Printable Cornell Notes Paper
Free PDF template of the Cornell note-taking layout: a cue column on the left, a large notes area, and a summary box at the bottom, ruled at 7.1 mm.
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The Cornell layout
The Cornell method was developed by Walter Pauk at Cornell University and described in his book How to Study in College. It splits each page into three areas. A narrow cue column on the left is about 2.5 inches (63 mm) wide. The notes column fills the rest of the page. A summary area about 2 inches (5 cm) tall runs across the bottom.
These templates follow that layout with college ruled lines 7.1 mm (9/32 in) apart and a title line at the top for the topic and date. The divider under the notes sits on a ruled line, so the summary has its own lines to write on.
How to take Cornell notes
During the lecture or meeting, write in the notes column only: key ideas, examples, and anything the speaker repeats. Use short phrases and leave space between topics.
Within a day, read your notes and add a question or keyword in the cue column next to each main point. Then write two or three sentences in the summary area that explain the whole page. To review, cover the notes column and answer the cues from memory. This active recall makes Cornell notes useful for exam preparation and for meeting notes you need to act on later.
Use it online or change the layout
The free editor has the same Cornell layout, and you can type in the notes column, the cue column and the summary box separately. You can switch to wide or narrow ruling, change the paper size and colors, then print the page or download it as a PDF.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions of a Cornell notes page?
The classic layout uses a cue column about 2.5 inches (6.3 cm) wide on the left and a summary area about 2 inches (5 cm) tall at the bottom. The rest of the page is the notes column. On A4 the same measurements apply.
What goes in the cue column?
Questions and keywords you add after the session, one next to each main idea in your notes. When you review, you cover the notes and use the cues to test yourself.
Can I take Cornell notes on a computer or tablet?
Yes. Open the Cornell template in the editor and type into each area in your browser, then print or save the page as a PDF. Writing by hand on the printed template works just as well if you prefer pen and paper.