A level note-taking in the 21st century: a compromise
In these modern/tech-y times, most schools are using online platforms to share resources with students. And especially in the sixth form (grade 11 & 12) at least in my school, students are expected to use laptops in class to make notes — barely anyone takes notes by hand in my classes. But, as Straight-Outta-GCSE students (who are mostly used to making physical, hand-written notes in class, then editing and copying them out into revision notes later), this sudden change in learning style can be distressing. Especially on top of the fast-paced + lots-of-content style of the A level courses. You can find yourself in a position of doubting whether what you’re doing to record notes in class is efficient at all.
So what we need is a note-taking system that is fast to write, all in one place and physically tangible so that you can easily flip through during your 2 years.
This is the way that works best for me:
1) Take basic notes on laptop in class (OneNote/Evernote/etc.)
2) Colour code/consolidate/add textbook info during free periods/after school (this is also a good way of reviewing your notes to make sure you understand them)
3) Print them out regularly (I do mine on a weekly basis) either at home or using the school printers and stick them in order in a folder.
This not only keeps the notes legible (no offense to your handwriting), but also lets you use them as revision notes because they are already edited. So you won’t need to spend those two weeks before an exam re-writing notes, when you’re having The Fear — instead you can use that time to do practice questions because that’s really what allows you to master a subject.