Will More Revision Notes Help You Score Higher? What Research Says for Students and Parents
Do I need more notes?
🔑 Quick Summary (For Busy Parents & Students)
More notes ≠ higher scores – It’s how you study that matters.
Active recall & self-testing work better than just reading notes.
Too many resources can overload your brain – choose wisely.
Parents should encourage effort & smart studying, not just collecting materials.
Introduction: The Hidden Study Mistake
“The more notes I have, the better I’ll do in exams!” – Sound familiar?
Many students and parents believe that collecting more study materials—extra notes, printed summaries, or downloaded guides—automatically leads to higher scores. But research shows that it’s not about how much you study, but how you study. In fact, too many notes can backfire!
So, if piling on notes isn’t the answer, what actually works? Let’s break it down.
1. More Notes, More Confusion: Your Brain Has Limits
Imagine trying to carry 50 textbooks in one backpack—it’s overwhelming, disorganized, and impossible to find what you need. Your brain works the same way!
The Science Behind It
Cognitive Load Theory (Sweller, 1988) explains that our brains can only process a limited amount of new information at once. When you overload your memory with too many resources, it becomes harder to focus and retain key concepts.
Cognitive load can be broken into three types:
Intrinsic Load: The inherent difficulty of the material itself (e.g., learning calculus).
Extraneous Load: Unnecessary distractions or poorly organized materials that make learning harder (e.g., switching between multiple guides).
Germane Load: The mental effort spent on understanding and organizing information effectively (this is where good study strategies shine!).
For example, a student using three different science guides might waste time switching between them rather than focusing on mastering core concepts.
What to Do Instead
✅ Stick to one trusted source (e.g., your school textbook).
✅ Create summaries in your own words instead of copying entire pages (Kiewra, 1989).
✅ Use a “One-Page Rule” – challenge yourself to fit all key concepts on a single A4 page per topic.
2. Active Learning > Passive Reading
Simply reading notes repeatedly is one of the least effective ways to study (Dunlosky et al., 2013).
What Works Better?
✅ Active Recall: Test yourself with flashcards or practice questions. Students who self-test score 20% higher than those who just reread notes (Karpicke & Blunt, 2011).
✅ Spaced Repetition: Study in short bursts over days, not cramming. Apps like Anki or Quizlet use this method to boost memory.
✅ Teach Someone Else: If you can explain a topic clearly to a friend or parent, you truly understand it.
Example: Instead of rereading a history chapter, try writing five questions about it and answering them from memory. This approach strengthens germane load by actively engaging with the material.
3. Popular Notes Aren’t Always Better
Many students rely on study guides from websites like Khan Academy or CliffsNotes. While useful, these guides may not match your curriculum or learning style.
The Problem?
A student using a generic algebra guide might miss the exact problem types their teacher emphasizes.
Research shows students learn better with personalized notes that target weak areas (Donker et al., 2014).
What to Do Instead?
✅ Compare class notes with online guides to fill gaps—don’t rely on them entirely.
✅ Use structured note-taking methods like the Cornell Method or mind mapping to organize ideas effectively (Kiewra, 1989).
✅ Ask teachers, "Which topics are most important for the exam?”
4. Why Students Struggle: It’s Not About Notes
If you’re still struggling despite having plenty of notes, the issue might be how you’re studying, not how much you’re studying.
Common Pitfalls
❌ Highlighting everything: This creates a false sense of mastery.
❌ Cramming the night before: It overloads the brain instead of reinforcing learning over time.
Solutions
✅ Use metacognition (Veenman et al., 2006) by asking yourself questions like:
“Do I really understand this concept?”
“Can I explain this topic without looking at my notes?”
✅ Create study schedules: Break revision into 30-minute sessions with clear goals (e.g., “Master quadratic equations today”).
✅ Use technology wisely: Apps like Notion or GoodNotes can help organize digital study materials without overwhelming you.
5. Parents: How to Help Without Adding Pressure
Parents want to support their children but might accidentally increase stress by pushing too many resources.
How to Help Effectively
✅ Encourage smart effort: Praise your child for sticking to a study plan, not just for getting an “A” (Yeager & Dweck, 2012).
✅ Ask reflective questions instead of giving answers:
“Can you teach me this topic in five minutes?”
“What’s the hardest part of this subject for you?”
✅ Reduce clutter: Help them organize their notes into one digital or physical folder instead of scattering them across multiple sources.
🎯 The Bottom Line: Study Smarter, Not Harder
More notes ≠ better grades. Success comes from:
Engaging actively with material (self-testing, summarizing).
Targeting weak areas instead of covering everything indiscriminately.
Staying organized to avoid overwhelm and reduce extraneous cognitive load.
As learning experts Bjork and Bjork (2011) say:
“Learning is harder when it’s easy.”
Challenge yourself to think deeply—not just collect notes!
FAQs: Common Questions from Students & Parents
Q: What if I feel more comfortable having lots of notes?
A: Try using the One-Page Rule—condense each topic into a single sheet. This forces you to focus on key ideas while reducing cognitive overload.
Q: How do I know if my child has too many notes?
A: If they’re spending more time organizing notes than actually studying them, they likely have too many!
Q: What’s the best way to study for science or math?
A: Practice problems > Reading notes. Always test yourself!
📢 Take Action: Try This Now!
Students: Pick a topic you’ve been studying. Write down three questions and try answering them from memory without looking at your notes!
Parents: Ask your child to explain today’s lesson in three sentences—this reinforces their understanding while keeping things simple.
Want a free study checklist? Click here!
References
Bjork, R. A., & Bjork, E. L. (2011). Making things hard on yourself, but in a good way: Creating desirable difficulties to enhance learning. Psychology and the Real World, 2(59–68).
Dunlosky, J., et al. (2013). Improving students’ learning with effective learning techniques. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4–58.
Karpicke, J.D., & Blunt J.R. (2011). Retrieval practice produces more learning than elaborative studying.Science, 331(6018), 772–775.
Kiewra, K.A., (1989). A review of note-taking paradigms.*Educational Psychologist,*24(2),147–172.
Sweller, J. (1988). Cognitive load during problem solving: Effects on learning. Cognitive Science, 12(2), 257-285.
