1. Skills
  2. Listening
  3. A2 listening
  4. Taking notes

Taking notes

A person writing in a notebook

Listen to the conversation about taking notes and do the exercises to practise and improve your listening skills.

Instructions

Do the preparation exercise before you listen. Then do the other exercises to check your understanding.

Preparation

Audio file

Transcript

Mark: What's the matter?

Clare: I've got a history exam on Friday and I'm worried I'll fail it.

Mark: Why? You're brilliant at history.

Clare: It isn't difficult but I have to remember a lot of information. These are my notes from today.

Mark: Can I see?

Clare: Yes.

Mark: These aren't notes! This is a full text!

Clare: What do you mean?

Mark: You don't have to copy everything! 'Notes' are just a few words. You have to write the important words. You don't need to write the extra bits. Look. King Henry the Eighth was married six times.

Clare: That's important information.

Mark: But you don't need to write all of those words. You can draw little pictures too. Pictures can help you to remember things and then you don't need to write so many words. Look.

Clare: That's so good! The crown is for 'King' and the 'H' is for Henry. That's cool. Then the heart is 'love' and a number six … well that is ehm … six.

Mark: Yes. So look at these notes. Let's test your memory.

Clare: King Henry the Eighth was married six times.

Mark: Exactly! Write notes like this, Clare. Then you won't have six pages of notes, you'll only have two or three!

Worksheets and downloads

Taking notes - exercises253.79 KB
Taking notes - answers239.25 KB
Taking notes - transcript250.61 KB
Discussion

How do you prepare for an exam?

Language level
A2 Pre-intermediate
Topics
study skills
school
exams
Average: 3.5 (53 votes)
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Comments

Submitted by hungariangirl on Fri, 04/25/2025 - 06:24

I study a lot.

Submitted by Perme36 on Thu, 04/24/2025 - 15:48

I don't have any exams. I only have tests. I re-read my notes and always do exercices.

Submitted by tuwa.h on Thu, 08/29/2024 - 11:47

i think its a little hard to remember everything

Submitted by carlottamoretti on Wed, 07/24/2024 - 10:14

I take notes like Mark then I repeat important things

Submitted by Sofia_bitvynovskaya on Wed, 02/22/2023 - 16:37

I don't know, I memorize the words and then pass this test randomly.

Submitted by ahgima099 on Thu, 09/15/2022 - 06:27

When I've got the exam, I take short notes and read again and again. I sleep and eat well for my exam.
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Submitted by Javiera_Ophelia on Thu, 09/08/2022 - 01:32

When i have a exam, i prepare for all a week. When i have a history exam i watch a lot of videos about the topic.When I have a math test, I make flascards with formula. Usually , I practice a lots the contents of theme. Sometimes , I write summaries but i don't like it because i think you only write the same test that the teacher give you.

Submitted by Turtle08 on Sun, 08/28/2022 - 14:13

I usually take notes at school and when I study at home I do a summary, because if I write the informations I can remember them better. Before an exame I usually read the summaries I wrote before.

Submitted by cherry00 on Fri, 07/22/2022 - 13:58

If I have got an exam I take note at school and when I go home I review my notes. I study from the boom too.

Submitted by Baldbanana on Tue, 07/05/2022 - 10:29

I prepare for my exams in different ways. I can learn information or do a small sheet of paper with important notes.

Submitted by 01Aras on Tue, 06/07/2022 - 10:56

I study 1 day before the exam because I don't like to take notes
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Submitted by FlowerQueen on Sat, 06/04/2022 - 08:33

First I learn the vocabularies and then the grammar. I often take notes for it. I only write some words, so I don't draw any pictures.

Submitted by Fadikly on Thu, 06/02/2022 - 17:38

i study my exams before one day ago. i dont like taking notes during study. i cant understand that. i think listening is my best option

Submitted by Denizz on Wed, 06/01/2022 - 13:12

I prepare by taking notes on the topics to be revealed in the exam and by solving the test

Submitted by goksu on Wed, 06/01/2022 - 08:11

I study the exam 1 day in advance, then I look at it before the exam and

Submitted by trungtnd on Fri, 01/28/2022 - 13:26

I prepare for the test by studying the lesson over and over.

Submitted by luis_gu17 on Wed, 11/24/2021 - 21:15

The way I prepare for an important exam is by reviewing the topics that will come on the exam, and I underline important words that I can memorize more easily, for example: if I need to know who Elizabeth II is, I need to underline words like queen, england, king philip, wife.
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Submitted by Tato_Learner22 on Fri, 10/29/2021 - 22:48

To prepare to exam I take my lesson's notes and underline the most important, then I read aloud and later my sister or another relative tests my memory.

Submitted by DiegoCastro on Mon, 03/22/2021 - 16:48

I prepare for an exam by studying everything I have learned and noted in class and if I have a question or do not understand something, I ask a classmate or teacher who understands in order to understand.

Submitted by jennifer_Palafish on Thu, 03/18/2021 - 16:57

First I prepare myself in a place in complete silence, telling my relatives not to interrupt me. Then I make myself a snack. In my case I play music, but calm to be able to concentrate. At night before going to sleep I give it a review and go to sleep early. It is also important to give yourself breaks so as not to overexploit your mind.

Submitted by LuisTonchez03 on Thu, 03/18/2021 - 16:53

I always try to practice so that I don't have problems with the exam and I also do an activity

Submitted by Victor_gtz14 on Thu, 03/18/2021 - 16:50

I prepare for an exam by studying three days before and I make summaries of the subject with images and I also watch videos, that helps me memorize faster and understand you. One day before the exam I do a review with friends to help us and understand everything.

Submitted by Victor_gtz14 on Thu, 03/18/2021 - 16:49

I make diagrams for a better analysis on the topics, and I carefully review each part. I like to study with friends and make each other random questions about the topics. Also, I make draws to memorize easily.

Submitted by Israel on Thu, 03/18/2021 - 16:48

For an exam I usually clean and order my notes to know where I have everything, in the same way I usually study at least 2 days in advance, and I do not stop studying if not until it is time for the exam, and of course, I also rest between study times, otherwise it would be useless to try so hard.

Submitted by Fernanda on Thu, 03/18/2021 - 16:47

For an exam the first thing I do is write down the topics that I know will come in the exam, then I start to make annotations of what is most important and I underline it in some color that stands out so that I see what is important, I also watch videos referring to the topics so that it is clearer to me and as I finish I ask some of my sisters for help to ask me and see that I do remember what I studied.

Submitted by JoseO on Thu, 03/18/2021 - 16:43

To present an exam, the first thing i do is make a guide and then i see the presentations given in class

Submitted by MarceloSepulveda1 on Thu, 03/18/2021 - 16:40

I prepare to study doing a guide, I add images to give me better support and learn better. At the end I ask a few questions, about the topics I did and I try to answer them alone. See you!

Submitted by DiegoCastro on Thu, 03/18/2021 - 16:40

First a day before I have to study, then I prepare a breakfast, then I wash my face and give it a review and i try to dont get nervous

Submitted by Daniel_Gzz on Thu, 03/18/2021 - 16:39

Whenever I prepare for an exam I try to relax and put on some music or a relaxing video, most of the time I study from my notes, but when I don't understand a topic or lesson I study from the book or watch a video on the internet, in the end I almost always do a super fast review before the exam.

Submitted by MVillarreal on Thu, 03/18/2021 - 16:37

To prepare for my exam I try to make a guide and take notes in class, then I dedicate about 30 minutes to it and when I finish I relax and try to relax

Submitted by LuisaM on Thu, 03/18/2021 - 16:37

Usually, i just read from my notes which by listening carefully to my teachers in class. it's very helpfull, because it's easier than reads from textbook.Then we can face the exam easily.

Submitted by Fuster on Thu, 03/18/2021 - 16:36

For exams I prepare by studying a few days before, I play music to concentrate, I make diagrams, notes and I like to repeat things out loud to understand them better. And it also helps me when I'm explaining to someone else.

Submitted by Flavio on Thu, 03/18/2021 - 16:30

I study one day before the exam and do a review. Sometimes I also give a last study minutes before the exam.

Submitted by DiegoD on Thu, 03/18/2021 - 16:28

I like to study by reading, it's the way I learn the most

Submitted by Rocco16 on Thu, 03/18/2021 - 16:27

For an exam I study a few days before and when there is one day left I just give it a very calm review but it also depends on the subject
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Submitted by Vale_R on Thu, 03/18/2021 - 16:27

When I'm going to have an exam what I do is that several days ago I study a little the day before the exams I study again so I can reinforce what I have seen in class.

Submitted by 01281855 on Thu, 03/18/2021 - 16:24

If I have resoruces like presentations or videos, I review them several times until I don't need them to tell all the topics to somebody else and that tells me that I am prepared.

Submitted by juanpa99 on Thu, 03/18/2021 - 16:24

Personally, I put on quiet music and read several times until it stays, but there are times when I write it and say it out loud, but dedicate a good time to it and remove all the distractions. My best technique is to read aloud, it always stays with me.

Submitted by LuisTonchez03 on Thu, 03/18/2021 - 16:21

I try to memorize everything and see my notes

Submitted by neko1104 on Fri, 03/05/2021 - 01:28

I read the topics that are not clear to me and I review them until I have mastered the topic

Submitted by Karen1002 on Wed, 03/03/2021 - 13:52

I make summaries and diagrams. I learn more about the subject. And I do a self-evaluation.
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Submitted by Kostantinus on Tue, 01/12/2021 - 10:56

To prepare for an exam I read a lot of information related to the topic and I make some notes. I start my preparation in advance in order to be ready for my exam for 100%.

Submitted by SALINAS_CAMILA on Wed, 03/03/2021 - 14:03

What I do for an exam is study from the day they left it, ask myself questions and put keywords to remember the subject.

Submitted by Nooname on Mon, 01/11/2021 - 17:34

I'm not good at history.For not failing the history exam ı work a lot
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Submitted by rafaelyeshua on Sun, 12/20/2020 - 17:18

when is a language's exam i memorise the words and i write it, in the natural science, i know the things so i don't need to think a lor

Submitted by altair28 on Tue, 10/20/2020 - 03:33

i just did yhe same as claire and mark, i use both tips

Submitted by Luna on Mon, 08/24/2020 - 14:23

I learn by heart l review the lesson
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Submitted by Xuka on Wed, 08/19/2020 - 19:14

I want to give some exams more study time than others, so find a balance that I feel comfortable with. I have some preparations for my exams, such as: - I always organize my study space in a quiet room with all the necessary items so as not to interrupt the learning process. - I turn off my phone notifications or blocking Facebook (temporarily) on my computer so I can concentrate on the homework tasks at hand. - I use flow charts and diagrams to write down everything I already know about a topic - and then highlight where the gaps lie. Next, I study my material to accomplish the topic. - I help my classmates to do their homework by explaining my answers to them. This tip also helps me memorize knowledge for longer. - I usually organize study groups with friends before each of the exams. We discuss all contents related to the exam and practice on old ones. - I always study for 1 hour. Then I have a break for five minutes. I like both eating some snacks and listening to my favorite song. - Finally, remember that a little study every day is much better than a lot of studying all at once. So, I just take 2 hours for my self-study each day.
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