Reduce: convert main notes to questions in the cue column

After the session, cover your notes and write a question in the cue column for each main idea.

Why it works

Formulating a question that your note answers requires you to understand the structure of the idea well enough to identify what makes it testable. This is a form of elaborative interrogation — a retrieval-practice technique where you generate the question before the answer, which strengthens the memory trace more effectively than re-reading. The cue column then functions as a self-test tool in all future review sessions.

How to do it

1. Within 24 hours of taking the notes, cover the main column and look only at the main note headings.
2. In the cue column, write a question that your main note answers — e.g., "What is the key driver of X?" beside a note about X.
3. Formulate the question without looking at the full note — you’re testing your own understanding.
4. After filling the cue column, use it to self-test: cover the main column and answer each cue question from memory.

Evidence

Elaborative interrogation — generating explanations for why facts are true — consistently outperforms simple re-reading in retention studies. Self-testing via question formulation adds a retrieval practice component on top of the elaboration benefit. (observational)

Dunlosky et al. rated elaborative interrogation as "moderate utility" rather than highest utility; retrieval practice (self-testing) is the more strongly supported component.

Sources

• Dunlosky et al. (2013), improving students’ learning with effective learning techniques, Psychological Science in the Public Interest
• Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J., Nathan, M. J., & Willingham, D. T. (2013). Improving students' learning with effective learning techniques: Promising directions from cognitive and educational psychology. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4–58.

Common mistake

Writing cue questions that directly mirror the note language ("What is X?" beside a note that says "X is Y") — the question should require reconstruction, not simple recall of an adjacent phrase.