How to make a printable Cornell notes template
- Pick the lines. College ruled fits more writing, wide ruled suits larger handwriting, and a blank Cornell notes template leaves room for diagrams and math.
- Set the cue column and summary box. 2.5 inches and 2 inches is the classic layout; change them if you need more room in one part.
- Choose a header: name, class, date and topic, an AVID-style sheet with an essential question line, or no header at all.
- Press Print Cornell notes and keep the scale at 100%. Print a stack for the week, or save one PDF and print it whenever you need it.
The preview updates as you change options, and you can print as many copies as you like. This free Cornell notes template has no sign-up and no watermark, and nothing leaves your browser.
How Cornell notes work
The Cornell note-taking system was developed by Cornell University education professor Walter Pauk and described in his book How to Study in College (Cornell Learning Strategies Center). Each part of the page has one job:
| Part | When | What goes there |
|---|---|---|
| Notes (right) | During class or reading | Main ideas, facts, examples and diagrams, in short phrases rather than full sentences |
| Questions / Cues (left) | Soon after class | Questions the notes answer, key terms and names, next to the matching notes |
| Summary (bottom) | At the end | Two to four sentences on what the page is about, in your own words |
To study, cover the notes column and answer the questions in the cue column out loud, then check yourself. That self-testing is what makes Cornell notes useful for exams, not just neat.
AVID Cornell notes template
Many middle and high schools that use AVID ask for an essential question at the top of each sheet. Choose AVID style in the header menu to add two lines for it under the name, class or period, date and topic fields. It follows the common AVID layout but isn't an official AVID form, so if your teacher hands out their own sheet, match theirs.
Which layout to pick
| You are | Try this setup |
|---|---|
| High school or college student taking lecture notes | College ruled, 2.5 in cue column, 2 in summary |
| Middle school student, or larger handwriting | Wide ruled, AVID-style header if your school uses AVID |
| Math or science class with diagrams | Blank, 2 in cue column so the notes area is wider |
| Reading a textbook chapter | College ruled with a 2.5 in summary box for a longer recap |
| Studying on A4 paper | A4 with 8 mm lines |
Teachers can print a class set from one PDF: save it once, then print the number of copies you need from any computer.
Tips for better Cornell notes
- Leave gaps between topics in the notes column so you can add details later.
- Write cues within a day, while you still remember the lesson.
- Number your sheets and keep them in order in a binder; the topic line makes them easy to find before a test.
- Use the blank version for science and math, where you draw more than you write.
Need ordinary notebook pages too? Print lined paper or graph paper in the same sizes. If lines come out faint, run a printer test page.
How we tested this tool
We printed the template to PDF with Microsoft Edge on Windows and measured the file: the page is exactly US Letter, one drawing unit equals 1 mm, the classic cue column measured 63.5 mm (2.5 inches) and the summary box 50.8 mm (2 inches), and the whole sheet fits on one page with half-inch margins. We also checked every option, the A4 version, the layout at a 375 px phone width and that Ctrl+P prints the current sheet. We haven't yet printed it on a range of real printers ourselves. If you print some, tell us how it came out.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Cornell notes template?
It is a note sheet split into three parts: a narrow cue column on the left for questions and key words, a wide notes column on the right for what you hear or read, and a summary box across the bottom where you sum up the page in a few sentences. The layout comes from the note-taking system developed by Cornell education professor Walter Pauk.
How wide should the cue column be?
The classic layout uses a cue column about 2.5 inches wide and a summary box about 2 inches tall on letter paper. That is the default here. Choose 2 inches if you want more room for notes, or 3 inches if you write long questions.
Is this the AVID Cornell notes template?
It offers an AVID-style header with name, class or period, date, topic and an essential question line, which is the layout many AVID classrooms use. It is not an official AVID document, so follow your teacher's sheet if they give you one.
Can I get a Cornell notes template PDF?
Yes. Press Print Cornell notes and choose Save as PDF or Microsoft Print to PDF as the printer. The PDF keeps the exact layout, so you can print more copies later or write on it in a tablet notes app.
Can I print it on A4 paper?
Yes. Choose A4 and the sheet is drawn for A4 with the same half-inch margins. 8 mm lines are the usual choice on A4; college and wide ruled lines work too.
Is it free?
Yes. It's free with no account, no download and no watermark. The sheet is drawn in your browser and nothing is uploaded.