In classes, your teachers will talk about the topics that you are studying. They provide important information for you to know when you take tests. So you must be able to take good written notes from what your teachers say. Here are the three stages（阶段） of taking notes and what you should do during each stage.

1.Before Class

Review your notes you have taken before you come to class. This will be good for remembering what was covered, and get you ready to understand new information in class.

2.During Class

Keep your attention on what your teacher is saying and “the signal words” that tell you what your teacher is going to say and it is important to write them in your notes. Examples of signal words are “the most important point… and remember that…”. Be sure to include in your notes information that your teacher repeats or writes on the blackboard. Write quickly so that you can include all the important information in your notes. Do this by writing abbreviations（缩写） such as med for medicine, using symbols such as “%” for percent, and writing short sentences.

3.After Class

Rewrite your notes to make them more complete and accurate（准确） by changing abbreviation into whole words, symbols into words, and shortened sentences into longer sentences. Use them to answer your questions. If necessary, ask your teacher for help.