For theory-heavy topics, try one-page summaries per chapter with three sections: key terms, common traps, and a five-line story of the chapter’s narrative. That story helps you rebuild details under pressure.
For quantitative subjects, maintain a running formula sheet you rewrite weekly from memory. Gaps in recall show where to drill next.
Keep notes searchable: consistent headings, dates, and tags save hours before exams when time is tight.
Digital versus paper
If you type notes, use headings and tags so search works later. If you write by hand, photograph weekly backups—lost notebooks erase months of work.
One-page limits
Force dense chapters into one page per theme; if it does not fit, you probably have not distilled yet.