Which of the following represents the five steps of the Cornell Note-Taking System?

• A. Record, Question, Recite, Reflect, and Review
• B. Record, Question, Note, Recite, Review
• C. Record, Question, Recite, Review, Reflect
• D. Record, Note, Recite, Reflect, Review

Answer: (A)

The five-step Cornell Note-Taking routine moves you from capturing information to deeply reinforcing and integrating it over time. Start by Record-ing the material in the main notes area as you learn it. Then create Question prompts in the left-hand column that target the key ideas. Next, Recite the material from memory using those prompts to check what you truly remember and identify gaps. After that, Reflect on the meaning, connections to other knowledge, and potential applications. Finally, Review the notes regularly to reinforce memory and solidify understanding. This sequence supports active recall and deeper processing at each stage, which is why it’s the best-fit order for a systematic study habit. Other sequences mix or reorder these steps in ways that reduce the emphasis on recall and reflection, making retention less effective.