Comparing notes with other students in a study group, SI session, or learning community has a number of benefits: You will probably take better notes when you know that someone else will see them, you can tell whether your notes are as clear and organized as those of other students, and you can use your comparisons to see whether you agree on what the most important points are.

Take turns testing each other on what you have learned. This will help you predict exam questions and find out if you can answer them. In addition to sharing specific information from the class, you can also share tips on how you take and organize your notes. You might get new ideas that will help your overall learning.

Be aware, however, that merely copying another student’s notes, no matter how good those notes are, does not benefit you as much as comparing notes. If you had to be absent from a class because of illness or a family emergency, it’s fine to look at another student’s notes to see what you missed, but just rewriting those notes might not help you learn the material. Instead, summarize the other student’s notes in your own words to enhance your understanding of the important points.