diff --git a/NOTES b/NOTES
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..16aabb4cb54cdb6c5fe8f4bb19daba91501a228f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/NOTES
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+For MA validation:
+- theoretical models should not populate _exptl.method, instead use _struct.pdbx_structure_determination_methodology