How to Organize Your Math Notes to Study Faster and Smarter

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Last Updated on November 12, 2024 by Alexandra Markin

Wondering how to organize your math notes in the most efficient way possible? With so many complex formulas, concepts and endless equations, taking math notes can quickly turn your page into a chaotic mess.

As a Bachelor of Commerce student, I really struggled with this when I took my first business mathematics and statistics courses in university. One of the disadvantages of online learning is the absence of classmates to compare notes with.

However, with a little trial and error, I created an effective note-taking system that has made all those required math courses much easier for me.

In this post I’ll walk you through my favourite method to organize math notes by using an abbreviation sheet, different colours and specific formatting so you can study faster and smarter.

Supplies

The essential supplies I use to organize my math notes are:

• Black ballpoint pen – Zebra retractable Z-Grip med point 1.0mm or Staples TRU gripped med point 1.00mm
• Blue & red coloured pens – Staedtler triplus fineliners in 0.3mm
• White out tape – BIC Wite-Out EZ correct grip correction tape
• 6″ ruler – Westcott 6″ clear acrylic ruler
• 12″ ruler – Westcott 12″ clear acrylic ruler
• Highlighters – Stabilo Boss original pastel highlighters
• 3 hole punched loose-leaf paper – Oxford filler paper, 8-1/2″ x 11″ college rule
• 1″ 3 ring binder – Amazon Basics 3 ring binders
• Binder dividers – Blank binder dividers for 3 Ring Binder, 1/8 Cut Tabs, Letter Size
• Label maker – Brother P-Touch handheld label maker (how I make my binder divider labels)
• Label maker tape – 12mm (1/2″) laminated tape black on white

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How to Format Math Notes

These examples are from my Statistics for Business and Economics II course.

Chapter Header

Because I prefer to take math notes by hand on 3-hole punched lined paper and organize them in a binder with section dividers, I don’t bother with a chapter header.

However, if you’re planning to take notes in a coil notebook, I would dedicate a whole page to the chapter title to quickly locate information when you’re studying for the exam.

Section Headers

I like to handwrite my sections headers for a more aesthetic look. Make headers stand out by using a ruler to make highlighter bars that extend to the edge of the page.

Bullet Points

Use bullet points to make note of any important information in a quick, easy-to-read format.

Textbook Definitions

Highlight textbooks definitions and any supplementary definitions.

Pen Colours

I use the Staples black TRU ballpoint in med 1.0mm or the Zebra Z-Grip black retractable ballpoint in med 1.0mm.

I use the Staedtler triplus 0.3mm fineliner in dark blue.

I use the Staedtler triplus 0.3mm fineliner in red.

Subheadings

Like section headings, I handwrite the title of subsections. Draw a highlighter bar to the edge of the page.

Tables

To indicate a table, write in capital letters and make square brackets around the title with a highlighter. Don’t waste time drawing all the lines of a table, just draw lines where absolutely necessary.

Underline Minor Concepts

To avoid over highlighting, underline minor concepts you know you’ll need to come back to, such as “TI BAII Plus Calculator Functions.”

Box Highlight Major Concepts

Major concepts, such as the steps to solve a problem, benefit from being written in capital letters, highlighted with a box around the steps.

Make an Abbreviations Sheet

I can’t tell you how much this helps when learning new mathematical concepts! With endless single letters with subscript and postscript used in formulas, create a cheatsheet to save time flipping through the textbook to look up their meaning.

Use a Callout Box for Equations

Draw a callout box for equations to clearly see where it first is introduced in the material.

Often, a formula sheet will be provided during exams, but if not, create a formula sheet similar to the abbreviations sheet.

Keep Practice Questions Separate

I keep all practice exercises for the chapter together with a sticky note on the side of the page that divides them between my notes.

How to Organize Your Math Notes – Next Steps

Using section headers, colour coding and keeping formulas and examples separate is one of the best ways to organize your math notes.

This system is what works for me, but by regularly reviewing and refining your note taking system by including your own variations is what will help you get better grades.

Not only does an organized notebook save you time when studying for an exam, it also helps deepen your understanding and boosts your confidence in tackling those challenging problems.

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Try these note organization tips and share your progress in the comments! Math isn’t an easy subject for most of us, so I would love to hear how they helped you!

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