How do you take notes, when studying for a certification?

• How do you take notes, when studying for a certification?
• How long does it take you to read a chapter and takes notes?
• How do you decide what’s important to put in your notes, and what isn’t?
• Do you have any strategies that are full proof for notes?
Any tips that make note taking faster?
Here’s what I do:
I always read over the material and write down the exam tips or the bolded or italicized words. This strategy seems to help me the most, but I’m wondering what everyone else does. Maybe there is a more efficient strategy. What strategies does everyone else use when taking notes? Sometimes I feel silly because it will take me 2-4 hours to read a chapter, because I’m writing down all the tables and exam tips ect and transferring them into notes.

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Comments

Devilsbane

mattrgee wrote: »

Watch the CBT Nuggets Series from beginning to end without taking any notes. I use this as an oppotunity to sit and listen about the technology.

I've tried this method before but I find that I often don't make it back for the second viewing. Test day starts to close in and I run out of time and only go back to review the more difficult videos. Which is probably just as well since if the material is easy I shouldn't need to waste my time watching it again.

earweed

I only watch videos once usually. I tend to read (at least some sections and chapters) twice. I sometimes use one-note but have gotten away from that as I found I was doing a lot of copy paste when readinf technet articles or ebooks on 24x7. If I take notes it is by hand and after I've gone through the whole chapter and re-reading it.

subl1m1nal

Generally, my studying goes like this:

-Check the exam objectives. Judge any areas I think I'm weak at.
-Take an initial practice exam. This will let me know my strengths and weaknesses.
-Read through a chapter, end of chapter practice exam, labs. (I'm in MS Press books). Generally, this is enough for me.
-After all the chapters are knocked out, I do test prep. As many practice exams as possible. Restudy any questionable areas. Use another source if needed. Once I feel comfortable with all the topics, I'll schedule the exam for a week or 2 out, giving myself time to polish up on anything.

I don't take notes. They usually slow me down. The end of chapter review will keep the main points fresh in my mind. I'm a hands on guy. If I can't do it in practice, I don't know it.