Best size notebook for schoolwork?

[username1001]

Ive decided on getting a clairefontaine notebook, but i can't decide which size i should get, a4 or a5. I plan on using the notebook for schoolwork, such as practice problems and some simple diagrams and sketches. Which size do you guys think is more appropriate? thanks

[Enai]

If it's for schoolwork, I'd choose the bigger A4 size. I think the A5 would be too small for schoolwork (for me, anyway).

[Philosophy Student]

4

[Joe in Seattle]

Apica CD 15

[ExcaliburZ]

Probably A4. how much do you write? how big do the diagrams need to be?

[Neill78]

A4 is much more useful for schoolwork. It's about the same size as US composition size. I use A5 for lesson plans, notes on students & activities, and for travel journals. A5 is a bit small for regular work or detailed notes.

[Silvermink]

I like A5. I find A4 a bit unwieldy when I'm trying to cram it into my laptop bag with other stuff, but the extra size can be useful.

[Orange25]

For schoolwork, I'd prefer the A4 size. A5 is handy for checklists or for concise revision notes. All depends on how big you write and how you like to present information.

[Atlanta]

Personally, I prefer A4. But I have relatively small handwriting, so I can cram a LOT of stuff onto 70 A4 pages.

[Hemingway]

For school I use A4 Clairefontaine notebooks exclusively.

 

peter

[HelzBelz]

I'd go with A4 as well, it's what I use. A5 is more convenient to carry around, but less convenient for filing and you have to turn the pages more frequently when taking notes.

[GouletPens]

A5 is a good size for a planner or journal, but if you're going to be taking notes, A4 is the way to go.

[Bronze]

- Definitely A4.

[JohnS-MI]

Not sure where you are or what choices you have. A5 would be too small for me for school work with a lot of note-taking. A4, US letter, composition notebooks, and Japanese B5 (Apica for example) are all reasonable sizes, depending on preference.

 

For more limited note-taking, A5, steno pads, etc are good choices

[dfatouros]

Hi

 

I would suggest a4: lots of surface, less frequent page turning. I would also suggest that you look at a system with movable pages: this way you only have the weight you need to carry, your subjects are sorted, and you use all of the paper (no blank pages at the end if a notebook is devoted to a single item.

 

If you decide to follow this there are two options: CF paper with holes for ring binders (get a 4-ring binder if in europe: you will not get nearly as many tears as with a 2-ring one). Not sure you can find that looseleaf or in pad but it exists in spiral bound notebooks. The other alternative is clairing: an atoma/circa variant with different placement of the discs and cutouts for the a4 size to atoma notebooks (if in UK you can get them at Ryman). (the a5 size is identical with the atoma ones). And CF might produce atoma paper anway: both are 90g, same whiteness, same excellent characteristics.

 

Best of luck.

[Arts11]

A4 definitely. I tried taking some school notes in a Moleskine notebook [which I believe is A5 or close to it] and it was just not enough. I could write small enough, but really, at least for me, if you have to go back and review over that material regularly, you want it to be as clear as possible and not scrunched up and cramped.

[vlada]

A4 is just right for schoolwork and taking notes also.