Hand writing lecture notes always helped me because if something didn't just automatically come to me during a test I could always visualize the page of notes and where on that page that information was - viola it would come to me!
I also did my fair share of doodling on my notes, which actually helped too. If a certain doodle was on the page with the answer that was helpful to recall the information.
I always thought I was a more concrete, hands-on learner, but maybe I'm more visual (huh!?! - things that make you go hmmmm!)