Those that take notes in class tend to do better than those that do not. Making your own notes, rather than relying on your teacher's notes, results in more information being transferred into your long-term memory. Your notes will be the basis of your revision, so it is vital they are effective.
Taking notes might sound easy, but it is actually a very difficult task. Here are some common mistakes:
Copying everything off the board
Copying everything the teacher says
Not being able to write as fast as the teacher talks
The Cornell notes method was created by Walter Pauk, a University professor. It may seem silly, but it has a big impact on the effectiveness of revision.
You can use your Cornell notes as flashcards. Just cover the notes section and use the questions section as your prompts.