The answer is: true.
When taking notes, especially when the source is a form of oral speech (like a conference, or a classroom lesson) it is helpful to include symbols in your notes in order to save time and allow you to more easily keep focus on the flow of the information that is being rendered. Note-taking should be as efficient as possible, time-wise and informationally, so that the note-taker can capture the sense and meaning of the message that is being received.
