Typically, the longer I spend on any one term, the more important I believe it to be. Dates are less important. It is true that I have one question on each test on the order of events. Those events are usually spread out over several years, if not decades. Thus a general grasp of the narrative should make that answer obvious.
Some students find it helps to bring different colored pens.
Create a system of symbols and abbreviations. Make a chart of them so you won't forget what they were when you reread your notes later. Someone else wrote them. You may not be able to read their writing. You probably won't understand the symbols and abbreviations.