IB Strategy
Every IB student eventually asks: 'What's the best way to take notes?' The truth? There is no single best method — but there is a best method for your learning style.
Every IB student eventually asks:
"What's the best way to take notes?"
The truth?
There is no single best method — but there is a best method for your learning style.
Here's a breakdown to help you decide.
Pen-and-paper encourages slower, deeper thinking.
Best for:
Choose one focused bank, make an attempt, then return to the step that helped you move.
Downside:
Hard to search and organize large amounts of content.
Typing lets you capture lots of information quickly.
Best for:
Downside:
People often copy too much — low processing.
Apps like Notability or GoodNotes combine handwriting with digital organization.
Best for:
Downside:
Requires discipline not to get distracted.
Pick based on task, not preference:
| Task | Best Method |
|---|---|
| Memorizing | Paper |
| Revising large units | Laptop |
| Math/Sciences | iPad |
| EE research | Laptop |
| TOK brainstorming | Paper/iPad |
| Annotating articles | iPad |
| Past paper corrections | iPad/Laptop |
Hybrid systems work best — mix depending on subject needs.
📲 Organize your notes & revision in StudyIB
💬 Share your setup with IB students on Discord
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