Notes & organization

Cornell Notes Template

Create a Cornell notes page with separate cue, notes and summary areas. Adjust the proportions and choose lined, dotted or blank notes space so the sheet fits the way you record and review a topic.

Understanding the layout

The layout separates the material recorded during a lesson from the prompts used to review it. The wider notes area holds the main information, the cue column can hold questions or short reminders, and the lower area leaves room for a summary. The paper supports a study method; it does not replace the work of selecting ideas, checking understanding and reviewing the material.

Using the sheet

During a lesson, put the main explanation in the notes area and leave gaps when a new topic begins. Afterward, turn useful points into brief questions or cues. Cover the notes area and use those prompts to check what you can explain without looking. Finish with a short summary in your own words. Cornell’s reference below describes the method in more detail.

Choosing the settings

Cue column (%) allocates a share of the usable width. Summary area (%) allocates a share of the usable height. These percentages refer to the area inside the page margins, not to the entire sheet including those margins. Notes ruling changes only the main notes region, leaving the other areas clear for flexible use.

A practical example

Choose A4, a 28% cue column, a 22% summary area and Lined notes. Download the PDF and use one topic as a trial. Record the explanation on the right, add three review questions on the left and write a short summary below. Adjust the proportions only after checking how much space your writing needs.

Before you print

No single page layout guarantees better recall or academic results. The generator supplies blank paper and does not summarize a lesson, evaluate notes or prescribe a study schedule. It is not affiliated with Cornell University.

Printing and file format help · Check your print scale

Common question

Can the main notes area use dots instead of lines?

Yes. Select Dotted in Notes ruling. The cue and summary boundaries stay in place while the main area changes.