit of googling before they contributed their thoughts.

In short: it’s up to you what tool you use to take notes. You’re responsible for your education . Just make sure that the tool you’re using is a tool , and not a distraction. If you find yourself nipping out of your note-taking document to play Sims 3 or scroll through your Facebook feed, maybe switch to taking longhand notes.

Looking for a great app to take and organize your notes? We recommend Notion:

Notion is one of the most flexible and powerful apps I've ever used. It can be a note-taking app, but there's also a database feature with multiple views (including Trello-style kanban boards and calendars) the ability to make anything into a template, and great collaboration features. At CIG, we use it for all of our team documentation, and I also manage every YouTube video I make with it.

The Best of Both Worlds

Prefer writing by hand, but still want to be able to access your notes on your computer and are tired of buying notebooks just so you can throw them away later? There’s a solution for that.

Rocketbooks are a super cool piece of new note-taking technology. The notebook is completely reusable. Simply take your notes, scan them using your phone and the Rocketbook app, and then, depending on which notebook you have, wipe it clean with a damp cloth to re-use it virtually indefinitely .

If you’re using the Rocketbook Wave, you can just throw it in the microwave and nuke it up to three times. Voila! You’ve got a reusable notebook, and digital notes that you didn’t have to take using a tablet and stylus or type out on your laptop.

Want to learn more about the Rocketbook? Check out our full review .

I’d never heard of these before researching this article, and let me tell you, they sound like a great option for students looking to lighten their backpack load. They’re good for the environment, and they’ll save you some money and space since you’re not buying a new notebook every single term.

Need help keeping your notes (and life) organized? Check out our guide to staying organized in college .

Get the Most Out of Your Notes

Phew! How are you doing? Good? That was a lot. Here’s one last thing:

Now that you’ve got your notes and class is over, how do you get the most out of them? There are three great ways to maximize your notes:

• Review, review, review. Make sure that you review your notes within the first 24 hours after your lecture. This cements everything you heard and learned in your brain so it won’t fall out of your head later.
• Review a small portion of your notes every day. Don’t try to cram before your test. Reviewing over a long period time ensures that what you’ve learned will stick, and improve your recall.
• As you’re doing assigned reading or research, have your notes on hand and notice repetition. If your professor covered it in class and it’s in your assigned reading, there’s a good chance it’ll be on the test.

Ultimately, we could talk about notes and note-taking techniques all day. But the most important thing to understand is that note-taking is a skill. Everyone’s brain works a little differently, and what might work for me won’t necessarily work for you. Take notes often, experiment, and find out what you like.

You made it to the end! Now, it’s up to you. Commit to the process, pay attention in class, and don’t forget to review. You’ve got this, dude.

Want to take notes by hand without sacrificing the convenience of digital organization? Check out our guide to the best note-taking apps for iPad .

Image Credits: woman taking notes , girl walking , student writing , layout of hat and pens , typing , distracted on phone ,  studying in library

Top 7 Homework Planner Apps for Students

Whether you are attending classes, completing your assignments, studying for a quiz, project work, extra-curricular activities, or squeezing some time for friends and family. You’d agree that organizing and planning goes a long way. That’s why a homework organizer or a homework planner app can be a lifesaver to keep track of all your assignments, tests, submission deadlines, and exams. I did the research and shortlisted the perfect homework planner apps for Android and iOS. Let’s check those out.

Read:  Best Notes App for Windows to Increase Productivity

Homework Planner Apps for Students

1. student planner- homework agenda & notes.

The first app on the list is a simple homework and notes management app. It keeps track of homework, assignments, projects, and to-do lists. The layout is minimal, all the tasks are neatly organized with a colored bookmark for easy identification. You can mark a task complete and remove it from the pending list.

Courses can be added easily and color-coded as well. The calendar shows any upcoming deadlines so you can prioritize accordingly. The tasks have a progress bar that you can adjust as you make progress which enables you to get a quick summary without actually opening every task.

You can also break your assignments in small chunks as subtasks that would make finishing a task much easier and the progress bar will fill automatically. It also allows you to attach media files to your assignments or projects for easy access to the important information in one place.

• Progress bar
• Deadline Reminders
• Calendar View
• No option to sync data to the cloud

Student Planner is a great app for all the students, it has all the necessary features like Deadline reminders, subtasks, progress bar, color-coded tasks, and courses. It can significantly increase your productivity when used regularly. You can get this app for free in the Play Store.

Install Student Planner- Homework Agenda ( Android )

2. Student Planner

Student Planner is another fast and simple homework management app which is wrapped by a beautiful and intuitive material designed UI. What Student Planner adds to the table is the inclusion of a schedule or time table which you can use to either store your class schedule or it might even be a study schedule for your exams.

You first start by adding your subject and the schedule then you can add an assignment or set a reminder. The due assignments are arranged as separate cards and can be swiped away once done with.

•  Simple and easy to get started with
•  Fast and small in size
•  Beautiful Minimal UI
•  Option for Schedule
• No sync/backup
• Timetable implementation not perfect

I would recommend this app to anyone who is looking for a simple homework management app with timetable support and a minimal UI.

Install Student Planner ( Android )

Egenda is simple. Open the app, add all the classes or subjects to the app, and once that is set up, you have the option of adding a new Homework, Quiz, Project, or Test and choose the respective subject deadlines. The app also arranges the due work in cards that can be swiped away when done. But what I love the most about this app is that the fact it allows you to go subject-wise and view all your upcoming tests, projects, or pending assignments which is a huge convenience for planning your schedule ahead of time instead of the previous day.

Unfortunately, the app doesn’t have a timetable option, but in its latest update, it added a  Calendar View  where you can see your whole month at a glance with your assignments, tests, and projects.

•  Subject-wise sorting
•  Calendar View
• No timetable support

Egenda provides some great tools for Homework and Test planning and I am sure anyone would find them extremely convenient and useful. But keeping its single con in mind, go for this app if you are not too keen on having a schedule or timetable.

Install  Egenda  ( Android  |  iOS )

4. ChalkBoard

The next app on our list is ChalkBoard, which I found out to be a pretty smart homework planner app. Chalkboard strikes a perfect balance between simplicity and features.

Although the setup process is a little longer than the previous three apps, as you have to feed meticulous details about the classes, teacher, and schedule. It is worth the effort.

On the home screen, you are shown upcoming classes, events tab, and upcoming tests. ChalkBoard fetches the dates for every subject from the Timetable for your future classes. Little features like these make the app stand out from the rest and give an overall great experience. You can also view classes and assignments subject wise.

• Proper Timetable
• Ability to add teachers for subjects
• View tomorrow’s classes as well as assignments/tests/quizzes
• Smart features
• Little longer to set up
• No calendar view

If you are looking for a homework planner as well as a school planner, Chalkboard is the app as it strikes a great ground with almost all the features one might need while not being too bulky.

Install ChalkBoard ( Android )

5. School Planner

School Planner is a full-fledged planning application designed for students to manage their career as a student. Along with your homework and timetables, School Planner offers you to keep track of your grades and attendance, add contacts for teachers, add recorded lectures, and even multiple planners.

The app supports backing up of all your data via Google Drive, Calendar View along with a weekly report, attaching snapshots to your assignment reminders, student accounts from ClassViva, and a lot more. In spite of so many features, the app doesn’t feel slow at all and delivers a powerful performance with its beautiful design.

• Full-fledged student companion
• Feature-packed and free
• Supports sync and backup
• Widget Support
• Tedious setup procedure
• Big in size
• Complex, not so smooth learning curve

While it is not for someone who is looking for a fast and easy way into homework management, School Planner is a great student companion app and serious students will surely get the most out of hit.

Install School Planner ( Android )

6. My Study Life

My Study Life comes with its own web app and syncs with the Android app, essentially making your data accessible from any device as long as it has a browser.

It implements a goal-centric circular tracker that shows your progress. The Calendar view combines your timetable, deadlines, and shows all your classes and assignments, projects in a single place.

• Refreshingly new UI
• Access from anywhere through its web app
• Sync and Backup
• Lengthy setup process

If you study from your computer or laptop, My Study Life makes it easy to access your homework planner on your phone from your computer, while not compromising on features and being completely free. What more can you ask for?

Install My Study Life ( Android  |  iOS )

7. iStudiez Pro

Like School Planner, iStudiez Pro includes grading and subject wise organization of tasks. iStudiez Pro takes it further with the integration of Google Calendar that allows you to directly get all your holidays, exam schedule, routine from Google Calendar itself.

It also offers separate apps on all platforms including iOS, Mac, and Windows. All the apps sync seamlessly between themselves, so studying on your computer consulting your planner won’t be an issue.

• Google Calendar Integration
• Cross-Platform
• Cumulative Price

If Google Calendar integration and cross-platform support is a must for you, iStudiez Pro is definitely the app you want.

Install iStudiez Pro ( Android   |  iOS )

So this was our roundup of the best homework planner apps for Android. We genuinely think that there is an app for every need and we hope that you found a Homework Planner that suits your need whether you are a high school student or a college senior. So which one was your favorite or did we forget to add yours? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read:  Take a Picture of Handwriting And Convert to Text – Android Apps

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The best note-taking apps for students

Our favorite tools for writing assignments and classroom notes..

Every student needs a good note-taking system. The human brain, after all, can only store and retain so much information. There's nothing wrong with relying solely on pen and paper (and if that's your preference, go for it!). But if you're reading Engadget, we suspect you're interested in some kind of digital equivalent: an app that can store those handwritten notes or, if you're ready to take the plunge, let you record everything with a keyboard or stylus. It should be fast, intuitive and, most important, accessible from all of your favorite devices.

So what should I use?

There are dozens if not hundreds of note-taking apps to choose from. All of them, unsurprisingly, promise to make you an organization and productivity guru. If you're struggling to sift through them all, it's important to ask the following questions.

What hardware do I own?

First and foremost, eliminate any service that doesn't support your primary devices. For argument's sake, let's say you own a Macbook Pro and an Android smartphone: You can immediately rule out any platform that doesn't support Google's mobile operating system, like Bear and Ulysses. Why? Because it's critical that you can access your notes anytime, anywhere. A good, reliable mobile app means you can speed-read some revision notes while sitting on the bus or waiting in line for coffee. It's also a decent backup if you forget to charge your laptop or tablet before class.

What's my learning style?

If you haven't already, take a "learning style" quiz. It will explain whether you absorb and process information best with visuals (photographs, diagrams, maps, et cetera), audio (podcasts, audiobooks, class recordings), words (good old-fashioned reading and writing) or some sort of physical, tactile representation (looking at a globe, fixing a car by hand, et cetera).

What am I studying?

You should then consider your subjects. What would be the best way to represent and digest the course materials? A photography degree, for instance, will probably cover some prolific shutterbugs like Ansel Adams and Henri Cartier-Bresson. If you want to remember their lives and techniques, it makes sense to build some notes that contain a mixture of text and example images.

What's my budget?

Don't spend what you can't afford. Set yourself a budget (we have a guide for managing your finances too) and dismiss anything that goes above it. Be wary, too, of "free" versions that lock basic features like offline access and cross-device syncing behind expensive subscription plans. You don't want to feel constrained by your note-taking app in class.

It's impossible to pick a single "best" note-taking app. Instead, we've made some suggestions that are tailored to specific users, devices and learning styles.

"I want to do everything with an iPad and Apple Pencil."

Our pick: Notability

Ginger Labs

gingerlabs.com

Platforms: iOS, macOS

Price: $9.99 ($19.98 for both)

Apple's iPad and Pencil stylus are a powerful combination. The former gives you limitless paper -- both in volume and sheet size -- while the latter can seamlessly switch among a near infinite number of multicolored pens, brushes and highlighters. If you plan to use this combination for most of your college work, we recommend Notability by Ginger Labs. The software is a tad more expensive than GoodNotes 5, but we prefer its general look and side rail organization as well as the way it smoothes out handwriting. Notability has a desktop app too, which is valuable if you occasionally switch over to a conventional laptop or PC.

Alternative: GoodNotes 5

Platforms: iOS

Price: $7.99

"I want to use a tablet and a laptop or PC."

Our pick: OneNote

onenote.com

Platforms: iOS, Android, macOS, Windows 10, web

Price: Free

If you split your time evenly between a tablet and PC, it's worth checking out OneNote. We love Microsoft's software because it's completely free and available on a wide range of platforms. You can organize your life in any number of notebooks and nested sections, which are then backed up to your Microsoft OneDrive account by default. Individual notes can also support a vast number of media types, including text, images, hand-drawn doodles and audio recordings. You can also share your notebooks and collaborate on individual notes with other people. We love Evernote too, but the free tier limits account access to two devices.

Alternative: Evernote

Price: Free (basic), $7.99/month (premium), $14.99/month (business)

"I'm a power user who wants to customize everything."

Our pick: Notion

Price: Free, $4/month (personal), $8/month (team), $20/month (enterprise)

Notion is a note-taking app with a cult-like following, and with good reason. It's an extremely powerful and versatile option that supports simple to-do lists, longer blog posts and a whole bunch of other get-your-life-together tools, such as Kanban project-management boards, calendars and Wiki-style databases. Pages (Notion's term for notes) can also link to pages stored in a completely different part of the app. The software can be daunting for newcomers, however, and building the perfect setup takes time. Thankfully, the company has developed a bunch of page templates and posted some helpful guides online.

"I have a Chromebook. What are my options?"

Our pick: Google Keep (plus Docs)

google.com/keep

Platforms: iOS, Android, Chrome, web

A Chromebook is one of the cheapest ways to get a laptop-like experience with desktop-class web browsing. If you're using one for school, we recommend Google Keep and Docs for most of your assignments. Keep is a dead-simple tool for capturing quick-and-dirty lesson summaries, deadlines and daily to-do lists. Docs, meanwhile, is a conventional writing application similar to Microsoft Word. It's great for converting shorter notes into longer, meatier essays and revision documents. With a dedicated Chrome extension, you can also create, view and edit all of your Google Docs content offline.

"I want to take notes with paper and pen!"

Our pick: Evernote

evernote.com

Not a problem. For many people, the physical act of writing helps their brain memorize the information. An app can still be useful, though, for creating a digital backup that can be accessed anywhere. Many note-taking apps have a built-in camera feature, but not all are designed for handwritten documents. Evernote is one of the few that can smartly detect and capture a note while the camera is open. It will then make subtle adjustments, including contrast tweaks, based on whether it's a notebook page, business card, receipt or whiteboard. Otherwise, we highly recommend Microsoft OneNote -- a truly free alternative, provided you have cloud storage -- for capturing your handouts and Moleskine pages.

Alternative: OneNote

"I want a lightweight app for quick, simple notes."

Our pick: Google Keep

Just want a place to dump quick thoughts, ideas and reminders? Again, we recommend Google Keep. The free software has a simple and clean design that anyone can grasp in a matter of seconds. We love the labeling system and ability to change a note's background color, just like a wad of multicolored sticky notes. There are plenty of other options, though, including Simplenote and the pre-installed Apple Notes app for iPhone, iPad and macOS. Zoho Notebook, meanwhile, is a free alternative with beautiful "cards" designed for blocks of text, checklists, audio snippets, photographs, files and hand-drawn sketches.

Alternative: Simplenote

Platforms: iOS, Android, macOS, Windows 10, Linux

Alternative: Notes (Apple)

Alternative: Zoho Notebook

Platforms: iOS, Android, macOS, Windows 10

"I want an app for serious writing too."

Our pick: Ulysses

ulysses.app

Price: $4.99/month or $39.99/year

Many people want a single app for all of their notes and school-based assignments. The ideal solution should, therefore, have a text editor that's competitive with, if not superior to, Microsoft Word and Google Docs. One such tool is Ulysses, which offers a beautiful design and a super smart take on Markdown, dubbed Markdown XL, for text formatting. At the time of writing, though, it's only available for iOS and macOS users. Bear, another writing app that we absolutely love, shares the same problem. Dropbox Paper is an intriguing alternative but relies on the web for desktop editing. There's also Scrivener, an expensive but powerful writing app that's available for iOS, Windows 10 and macOS -- but sadly not Android.

Alternative: Bear

Price: Free, $1.49/month or $14.99/year (Pro)

Alternative: Dropbox Paper

Platforms: iOS, Android, web

Alternative: Scrivener

Platforms: iOS, macOS, Windows 10

Price: iOS ($20), macOS ($49), Windows 10 ($45), macOS & windows 10 ($80)

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Best note-taking app of 2024

Notes on the go

Best overall

Best dedicated, best for ios, best simple, best interface, best for collaboration, best for microsoft 365, best for features, best comprehensive, how we test.

The best note-taking apps make it simple and easy to take and manage notes wherever you are, in the office, the home, or on the go.

1. Best overall 2. Best dedicated 3. Best for iOS 4. Best simple 5. Best interface 6. Best for collaboration 7. Best basic 8. Best for Microsoft 365 9. Best for features 10. Best paid 11. Best comprehensive 12. FAQs 13. How we test

Note-taking apps have become increasingly popular, not least with the wide availability of mobile devices, especially business smartphones . This means mobile apps for taking notes now allow you to write wherever you are, whether in the office or on the go, and there are a large range of apps available.

However, while there are basic software apps for taking notes, sometimes bundled as free software with mobile devices, these can be quite limited and offer little more than text notes. These days much more feature-packed note-taking apps are now available, allowing you to not just take notes with text, but also use multimedia.

These more advanced apps can work in multiple forms, from trying to replicate the word processing experience, to imitating blank notepads in digital form and so allow for handwriting and sketching.

Additionally, some note apps also include the ability to add images, audio, even video, to your notes, and even share these directly with colleagues and working teams.

Below we've listed what we think are the best note-taking apps currently available.

We've also listed the best note-taking apps for Android and the best iPad Pro note-taking apps .

Reader Offer: Start for free with 3 editable boards Miro's digital collaboration tool is a visual workspace where you can work with sticky notes online and numerous other features. Start for free today and get access to 3 editable boards and 2500+ templates.

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The best note-taking app of 2024 in full:

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Our expert review:

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid.

Miro is one of those online tools that aims to bridge the gap between traditional office working and the modern hybrid routine that many of us are familiar with. It is best described as a multipurpose online collaboration tool, and its list of features is pretty extensive stretching beyond the typical realms of similar software.

The majority of the work you’ll end up doing in Miro will revolve around what it calls boards, which start off as entirely blank spaces. Setting one up from scratch can be daunting and time-consuming, which is why the company has designed templates that you can pick from the get-go.

Some of its most commonly accessed templates include mind maps, Kanban boards, flowcharts, product roadmaps, and timelines. Many of these will serve well as project management tools, and anybody familiar with other project management software like Airtable or Trello will already be familiar with how they work.

Overall, we think Miro is hard to beat. Its long list of features should cover all parts of a typical business process from research and design to presentation, and its collaboration abilities are second to none. Furthermore, its transparency around security and reasonable pricing make it hard for us not to recommend it. The only thing we could wish for is better support channels.

Read our full Miro review .

• ^ Back to the top

2. Evernote

No list of best note-taking apps is complete without Evernote, which is one of the oldest and most fully-featured. Evernote lets you create both simple and complex workflows using a combination of notebooks, notes and tags to keep everything organized.

One of its best features for gathering research is the Web Clipper extension (supported in Chrome, Firefox and Safari ), which lets you save entire webpages - including text, images and PDFs - with a single click. Notes can be accessed on laptops, mobile devices and the web, so you're rarely left with a situation where you can't retrieve what you've saved. Other features include the ability to set reminders, present notes PowerPoint-style, and merge them together.

Recent additions include new tables and a Siri integration for those using the iOS edition. 

While there's a free plan with some limited features, there are also two paid plans, the Evernote Premium plan for individual users, and the Evernote Business plan for business. 

The Evernote Premium plan allows for integrations with Slack, Outlook, Google Drive, Microsoft Teams, and Salesforce , as well as provides an AI for content suggestions such as similar content in other notes you've made, as well as content info from media sites. 

The Evernote Business plan includes the above but also comes with collaborative options and team administrative features.

Read our full Evernote review .

Ulysses has been around for a while now, and it's one of the most polished note-taking apps on Apple 's computing platform. (One that's perfectly equipped for long-form writing, too.) Notes are written and stored in the app's proprietary Markdown style, which allows for inventive (and colorful) use of headings. 

Added to that, images can be embedded in the form of links within documents; rather than displaying them in the body text, you can double click the links to preview image thumbnails. Ulysses also positions images in a sidebar that can also display a word count, mini notes and other information at a glance.

Ulysses uses iCloud to save and sync your documents, and these can be exported to a number of other formats, including PDF. Word .doc, ebooks, and HTML. All these extra features come a price tag, with monthly or annual subscriptions available.

Read our full Ulysses review .

4. Simplenote

Simplenote’s selling point is its clear, simple user interface, making it easy to keep track of notes. It is available for iOS, Android, Mac, Windows and Linux, with data synced automatically. There is also a web app if a client can’t be downloaded.

Tagging and search tools ensure users can find what they are looking for and notes can be shared or published to others working in the same team or on a project. Simplenote backs up previous versions of documents so it’s always possible to revert to an earlier one.

Simplenote does not have many advanced features, but is an ideal candidate for simple note taking. It offers decent syncing and collaboration, but best of all, it’s free. If you want extreme simplicity and a bare-bones app, then this will be apt for you. 

Read our full Simplenote review .

A relative newcomer to the note-taking app scene, Bear lies somewhere in-between Evernote and Ulysses, allowing you to create notes and sync them across various Apple devices using iCloud.

Using a Slack-like three-pane interface, you can arrange notes by applying hashtags, which allows a subfolder style system. Bear uses rich Markdown for editing, so you can insert links into documents without having to display the full URLs in a similar manner to Ulysses. However, Bear, which is pretty easy on the eye, and one of the few polished Markdown apps that allow you to insert images directly into notes, which could make it a far more valuable app overall if images are a big part of your workflow.

Latest features include Tag autocomplete, light and dark themes, annotation of PDFs, encryption and app lock.

Most of Bear’s features are free to use on any iOS device, but there is a paid-for pro-version with additional themes, export options, which are available with a small monthly or annual subscription.

Read our full Bear review .

6. Dropbox Paper

Dropbox Paper launched in August 2016  and works across the cloud platform’s mobile suite for Windows, iOS, and Android. What separates Paper apart is its focus on collaboration, allowing teams to share their ideas, images, and videos for projects.

The app offers integrations with productivity apps such as Google Calendar and Slack as well as some more surprising tools like Spotify.

Recent additions include new organization tools such as the ability to create mobile folders on the go as well as improved delete and archive features. Dropbox also redesigned the Paper homepage which brings users Paper docs and Dropbox files together.

Its enterprise features make it an ideal note taking app for businesses, but it goes without saying that you will get the most out of it only if you are already a Dropbox customer.

Read our full Dropbox Paper review .

7. Google Keep

Google Keep is the simplest note-taking app on our list, both visually and how it operates. Think of Keep as your place for storing digital post-it notes, with each note dotted around the interface as if they were laid on a table in front of you.

Notes can be given labels, pinned to the top, given a color, paired with reminders and collaborated on in real time. Additionally it also offers speech-to-text functionality so you can dictate notes on the go rather than have to write. There's also the ability to set up check boxes for lists to work through.

Overall, though, Google Keep is more minimal than other writing apps, which either works for or against it depending on your viewpoint. If you want to break away from your operating system 's notes app, but don't want all of the features that come with other apps on our list, Google Keep is an, ahem, keeper.

Read our full Google Keep review .

OneNote is an app that can help you keep and organize your notes with ease. It has a user-friendly interface and there’s a free version anyone can use.

There’s a free version of the OneNote app that anyone can use. But, this version provides only 5GB of storage and lacks specific features, such as stickers and the math assistant. There's also a free version for verified educational users that provides 1TB of storage.

You need a paid Microsoft 365 account to access additional storage and unlock all the features of the OneNote app.

You can access OneNote through the web-based interface or download the app on your device. You should pick the latter option if you want to make the best of the note-taking tool, as the web-based version lacks some features available on the native app. 

OneNote is an excellent note-taking app. It has ample features that let you keep notes, organize them, and access them from any device. We liked its support for real-time collaboration and the extensive third-party integration.

The app has its drawbacks, such as limited text formatting and the small amount of storage (5GB) assigned to free users. 

Read our full OneNote review .

Joplin app is free to use. But, you’ll have to pay for the Joplin Cloud service to enable note syncing and sharing, customer support, and to access the app through a web-based interface. You can choose one out of three plans; Basic, Pro, and Teams. 

You can take advantage of the 14-day free trial period to test the Joplin Cloud service before making your final decision. We advise every user to do this because the platform doesn’t offer refunds to customers.  

The core feature of Joplin is the digital notebook, which is akin to a hard copy notebook, but with virtual unlimited features. You can create a new notebook at any time and type content into it.

If you want a free, user-friendly app to help you keep notes effectively, then go for Joplin. The comprehensive feature set it offers for free is valuable, and the additional paid features make it more worthwhile.

The main drawback we observed with the app is its limited customer support. 

Read our full Joplin review .

Quip is an excellent note-taking tool in addition to having many other uses. The app has a collaborative bent, making it best to use within corporate settings.

The Quip app has one of the best interfaces we’ve encountered in a note-taking tool. The interface is minimal and uncluttered, making the app enjoyable. We also liked the step-by-step tutorials the app provided to help guide us through it.  

Unlike most note-taking apps, Quip is a strictly paid tool. There’s no free version, and the paid plans are pretty costly. If your company already has a  Salesforce CRM (opens in new tab) subscription, you can create a free Quip account for personal use, but sharing files within your company has limits unless they pay for a separate workplace subscription.  

We enjoyed using Quip all around. The app has a tidy interface that makes it easy to navigate. We also liked its comprehensive feature set, as it lets you format the content of your notes extensively and share them with other users alongside having an intuitive tool for creating spreadsheets. 

The main drawback with the Quip app is its relatively high price. 

Read our full Quip review .

11. Obsidian

Obsidian offers sophisticated features for a note-taking app. It also has a stellar user interface that makes using it enjoyable.

The app makes it easy to create notes and access them at any time. It has some noteworthy features that make it aesthetically pleasing. For example, you can use Graph View, which resembles an interactive map.

The only concern we have in this criterion is that there’s no web-based version of the app. Many rival note-taking apps offer web-based interfaces that make them easier to access, but not Obsidian. 

The Obsidian app makes note-taking delightful, including for free users. It has a comprehensive feature set that you’ll likely enjoy and a pretty tidy interface that’s easy to navigate. However, we observed a few drawbacks, including limited (email-only) customer support and having no web version.  

Read our full Obsidian review .

We've also listed the best free alternatives to Evernote .

What is a note-taking app?

A note-taking app is a lightweight tool that allows you to digitally record information on your device instead of writing it on paper. The best note-taking apps make it simple and easy to organize essential information and store it for quick access. 

How to choose the best note-taking apps for you?

When deciding which of the note-taking apps to use, consider how demanding your needs are. Do you only need to make simple notes, or do you need to be able to add different types of media, including video? Do you also need a wide range of features or to connect your notes with other apps? Free and simple apps will deliver a simple experience, but for more complex feature needs you should probably look to an app with a paid for subscription.

There are now a plethora of note-taking tools available to users - whether they need to keep track of important work tasks or simply need to jot down their shopping list. With smartphones now ubiquitous, individuals expect to have access to a note-taking app that is suitable for their needs. 

With that in mind, we’ve assessed several apps for ease of use, features, aesthetics, team collaboration, cloud functionality, and a number of other factors. We also looked at how simple the app setup was, the interface simplicity, cross-platform support, and overall performance. 

Read how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar .  

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Brian has over 30 years publishing experience as a writer and editor across a range of computing, technology, and marketing titles. He has been interviewed multiple times for the BBC and been a speaker at international conferences. His specialty on techradar is Software as a Service (SaaS) applications, covering everything from office suites to IT service tools. He is also a science fiction and fantasy author, published as Brian G Turner.

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21 Best Note Taking Apps For Students In 2024 (Free & Paid)

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Here's a blog worth taking a note of!

As a student, struggling to keep up with lectures and all the other information flying your way is no mean feat. Frantically scribbling down notes on loose papers only to lose them is definitely not everything anybody enjoys! The good news is that we live in the digital age, where there’s an app for just about everything – including apps for writing notes. Well, we've scoured the web for the best note-taking apps for students in 2024, so grab a seat as we embark on a quest to find the perfect app that fits your needs and complements your creative flair. Whether you're looking for simple sticky-note-style apps for taking notes or a database-driven powerhouse, we've got you covered. So, buckle up, and let's discover the best note-taking apps for students in 2024 to help you jot down your ideas, sketches, and dreams!

Key Features of the Best Note Taking App 

Using the best apps for taking notes for students has been a long-practised and trusted method for academic success. The best app for making notes for students ensures effective learning, too. You will find the perfect way to retain any sort of information! Before you download the best note taking app for students, keep these factors in mind: 

21 Best Note Taking Apps for Students

By believing that our brain is like a sponge, it soaks a lot of information in a day; finding the best note taking apps for students we are talking about here is a strategy that helps to wring out and organise this information. As we grow in a digital age, below is the list of some of the best note taking apps for students:

1. Apple Notes

Platforms: iOS, macOS, Web Price: Free USP: Voice Notes Rating: 4.8/5 Review: “I love this app so very much, and I find it very useful. I also like to schedule my daily plans and/or last minute trips. I feel like this app is my getaway to a world of writing.”

Also known as Notes or iCloud Notes, Apple Notes is easily one of the best note-taking apps for students. It is available for free to all Apple device users. One unique feature that makes Apple Notes the best app for taking notes for school or college is its ability to edit notes from any device with a browser through an iCloud account, eliminating the need for a separate file-sharing service.

2. Dropbox Paper

Platforms: iOS, Android, Web Price: Free USP: Create Presentations Rating: 4.0/5 Review: “Paper is great for imagining what the final article is going to look like.”

One of the revolutionary study notes apps has some of the best features found in notes for students apps. The student note taking app allows students to send large files, embed YouTube videos, and edit PDFs, among many other features. Two of the exceptional features of one of the best note-taking apps available are electronic signatures and the ability to scan receipts, pictures, documents, and much more.

Platforms: iOS/ Windows/ Android Price: Free USP: AI-powered writing Rating: 4.7/5 Review: “I've used this in my training courses for years. I take notes quickly and it transcribes everything to perfectly readable text.”

Apart from being one of the top note-taking apps, Nebo is also one of the most revolutionary study notes apps. With Nebo, you can take notes in your handwriting, and this note taking app for students will convert them into text! From AI-powered handwriting to editing via pen gestures, this is the best app for taking notes for school, providing a seamless experience for users.

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4. Goodnotes

Platforms: iOS, Windows, Android, Mac Price: Free USP: AI-powered writing Rating: 4.8/5 Review: “Honestly, I really love using this app! It is very well thought out, and I can use it for many different kinds of workflows.”

Goodnotes is an app that has reimagined the task of taking notes for students. As one of the best note taking apps for students to have on their phones or laptops, it brings features like none other on the table. AI writing experience and on-the-go access to PDFs and other documents are some of the many incredible features that make Goodnotes the best app for making notes. 

5. Freeform 

Platforms: iOS, Mac, iPad Price: Free USP: All in one Rating: 4.6/5 Review: “I have only had PowerPoint in Microsoft 365 for five months. However, thanks to Freeform, it has made my science fair project for the next school year easier.”

An app developed exclusively for Apple product users, FreeForm has impressed students with its user-friendly interface. Students can do it all, from projects to recording audio and embedding videos. If apps are not your thing, you can always look for the best study websites for students , which are easy to understand and resourceful.

6. Obsidian

Platforms: Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux Price: Free (for personal and educational use) USP: Customisable toolbar Rating: 4.5/5 Review: “It's surprisingly customisable for a mobile app; it even has a plugin system. It's like a full-featured desktop app shrunk down to phone size, but somehow doesn't feel too cluttered or bloated, which is a design miracle.”

Known as one of the best note taking apps for students, Obsidian is a must-have for power note-takers. It is based on Markdown and a local file/folder structure, making it simple and accessible to all users. The study notes app is highly customisable, allowing users with technical skills to create plugins and turn features on and off to suit their needs. Apart from being the best app for making notes for students to use on a day-to-day basis, the cross-platform app can be accessible offline without an account.

7. Evernote

Platforms: Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, Web Price: $7.99/month USP: Customisable home dashboard Rating: 4.4/5 Review: “The app is really good for note-taking! Organisation is also very easy in it, and you can even link to another note in one.”

Evernote is cross-platform and multi-platform and one of the best apps for notes students can try. The best student note-taking app is suitable for processing handwritten notes and clipping articles from the web. It is the best note taking app for students because Evernote can hold multiple file formats, including PDFs and PowerPoints, and offers a scanner for mobile and a web clipper for browsers. Students can receive a 50% discount on Premium for a year. Using Evernote when preparing for an exam like the TOEFL exam can reduce your stress dramatically! Its easy note organisation feature makes it to the list of the best note taking apps for students. 

8. Roam Research

Platforms: iOS, Mac, Linux, Windows, Android Price: $15/month (after a 31-day free trial) USP: Bidirectional link Rating: 3.0/5 Review: “Love that it's finally out. Great interface; love the quick capture and easy switching to the graph.”

Roam Research is the best note taking app for students, and it works with Windows and Linux, among other platforms. One feature that makes it the best app for taking notes is its feature of linking between notes instead of folders and tags. It has strong support for Markdown and encourages daily journaling, making it one of the top free note taking apps for Windows and Linux. Following a bi-directional approach, this app is not your everyday study notes app and lets you switch back and forth through your ideas smoothly and fluidly.

Platforms: iOS, Mac Price: Free for most features. Upgrade to Pro for $1.49/month. USP: Individual notes encryption Rating: 4.7/5 Review: “Bear is really handy, and it has just enough features. I can clip from any webpage, I can hashtag my notes for easier sorting, and I especially like the security feature.”

Bear blends word processing and note-taking to create an irresistible combo that allows users to enjoy the best of both worlds. A study notes app with powerful Markdown capabilities and a great writing experience, Bear's organisational system is simple, using tags and nested hierarchy, and it has an archive feature to save notes. Not only is it the best note taking app for students, but it is also perfect for those with a penchant for creativity. Bear never lets you forget any ideas or inspiration you stumble upon! Being one of the best apps to take notes on Mac for college, it offers a clean look and additional features in its premium version.  

10. Standard Notes

Platforms: Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows, Web Price: Free for basic features. Upgrade to Core Plan for $29/year. USP: Tagging system to mark notes Rating: 3.0/5 Review: “Cross-compatibility is flawless. Firing it up and taking quick notes is super simple, as is the editor.”

If a secure and private note-taking app is what you're looking for, Standard Notes is the way to go! It’s the best note taking app for students that prioritises security, offers powerful search, and encrypts all notes by default. As the best study notes app available, Standard Notes' free version surpasses other apps' premium versions regarding features you can access. Its feature of letting you revisit older versions of your notes or recover accidental edits makes it our favourite app for study notes. 

Platforms: Linux, Mac, Windows Price: $14.99 (one-time purchase) USP: Seamless live preview Rating: 3.0/5‍ Review: “When opening the app, the first thing you'll notice is how simple it is. And this is what sets Typora apart from most writing and Markdown tools. This simplicity helped me get into a flow state without much hassle.”

Typora is a highly customisable hybrid Markdown editor and one of the best note-taking apps for students. It works on all major operating systems and offers users a seamless reading and writing experience. We think it’s the best app for taking notes in class because of its Focus Mode, Table of Contents, and multiple themes. You can organise your files using the file tree panel and import files in PDF format to optimise search. Paired with a language-learning app, Typora can be your BFF for learning a foreign language, as well as the best note taking app for students. 

12. Microsoft OneNote

Platforms: iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Web Price: Free USP: Scan pictures & extract text Rating: 4.7/5 Review: “Pretty powerful notes app. Lots of editing options and instant syncing across all devices.”

Microsoft OneNote is the best free note taking app for Android tablets or any other device. It is a cross-platform app for study notes with all the features of Evernote. It offers a free-form text box and drawing capability. Microsoft OneNote also allows users to pick from various templates for every imaginable purpose, including e-books and University-focused templates. Some OneNote tips and tricks will enhance your experience, making it one of the must-have apps for uni notes or while studying. 

13. Google Keep

Platforms: Android, iOS, Web, Chrome Price: Free for 15GB of storage across all Google apps USP: Pin notes to your phone Rating: 4.1/5 Review: “I love this app. It's very simple to use. I especially like how I can verbally update my list through Google Home and it's super convenient.”

If you primarily use Google applications for your work, you will worship Google Keep, which tops this list for being the best note taking app for students and every Google user. It is a cross-platform note-taking app with a simple interface that works well with other Google tools. Students can also categorise their notes by adding up to 50 tags and highlighting them using colours, enabling them to study effectively. Also, Google Keep has become the best note taking app for students because of its uncluttered look and zero complex menus. 

Typora is a highly customisable hybrid Markdown editor and one of the best note-taking apps for students. It works on all major operating systems and offers users a seamless reading and writing experience. It has features like Focus Mode, Table of Contents, and multiple themes. You can organise your files using the file tree panel and import files in PDF format to optimise search. Paired with a language-learning app, Typora can be your best buddy for learning a foreign language.

Microsoft OneNote is one of the free note taking apps. It is a free cross-platform study notes app with all the features of Evernote. It is available on unlimited devices and offers a free-form text box and drawing capability. Microsoft OneNote also allows users to pick from various templates for every imaginable purpose, including e-books and University-focused templates. Some OneNote tips and tricks will enhance your experience, making it one of the must-have apps for taking notes while studying.

If you primarily use Google applications for your work, you will worship Google Keep, which tops this list for being the best note taking app for students and other Google users. It is a cross-platform note-taking app with a simple interface that works well with other Google tools. Students can also categorise their notes by adding up to 50 tags and highlighting them using colours, enabling them to study effectively.

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Platforms: Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Web Price: Free USP: No storage limit Rating: 3.6/5 Review: “Simply Incredible! This note taking app does it all, literally. The file and webpage embeds are very useful. The infinite recursion is valuable. The templates and tutorials are succinct, but to the point, so that you are not lost in the sea of possibilities.”

If you're looking for the best note taking apps for college students for collaboration purposes, look no further! Notion is one of the powerful, database-driven school and uni note taking apps, offering flexible pages with a template engine. The tables function like databases, nested hierarchical organisation, and a hybrid editor allowing Markdown and UI formatting. These aspects make Notion one of the must-have apps for students , and it is ranked as the best note-taking app for Android for students.

Platforms: iOS Price: Free; subscription plans starting from $8 USP: Archive or unarchive notes Rating: 4.4/5 Review: “Perfect for drafts and making quick notes and even better you can save your ideas that pop up on the go, on the app.”

Mem is a super AI and one of the best note taking apps for students in the market. It has integrated the potential of artificial intelligence for taking notes through AI-driven building features. The study notes app delivers unique functions like smart search, which saves time in looking for notes based on their history, goals, and theme of search. Keeping AI at its prime, this student note taking app lets you save links and sync emails. You can use the calendar, which brings everything in one place, so you don't have to switch through tabs anymore!

16. Zoho Notebook

Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows Price: Free & paid subscription plan USP: Launcher Shortcuts Rating: 4.0/5 Review: “Perfect note-taking app. There are lots of customisation options - choosing notebook covers, extensive text formatting, and the ability to create different types of notes (written, to-do list, audio, drawn, photo, video, and file attachment).”

Zoho Notebook is the best student note-taking app in Windows and is thoughtfully designed to arrange your thoughts and put them in an organised manner. Zoho Notebook is not just a "simple" student note taking app but has a lot in store. Its 168.8 MB capacity is a good way to collaborate, manage & organise your notes. Zoho also paves its way as one of the best reminder apps , as you can set alarms. It is also the best note taking app for uni students, owing to its tags to help you sort similar notes in one place. In short, it has carefully chosen and integrated the best functions in one app for study notes!

17. Agenda Notes

Platforms: iOS Price: Free & subscription plans USP: Timeline approach to organising notes Rating: 4.7/5 Review: “Agenda's versatility makes it perfect for deploying & repurposing content so it becomes useful at your fingertips.

Agenda Notes, one of the best note taking apps for students, has cracked the code to keep your productivity or organising train on track. With a unique focus on chronological events, you can assign dates or link your calendar in Agenda Notes. One feature that makes it one of the most downloaded and best note-taking apps for students is its timely reminders. Agenda Notes has also won the Apple Design award because of its intricate, fun, and pop design that landscapes the feeling of being motivated!

18. Simplenote

Platforms: iOS, Android Price: Free USP: Collaborate and work together Rating: 4.0/5‍ Review: “Great, minimalistic interface. A tool for taking notes needs to be simple, not cluttered with pointless, fussy options. This app delivers perfectly.”

When it comes to complex interface and puzzling navigation, you are likely to hit the uninstall button for a class notes app. Simplenote tackles this problem as it lives up to its name. With its no-frills design, you can easily create to-do lists & ideas and take important notes. Some features that make it one of the best note taking apps for students: it can be anywhere across all your devices. With this app for study notes, you can add tags for easy bifurcation & navigation, go back in time and see any changes, and publish your notes online.

19. Milanote

Platforms: iOS, Android Price: Subscription plan USP: Drag-and-drop interface Rating: 3.7/5 Review: “I like the approach of this phone app in that it does not try to replicate the capabilities of the desktop/iPad app. Milanote is a highly visual program, and this would not be very user-friendly on a small screen.”

Milanote is an innovative and the best note taking app for students, as it goes beyond traditional text-based notes for students. A visually rich interface allows users to create dynamic visual boards to capture and organise their ideas, inspirations, and projects. Milanote is the best note taking app for students, as you can add images, videos, links, and notes to boards. It’s even a perfect match for creative professionals, designers, and teams collaborating on visual projects. Milanote is a versatile and best note taking app for students that empowers them to turn their ideas into visually engaging and well-organised notes.

20. Noteful

Platforms: iOS, Web Price: Free USP: Beautiful handwritten notes Rating: 4.7/5 Review: “Incredibly, Noteful checks all the boxes and adds stuff I wouldn't have thought of!!.”

As a student, getting a seamless experience while taking notes, either in a class or for other purposes, is vital. Interestingly, Noteful checks all the boxes of being at the top among the best note taking apps for students. You can import PDFs along with your Microsoft Office documents in the app before your exams. The student note taking app also provides you with strong editing capabilities and to audio record your notes. Apart from functioning as a note-taking app, there are various study planning apps for students that can further help you ace your exams.

Platforms: Android, iOS, Linux, Windows, macOS

Price: Free 

USP: Workflow customisation is available 

Rating: 4/5 

Review: “I love that it's open-source and free, you can sync with Dropbox or OneDrive.” 

If you are looking for open-source, subscription-free and apps to make notes on laptop and phone, Joplin is the answer. You will enjoy its clean interface to organise notes with ease. Plus, Markdown support helps you format and highlight like a pro, along with several plugins. Joplin is not only the best note taking app for lectures but also keeps your notes private. You can collaborate with your friends after classes and access notes anywhere. 

Best Note Taking Apps for Android and iOS

We have curated a list of study note apps made for students, which are built for phones, tablets, and desktops. Let’s have a look at the best note taking apps for students for Android and iOS: 

Efficient note-taking has never been more exciting or easier! With many options, you're sure to find the perfect note-taking app that suits your quirky personality and meets all your jotting needs. These best note taking apps for students will help you survive your first year in college. Whether you're a fan of stickies, fancy a more database-driven approach, or just want a plain and simple interface, there's an app for everything. So pick one (or more!) to include in your student starter pack and start scribbling your next big idea or simply jot down your grocery list. Plus, don’t forget to check out amber app if you want to make big savings on flight bookings or Forex cards. So, happy note-taking!

Frequently Asked Questions

Which are the best apps for taking school notes, which free app is best for making notes for students, which is the best app for school notes, mention an app that takes notes for you., which are the best apps for uni notes, which online note-taking tool allows students to store information on an extensive backup system.

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Rated as "Excellent" • 4800+ Reviews by students

Rated as "Excellent" • 4800+ Reviews by Students

Never forget a class or assignment again.

Unlock your potential and manage your classes, tasks and exams with mystudylife- the world's #1 student planner and school organizer app..

School planner and organizer

The MyStudyLife planner app supports rotation schedules, as well as traditional weekly schedules. MSL allows you to enter your school subjects, organize your workload, and enter information about your classes – all so you can effortlessly keep on track of your school calendar.

Homework planner and task tracker

Become a master of task management by tracking every single task with our online planner – no matter how big or small.

Stay on top of your workload by receiving notifications of upcoming classes, assignments or exams, as well as incomplete tasks, on all your devices.

“Featuring a clean interface, MyStudyLife offers a comprehensive palette of schedules, timetables and personalized notifications that sync across multiple devices.”

” My Study Life is a calendar app designed specifically for students. As well as showing you your weekly timetable– with support for rotations – you can add exams, essay deadlines and reminders, and keep a list of all the tasks you need to complete. It also works on the web, so you can log in and check your schedule from any device.”

“MyStudyLife is a great study planner app that makes it simple for students to add assignments, classes, and tests to a standard weekly schedule.”

“I cannot recommend this platform enough. My Study Life is the perfect online planner to keep track of your classes and assignments. I like to use both the website and the mobile app so I can use it on my phone and computer! I do not go a single day without using this platform–go check it out!!”

“Staying organized is a critical part of being a disciplined student, and the MyStudyLife app is an excellent organizer.”

The ultimate study app

The MyStudyLife student planner helps you keep track of all your classes, tasks, assignments and exams – anywhere, on any device.

Whether you’re in middle school, high school or college MyStudyLife’s online school agenda will organize your school life for you for less stress, more productivity, and ultimately, better grades.  

Take control of your day with MyStudyLife

Stay on top of your studies. Organize tasks, set reminders, and get better grades, one day at a time.

We get it- student life can be busy. Start each day with the confidence that nothing important will be forgotten, so that you can stay focused and get more done.

Track your class schedule on your phone or computer, online or offline, so that you always know where you’re meant to be.

Shift your focus back to your goals, knowing that MyStudyLife has your back with timely reminders that make success the main event of your day

Say goodbye to last minute stress with MyStudyLife’s homework planner to make procrastination a thing of the past.

Coming soon!

MyStudyLife has lots of exciting changes and features in the works. Stay tuned!

Stay on track on all of your devices.

All your tasks are automatically synced across all your devices, instantly.

Trusted by millions of students around the world.

School can be hard. MyStudyLife makes it easier.

Our easy-to-use online study planner app is available on the App Store, the Google Play Store and can be used on desktop. This means that you can use MyStudyLife anywhere and on any device.

Discover more on the MyStudyLife blog

See how MyStudyLife can help organize your life.

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Android Police

Gemini 1.5 pro in notebooklm can turn your homework into an interactive podcast.

The tool can now generate spoken dialogue discussions from the information you feed it

• Discover how Google's Gemini Pro model in NotebookLM can create study guides, FAQs, quizzes, and even spoken dialogue discussions.
• Experience the interactive and personalized learning experience by connecting physics and basketball through AI-generated examples.
• Despite some potential limitations, the new features in NotebookLM show that Google is committed to making AI beneficial for all students.

Recent developments in the AI space are really beneficial for students. No, really, I wish tools like ChatGPT and Google's Gemini were around when I was a student. They would have made passing call classes with top grades a breeze. The best AI tools , like Google's NotebookLM , which allows you to upload documents and text to Google's servers and use language models to summarize the materials, can save students hours of time.

In an attempt to upgrade NotebookLM, Google, at its annual Google I/O developer conference, announced that its Gemini 1.5 Pro model is coming to NotebookLM, unlocking new functionalities for the tool.

I tested NotebookLM and saw the promise of something great

The tool now allows you to create a "Notebook guide" from the documents and text you feed it, which is essentially a summary that can generate study guides, FAQs, and even quizzes. However, the main update here is "Audio overview," which can take all the information you feed it as input and create a spoken dialogue discussion from it, benefiting those that learn the best when they listen to information, rather than reading it.

In an example shown on-stage, the tool was able to generate a spoken discussion between two people about physics, specifically force and motion. The presentation also included a demonstration on how the user can join in on the discussion.

You can join the discussion and ask questions!

Josh Woodward, VP at Google Labs, joined the discussion, and asked the tool to give his son Jimmy a "basketball example." The tool quickly jumped in and said, "Hey Jimmy, that's a fantastic idea. Basketball is actually a great way to visualize force and motion," before continuing to break down how physics and basketball are connected.

Google Gemini: Everything you need to know about Google's next-gen multimodal AI

By connecting the dots between basketball and physics, the tool was able to generate a spoken-word and age-appropriate example, making the learning experience a lot more interactive and personalized.

As always, it is not certain that the tool will always work as presented by Google on-stage. It's worth noting that small text on the bottom right of the presentation indicates that the audio was pre-generated. We'd have to try out the feature for ourselves to see if it works as intended. Regardless, bringing Gemini 1.5 Pro to NotebookLM is a welcome addition, and proves that Google is making AI helpful for everyone .

The Best Smart Notebooks of 2024

Note-taking remains essential, but it now has a modern twist.

Smart notebooks offer a seamless solution to issues you might encounter with paper notebooks: they're lightweight, easy to digitize, and offer advanced note-taking features all in one slim tablet. Here are some of the best smart notebooks you can buy today.

Kobo Libra Colour

Rocketbook smart reusable notebook, apple ipad 10, amazon kindle scribe, remarkable 2, best smart notebook overall: kobo libra colour.

Whether it's your first foray into smart notebooks or you're looking for an upgrade, the Kobo Libra Colour tablet offers an ideal balance between quality and affordability. This eReader introduces a novel e-Ink screen with color , allowing you to read, highlight, and annotate while viewing a work as it was originally intended.

Like other smart notebooks, the Kobo Libra Colour offers a reading experience delightfully free of ads and other distractions. The tablet's display is small, but its fantastic pen latency and anti-glare surface make it worthwhile for reading or working on the go. When you're ready to export your files from the Kobo, you can use the Kobo Cloud or integrate Dropbox or Google Drive.

If you're interested in Kobo notebooks but want a larger screen, the Kobo Elipsa 2E is the way to go.

Reading eBooks and taking notes has never been simpler thanks to the Kobra Libra Colour, an innovation upon the classic e-Ink smart notebook that offers 32GB of storage and a full-color display. This notebook is easy to take on-the-go thanks to its IPX8 full waterproof protection, ergonomic controls, and small, portable display — but it's as well-suited for an evening of reading at home.

• Full-color display
• Ideal for taking on-the-go
• Ergonomic input and good pen latency
• Screen may be too small for some users
• Display has "screen door effect"

Best Budget Smart Notebook: Rocketbook Smart Reusable Everyday Planner

If you want a smart planner that won't break your wallet, the Rocketbook is the perfect solution: it offers all the advantages of smart notebooks while using your phone as the hardware. The Rocketbook Everyday Planner is one of several editions released by Rocketbook, featuring 48 pages that can be wiped and reused endlessly.

Once you've written out your schedule, digitizing your plans is as simple as scanning each page with the Rocketbook app. Afterward, you can seamlessly transfer the files to cloud services like Google Drive, Slack, and OneNote. While the Rocketbook isn't high-tech, the simplicity of pen and paper makes it just as powerfully distraction-free as the best smart notebooks.

If you want regular pages along with a planner, the Rocketbook Fusion may be better suited for your needs.

Rocketbook Everyday Planner

With the Rocketbook Everyday Planner, you’ll never need to use another piece of paper for work again! It comes complete with 48 reusable notebook pages, a Pilot FriXion erasable pen, and a microfiber cloth. Once your notes are in the cloud, you can add smart titles, smart searches, and email transcription to make your catalog easier to navigate.

• Eco-friendly and endlessly reusable
• Extremely affordable
• Cataloguing in Rocketbook app is perfect
• Not a true smart notebook
• Pen may smear on the paper

Best Smart Planner: Apple iPad

With a price point to match the best smart notebooks and many more features, the Apple iPad is the perfect solution if you want something high-tech that isn't just limited to taking notes. Paired with the Notability app and an Apple Pencil , you can write, draw, and craft the perfect notes with iOS's powerful toolset right at your fingertips.

The 10th-generation iPad features a powerful A14 Bionic chip and a powerful battery, making the tablet powerful enough to keep up without needing to charge as you go about your day. Taking notes with the iPad is seamless, too, with the gorgeous Liquid Retina display offering industry-leading touch and pencil latency.

The Apple iPad 10th-Generation is Apple's most affordable modern tablet, allowing you to enjoy multimedia on the go without breaking the bank. It comes in four vibrant colors and features some of the best hardware yet, offering enough power to make your day-to-day work or school routine a breeze.

• Choose from any planner app on the app store
• Similar price to the best smart notebooks but more versatile
• Available in four amazing colors
• Apple Pencil latency is the best in the industry
• Packed with distractions, unlike conventional smart notebooks
• Battery not as long-lasting as most smart notebooks

Best Smart Notebook Tablet: Amazon Kindle Scribe

While other smart notebooks might have more features than the Amazon Kindle Scribe , this tablet delivers all the essentials you need at a fantastic price. This digital notebook has a massive 10.2-inch paperwhite display and a fantastic variety of page templates and brushes, ensuring that you can take notes without any practical limits.

The Amazon Kindle Scribe includes some quality-of-life essentials, such as seamless OCR handwriting-to-text conversion and direct support for importing documents from Microsoft Word. While the pen latency on the Amazon Kindle Scribe isn't as good as with the reMarkable, its 300 ppi display puts it in a league of quality beyond most mid-budget smart notebooks.

Reading, writing, or studying is simple when using the Amazon Kindle Scribe. This tablet features a 10.2-inch display and fantastic pen latency, so reading the fine print or annotating your favorite novel is always a breeze.

• Several storage size options available
• OCR, PDF, Microsoft Word supported
• Good pen latency
• Provides access to the Amazon Kindle library
• Screen may be too large for some users
• Annotation and notebook syncing is clunky

Best Premium Smart Notebook Pick: reMarkable 2

The reMarkable 2 smart notebook is among the most famous smart notebooks out there, and it lives up to its reputation. Beyond its impressively responsive screen, the reMarkable 2 boasts an impressively comprehensive organization system, built-in OCR handwriting-to-text conversion support, and unlimited cloud storage with automatic syncing.

The reMarkable 2's primary drawback is its price, but its incredible quality makes it worthwhile. The reMarkable pen is impressively responsive, and the notebook's e-ink CANVAS display is well-lit but dim enough to resemble actual paper.

Seamless digital notetaking is achievable with the reMarkable 2 if you're willing to splurge. This tablet is approximately the same size as a notebook and provides 47 built-in templates, providing everything you could possibly need from a planner with a fraction of the paper waste.

• Impressive paper-like feel
• Excellent pen responsiveness and hand recognition
• Built-in cloud storage and syncing
• Not as versatile as other smart notebooks

Q: What is a smart notebook?

Smart notebooks are devices that essentially replace traditional notebooks, all while offering incredible extra features like searchable notes, immediate PDF or OCR text conversion, and even cloud storage. Some, like the reMarkable 2, even minimize the drawbacks of digital devices by offering a nice paper-like feel and fantastic pen/hand differentiation.

Q: Are all smart notebooks reusable?

All smart notebooks are reusable. You can reuse most smart notebooks, like the reMarkable 2 and iPads with planner apps, by simply switching to a new page in your virtual notebook. You can even reuse the Rocketbook, which uses physical pages, because the pages can be wiped and re-scanned as often as you want to use them.

Q: Do I need a special pen to use a smart notebook?

Some smart notebooks require a special pen, but most don't require them for use. You will need to buy a pen for devices like the reMarkable 2, while devices like iPads are capable of responding to touch input. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, third-party pens are available for most smart notebooks.

Q: Can a digital notebook convert handwriting to text?

Some digital notebooks support converting handwriting to text with a feature called Optical Character Recognition (OCR). Some devices and applications, like Notability on iOS and the reMarkable 2 notebook, have built-in OCR. Some smart notebooks don't have any support for OCR, but it's uncommon for them to lack the feature.

Watch CBS News

The 5 best digital notepads in 2024 will free you from paper clutter forever

By Jason R. Rich

Updated on: April 2, 2024 / 7:38 PM EDT / Essentials

CBS Essentials is created independently of the CBS News editorial staff. We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms.

Forget about writing down your ideas on sticky notes, paper napkins or scraps of paper -- all of which create clutter and can easily get lost. Now you can create handwritten notes and drawings, organize them in customized virtual notebooks, back up your notes in the cloud and then share them with others -- all with a digital notepad. And you can use these devices to read, annotate and sign PDF files, too. 

The best digital notepads look like tablets, but they have an e-ink display that's easily readable in almost any lighting -- just like the best e-readers . Using a stylus, you handwrite or draw directly on the screen, within the pages of customizable virtual notebooks. Then, in most cases, you can automatically convert your handwritten notes into editable text, or store the notes as you created them. 

Digital notepads give you plenty of virtual paper style options and even let you to choose your simulated writing instruments, such as a ball-point pen, fountain pen, pencil or highlighter. While some of the latest digital notepads can also be used as e-readers or offer basic tablet functionality, their main purpose is to replace a traditional notepad.

Best digital notepad overall : reMarkable 2

Best digital notepad and e-reader combo : amazon kindle scribe.

• Best compact digital notepad : Moleskine Smart Writing Set

Best digital notepad with a color display : Boox Note Air3 C

Best digital notepad with tablet functions: boox ultra c pro.

Keep in mind, with a specialty app (like Goodnotes 6 or Notability) and an Apple Pencil , any  Apple iPad tablet can be used as a feature-packed, full-color digital notepad, as can any tablet that has a stylus available for it.

Our top picks of the best digital notepads for 2024

Our in-house consumer tech experts have jotted down their research notes and compiled this roundup of the best digital notepads out there. Get ready to handwrite or draw directly on an e-ink display using a pen-shaped stylus. This nicely recreates the experience of handwriting on paper using a traditional pen or pencil. Organize and access all of your notes in one place. And because these devices rely on an e-ink display, battery life is typically up to several weeks, not mere hours, like a traditional tablet.

Display size : 10.3 inches | Display type : E-ink | Resolution : 1,872 x 1,404 pixels, 226 DPI |  Color or monochrome display : Monochrome | Internal   storage : 8GB | Expandable : No | Stylus included : Yes | Connectivity : USB Type-C, Wi-Fi | Operating system : Codex | Battery life : Up to 2 weeks

Unlike a traditional tablet that's built for a ton of tasks, or an Amazon Scribe that's for both note-taking and e-reading, the reMarkable 2 is first and foremost a digital notepad. It's designed to replicate writing on paper with a pen.

What we like most about this device is that it's extremely thin and lightweight. The monochrome, e-ink display is also quite readable, with minimal glare. And the rechargeable battery lasts up to two weeks.

As a digital notepad, you can create custom-named notebooks, and each can contain any number of individual pages filled with your handwritten notes. As you're writing, you can opt to leave the content as is, or convert it automatically into editable, typed text. This makes it great for note-taking, managing to-do lists or organizing important information.

Another task the reMarkable 2 handles exceptionally well is PDFs; you can view, annotate, highlight, sign, organize and store them. All content within the reMarkable 2 can be synced with your choice of cloud-based services, including Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive. 

Beyond PDF files, this note taking tool is compatible with Microsoft Word documents and PowerPoint presentations. It also can serve as an e-reader that accepts ePub files, but that's not the intended purpose of this device. If you're looking for a versatile digital notepad that provides a writing experience that feels like you're using real paper and a pen, reMarkable 2 is a great option.

Display size : 10.2-inches |  Display type : Paperwhite |  Resolution : 300 ppi |  Color or monochrome display : Monochrome |  Internal   storage : 16GB, 32GB, 64GB |  Expandable : No |  Stylus included : Yes |  Connectivity : USB Type-C, Wi-Fi |  Operating system : Amazon FireOS |  Battery life : Up to 12 weeks

We're huge fans of the Amazon Kindle Scribe, mainly because it can serve as a digital notepad and full-featured e-reader compatible with any Kindle-friendly e-books. The 10.2-inch paperwhite display is very easy to read, and the device's battery lasts up to three months between charges.

For our coverage of the five best e-readers for 2024 , the Scribe was named best e-reader for note taking. Be sure to read our in-depth review of this powerful tool to discover all that it can do.

The Amazon Kindle Scribe also offers yet another cool feature that other Kindles don't. It's a digital notepad. You can handwrite or draw on the display using a stylus. Use the note-taking app to create custom digital notebooks and then fill them with pages containing thoughts or sketches. These notes are stored within the Scribe, but can easily be shared when the device is connected to the internet via Wi-Fi.

As you're reading, you can annotate the content of e-books with handwritten notes, or annotate PDF files. A basic stylus comes with the Scribe and a three-month trial subscription to the Kindle Unlimited service is included, as is a USB Type-C charging cable. 

Best compact digital notepad : Moleskine smart writing set

Stylus included : Yes |  Connectivity : Bluetooth |  Battery life : Up to 11 hours | Notebook compatibility : Moleskine Smart Notebooks ( small or large ) | App : Moleskine Notes app (iOS/Android)

Most digital notepads have all of their technology built into the tablet. That's not the case with the Moleskine smart writing set. In this case, there's a lot of tech bundled into a smart pen that works just like a ball-point. In fact, the smart pen also writes on paper.

The pen must be used with one of Moleskine's smart notebooks, which come in two sizes and in either a hardcover or softcover. As you're writing using the Moleskine pen within one of these notebooks, the pen actually records everything you write and draw. Transfer the work wirelessly to a smartphone or tablet and replicate it on the screen of a mobile device.

Using the Moleskine Notes app, your can view your handwritten notes, store them as PDFs, sync them in the cloud or share them with others. Content can be kept in your own handwriting or converted into text that can be edited. And all of your notes can be associated with keywords or tags that make them easier to locate quickly. 

Another useful feature: It can simultaneously record audio from a class or meeting and link those audio files with your handwritten content. This system is ideal for someone who wants to continue writing with a pen on paper, but store and share all of their notes or drawings digitally, too. 

Display size : 10.3-inches |  Display type : E-paper |  Resolution : 2,480 x 1,860 pixels, 300 ppi (monochrome); 1,240 x 930 pixels, 150 ppi (color) |  Color or monochrome display : Color |  Internal   storage : 16GB |  Expandable : Yes (microSD card) |  Stylus included : Yes |  Connectivity : USB Type-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |  Operating system : Android 12 |  Battery life : Up to 16 hours

Boox is one of the few companies that offers digital notepads and Android tablets with full-color, e-paper displays. The Boox Note Air3 C has a 10.3-inch color screen. It's primarily designed to be a digital notepad for writing or drawing using different colored virtual inks, or for annotating full-color PDF files. 

As an e-reader it accepts 17 e-book formats. The device itself is a mere 5.8mm thick and it's extremely lightweight. As a note taking tool, it offers a paper-like experience for handwriting ideas and sketches.

Because the device uses an e-ink display, it's battery lasts for many hours. But it lacks a traditional display, so don't expect to work with high-resolution photos or video with the sharpness of a traditional tablet. The colors appear more muted. Resolution improves dramatically when viewing content in monochrome. As you're handwriting, the Note Air3 C can convert your handwriting into editable text. You can also use this device to view, annotate, sign and share PDF files. The handwriting and drawing capabilities are extensive, while the e-reader features are also robust. 

Because this is an Android device, it can be used for basic tasks that a tablet can also handle, like checking email, but this is primarily a digital note-taking tool for notes. Overall, we're very impressed with the note-taking capabilities of the Note Air3 C and recommend it to someone who prefers to handwrite, store and share their notes digitally.

For slightly less money, the Note Air3 ($400) is available with a monochrome screen.  It can handle everything that the Note Air3 C can do, just without the color. If you're going to invest in a Boox digital notepad, however, we suggest going with the full-color version. The use of color gives you more options when handwriting notes, drawing or annotating PDF files. There's even a virtual highlighter that allows you to highlight text in PDF files using the colors of your choice. 

Display size : 10.3-inches |  Display type : Kaleido 3 |  Resolution : 2,480 x 1,860 pixels, 300 ppi (monochrome); 1,240 x 930, 150 ppi (color) |  Color or monochrome display : Color |  Internal   storage : 128GB |  Expandable : Yes (microSD card) |  Stylus included : Yes |  Connectivity : USB Type-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |  Operating system : Android 12 |  Battery life : Up to 21 hours | Keyboard : Optional

The Boox Ultra C Pro can do everything that the Boox Note Air3 C can do as a note taking tool, but it also serves as an Android tablet.

It comes with the same collection of preinstalled apps as other Android tablets and allows you to install additional apps from the Google Play Store. The Boox Ultra C Pro has a full-color, e-ink display. This means it can be viewed in any lighting situation with virtually zero glare. 

Be warned: Between the speed of the processor and the sluggishness of the display's refresh rate, the Boox Ultra C Pro is not suitable for video. And while it can display full-color, high-resolution photos, the colors will appear muted and the images will lack detail. But this digital notebook is great for basics like web surfing, email, word processing, spreadsheets or any tasks that don't rely on video or graphics. 

Also on the plus side, the Ultra C Pro comes with a stylus and runs Android 12. It also has a built-in camera, speakers and a microSD memory card slot. It supports 24 digital file formats. A variety of optional cases (that also serve as stands) and a detachable keyboard are sold separately. While not for everyone, the Boox Ultra C Pro is a great option for people who prefer hand-writing over typing, but who want the core features of a tablet in a single, lightweight device.

How to choose a digital notepad

A digital notepad should be as comfortable and intuitive to use as a traditional pad and pen. Here are five things to consider when choosing which digital notepad is best suited to meet your needs:

• Design : The best digital notepads are compact, thin and lightweight. They rely on an e-ink display that's easy to read in any lighting (including direct sunlight) and they come with a pen-shaped stylus that's as comfortable to use as a pen. You also want the ability to choose a paper style (blank, lined, graph, etc.) and create customize notebooks that can contain any number of individual pages. The operating system should allow you to store your handwritten notes locally, sync them with a cloud account and share them with others via email. 
• Display : An e-ink display should be glare-free and easy to read in any lighting. The higher the resolution, the better (especially when it comes to full-color e-ink displays). Most displays built into digital notepads have a resolution that's measured in horizontal and vertical pixels, or in pixels per inch.
• Functionality : Beyond handwriting or drawing on the display, you might want to automatically convert writing into editable text. Other useful functions include the ability to markup, annotate and sign PDF files. Some of the best digital notepads also serve as e-readers, audiobook players and more. Also, while some digital notebooks only sync files with the manufacturer's own cloud-based service, others are compatible with services like Google Drive, Microsoft 365, Dropbox and Evernote.
• Stylus : All of the digital notepads featured in this roundup come with a pen-shaped stylus. However, in some cases, you can upgrade to a premium stylus for an additional fee. To get the most out of a digital notepad, you want a stylus that feels like a pen in your hand and that replicates the experience of handwriting on paper. If you flip over the stylus, the opposite end should work as a digital eraser (just like a traditional pencil). When using one of the best digital notepads, you can choose your virtual writing instrument. Options typically include a ball point pen, pencil, felt tip market, highlighter and fountain pen. 
• Battery life : Because these devices rely on e-ink displays, their battery life tends to be much longer than a traditional tablet. In some cases, you can expect to use a digital notepad regularly for up to four weeks before needing to recharge it.

When it comes to keeping up with the latest  technologies , our team of consumer tech experts has you covered with comprehensive product roundups, in-depth product reviews and details about where and how to find the best deals. We cover everything from  laptops  and  action cameras , to the best  TVs ,  smart grills ,  tablets ,  smartwatches  and noise canceling  earbuds  and  headphones .

Jason R. Rich ( www.JasonRich.com ) is an internationally recognized consumer technology expert with more than 30 years' writing experience. He's also an accomplished author and photographer. One of his most recently published books, The Remote Worker's Handbook: How to Effectively Work From Anywhere ($24.99, Entrepreneur Books) is now available from Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 24.5.1 Release Notes

Article Number: RN-RAD-WIN-24-5-1

New Feature Highlights

New game support.

• Ghost of Tsushima DIRECTOR'S CUT
• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II

Expanded HYPR-Tune Support

• Horizon Forbidden West™ Complete Edition
• The Last of Us™ Part I
•  Enable HYPR-RX and get an instant boost in performance of up to 136% on the Radeon™ RX 7600XT GPU across games like Baldur's Gate 3, F1 23, Resident Evil 4 and more! RS-643
• Enable HYPR-RX and get an instant boost in performance of up to 86% on the Ryzen™ 8700G APU across games like Baldur's Gate 3, F1 23, Resident Evil 4 and more! RS-64
• Join the conversation by sharing how well HYPR-RX with AFMF is working on your system. This information across thousands of games helps us make further improvements.
• The latest version of AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition ensures optimal support and performance, providing the most refined enhancements and optimizations for the best user experience.
• AMD Software can power AI functionality included with leading ISV applications. Content Creators can rely on AMD Software to accelerate AI-enhanced features in many content creation apps, including Adobe® Creative Cloud, Blender®, DaVinci Resolve, Topaz Photo & Video AI and many more.  Click HERE for more information  

AI Development on Radeon

• AMD Software enables lower-level AI functionality with popular frameworks like PyTorch and ONNX Runtime on Linux®, enabling developers, enthusiasts and researchers to work with AI on select Radeon 7000 series desktop GPUs. Click HERE for more information.   

Fixed Issues and Improvements

• Intermittent application crash or driver timeout may be observed while playing World of Warcraft® or World of Warcraft® Classic on RDNA™ 3 series graphics products.
• Intermittent application crash or driver timeout may be observed while playing Overwatch® 2 on Radeon™ RX 5000 series graphics products. 
• Intermittent stutter immediately after alt-tab with Performance Metrics Overlay enabled. 
• Texture flicking may be observed while playing Hitman: Contracts.
• Corruption around certain water elements may be observed while playing Alan Wake 2 with Radeon™ Boost enabled.

Known Issues

• Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas may fail to launch.[Hotfix pending verification]
• Black corruption may be observed while playing Alien Isolation on Radeon™ 7000 series graphics products.
• Corruption may be observed while playing Dying Light 2 Stay Human: Reloaded Edition with Radeon™ Boost enabled. Users experiencing this issue are recommended to disable Radeon™ Boost as a temporary workaround.
• Intermittent in-game corruption may be observed while playing Ghost of Tsushima DIRECTOR'S CUT with AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition™ Record & Streaming and HDR enabled.
• Max Payne 1 and 2 may fail to launch on RDNA 3 series graphics products when Anti-Aliasing is enabled.
• AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition Performance Metrics may intermittently fail to update while playing HELLDIVERS™ 2.[Resolution targeted for 24.6.1]
• Audio and video may intermittently become out of sync while recording using the AV1 codec in AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition. [Resolution targeted for Q3]

Package Contents

AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 24.5.1 Driver Version 23.40.33.01 for Windows® 10 and Windows® 11 (Windows Driver Store Version 31.0.24033.1003).

The AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 24.5.1 installation package can be downloaded from the following link:

By clicking the Download button, you are confirming that you have read and agreed to be bound by the terms and conditions of the  End User License Agreement  (“EULA”).  If you do not agree to the terms and conditions of these licenses, you do not have a license to any of the AMD software provided by this download.

• AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 24.5.1 Driver for Windows® 10 & Windows® 11 64-bit

Systems pairing RDNA series graphics products with Polaris or Vega series graphics products:

• AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 24.5.1 Driver Including Vega and Polaris Series Graphics Support for Windows® 10 & Windows® 11 64-bit

Installing AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition

For detailed instructions on how to correctly uninstall or install AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition, please refer to the following support resources:

• How-To Uninstall AMD Software on a Windows® Based System
• How-To Install AMD Software on a Windows® Based System

NOTE : This driver is not intended for use on AMD Radeon products running in Apple Boot Camp platforms. Users of these platforms should contact their system manufacturer for driver support. When installing AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 24.5.1 for the Windows® operating system, the user must be logged on as Administrator, or have Administrator rights to complete the installation of AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 24.5.1. 

Radeon Product Compatibility

AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 24.5.1 is compatible with the following AMD Radeon products.

Mobility Radeon™ Product Compatibility

AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 24.5.1 is a notebook reference graphics driver with limited support for system vendor specific features. 

​​​​AMD Processors with Radeon Graphics Product Compatibility

Important note for laptop and all-in-one (aio) pcs .

AMD recommends OEM-provided drivers which are customized and validated for their system-specific features and optimizations. If you experience issues using the AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition driver package downloaded from AMD.com, please install the OEM-provided drivers for full support and compatibility. AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition does not include support for handheld gaming devices.  Users should check with the OEM for device specific drivers.

Compatible Operating Systems

AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 24.5.1 is designed to support the following Microsoft® Windows® platforms. Operating System support may vary depending on your specific AMD Radeon product.

• Windows 11 version 21H2 and later
• Windows 10 64-bit version 1809 and later

WHQL Results

RS-643 - Testing conducted by AMD as of March 27, 2024, on a test system configured with a Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU, 32GB DDR5, Radeon RX 7600XT GPU, MSI x670E ACE motherboard, and Windows 11 Pro, with AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 24.2.1 and AMD HYPR-RX ON/OFF, on various titles including Alan Wake 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, The Callisto Protocol, F1 23, Far Cry 6, Horizon Zero Dawn, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Red Dead Redemption 2, Resident Evil 4, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands.  Game tested at 1080p resolution. Performance may vary. System manufacturers may vary configurations, yielding different results.

RS-645 - Testing conducted by AMD as of March 27, 2024, on a test system configured with a Ryzen 8700G APU and Windows 11 Pro, with AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 24.2.1 and AMD HYPR-RX ON/OFF, on various titles including Alan Wake 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, The Callisto Protocol, F1 23, Far Cry 6, Horizon Zero Dawn, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Red Dead Redemption 2, Resident Evil 4, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands.  Game tested at 1080p resolution. Performance may vary. System manufacturers may vary configurations, yielding different results. 

​​​© 2024 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.

The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and is subject to change without notice. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this document, it may contain technical inaccuracies, omissions and typographical errors, and AMD is under no obligation to update or otherwise correct this information. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. makes no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this document and assumes no liability of any kind, including the implied warranties of non-infringement, merchantability or fitness for particular purposes, with respect to the operation or use of AMD hardware, software or other products described herein. No license, including implied or arising by estoppel, to any intellectual property rights is granted by this document. This notice does not change the terms and limitations applicable to the purchase or use of AMD's products that may be set forth in a separate signed agreement between you and AMD.

OVERCLOCKING WARNING:  AMD processors are intended to be operated only within their associated specifications and factory settings.  Operating your AMD processor outside of official AMD specifications or outside of factory settings, including but not limited to the conducting of overclocking (including use of this overclocking software, even if such software has been directly or indirectly provided by AMD or otherwise affiliated in any way with AMD), may damage your processor and/or lead to other problems, including but not limited to, damage to your system components (including your motherboard and components thereon (e.g. memory)), system instabilities (e.g. data loss and corrupted images), reduction in system performance, shortened processor, system component and/or system life and in extreme cases, total system failure.  AMD does not provide support or service for issues or damages related to use of an AMD processor outside of official AMD specifications or outside of factory settings.  You may also not receive support or service from your board or system manufacturer. Please make sure you have saved all important data before using this overclocking software.  DAMAGES CAUSED BY USE OF YOUR AMD PROCESSOR OUTSIDE OF OFFICIAL AMD SPECIFICATIONS OR OUTSIDE OF FACTORY SETTINGS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER ANY AMD PRODUCT WARRANTY AND MAY NOT BE COVERED BY YOUR BOARD OR SYSTEM MANUFACTURER’S WARRANTY.

The software that has been directly or indirectly provided by AMD or an entity otherwise affiliated with AMD may disable or alter: (1) software including features and functions in the operating system, drivers and applications, and other system settings; and (2) system services.  WHEN THE SOFTWARE IS USED TO DISABLE OR ALTER THESE ITEMS IN WHOLE OR PART, YOU MAY EXPERIENCE (A) INCREASED RISKS THAT CERTAIN SECURITY FUNCTIONS DO NOT FUNCTION THEREBY EXPOSING YOUR COMPUTER SYSTEM TO POTENTIAL SECURITY THREATS INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, HARM FROM VIRUSES, WORMS AND OTHER HARMFUL SOFTWARE; (B) PERFORMANCE AND INTEROPERABILITY ISSUES THAT MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT YOUR EXPERIENCE AND THE STABILITY OF YOUR COMPUTING SYSTEM; AND (C) OTHER EXPERIENCES RESULTING IN ADVERSE EFFECTS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED, TO DATA CORRUPTION OR LOSS.

AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, AMD Radeon, AMD Freesync and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

Windows and DirectX are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

Vulkan and the Vulkan logo are registered trademarks of the Khronos Group Inc.

Other names used herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective companies.

More From Forbes

‘valorant’ 8.09 patch notes add a tiny brimstone buff and nothing else.

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Brimstone gets the only real change in this patch.

The Valorant 8.09 patch notes are some of the smallest patch notes I have ever seen, only adding one tiny buff to Brimstone and a handful of bug fixes.

The only real change in the Valorant 8.09 patch notes comes to Brimstone, and if anything this is more of a quality of life change than anything meaningful. The radius of his smokes has gone from 410 to 415, and the UI on his targeting screen has been adjusted so that the outer edge of the target circle will be covered in smoke as well.

As a Brimstone player, this is appreciated, as now there should be fewer tiny gaps in my smokes when I place them across choke points, but it really feels like this could have been a change in the next big patch because it really isn’t that much of an issue.

Elsewhere in the 8.09 patch notes the bug where you would lose your cross hair profiles has been fixed, but there is no option to recover lost cross hairs, meaning you’ll have to make them again. In reality, this is probably the most significant change in the patch, although it only impacts a reasonably small percentage of players. A simple hotfix for this would have probably been fine.

The other bug fixes include a fix to incorrect data being shown on combat reports, bullet tracers still being shown even if you turned them off and a freeze when a game ends that would require a restart.

You have to question if this patch was even worth releasing, as I don’t think anyone would have complained if all these changes were bundled into a bigger patch a couple of weeks down the line. While Valorant is in a reasonably good place after the last patch that brought massive changes to Viper and Cypher , there are still a few adjustments fans are waiting for.

Best Nintendo Switch Games: It’s Mario’s World, We’re Just Visiting

They, along with a whole host of new content, will likely arrive in the coming weeks, with the team saying they are preparing “for bigger things in the near future,” in the patch notes. We currently don’t know exactly what this will include, but with the big addition of new agent Clove coming late in the last act, it is likely that some big new content will be dropping in the coming weeks. Hopefully we will start to get more details on that, or at the very least some slightly more interesting patch notes, in a couple of weeks when the next patch is due.

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