3 reading techniques for students to excel in exams

With Board exams just a few months away, students need to start preparing from now. However, there is a possibility that students may not be able to retain what they have studied today. So what is the solution? What can they do to ensure that they retain everything that has been studied?  Believe it or not, whether you are reading subject textbooks or even reading exciting fiction, a student can sharpen their reading abilities with effective reading strategies.

Here are 3 strategies to read smarter, not harder!

Skimming: The Quick Preview

Skimming is like scouting a location before you visit. It involves scanning through a lot of text quickly to try to gather the overall idea of what this piece of text is about. This is a good technique to get the gist of articles, summaries, and review sections in textbooks.

To skim effectively, look for bold words or headings and any summary or conclusion paragraphs. This will give students a framework of ideas before they begin to read.

Key point: Use skimming when you need an overview quickly or you don’t have much time to read.

Scanning: The Search Operation

Scanning is your best strategy if you need certain information quickly. For instance, if you’re searching a long document for a specific name or date-scanning will let you find this information without having to read everything.

Keep your eyes out for keywords associated with what you’re looking for, and speed forward until you see them. It is excellent for researching or searching for specific information in a dense text.

Key point: Use scanning when you are searching for particular information.

Deep Reading: Dive into Detail

This technique involves engagement. In deep reading, you do not just read the words on the page. You think about them, ask questions, and associate them with other things you are aware of. Start by clearing your mind from distractions. Sometimes, it is better to slow down reading and reread parts if the student doesn’t understand the first time.

A great idea also to make notes or highlight important sections. This approach is most useful for understanding complex materials like literary analyses, scientific papers and essays that take a long time to read.

Key point: Use deep reading when faced with difficult texts that need a lot of reading comprehension.

Remember, a student can use a combination of these three strategies depending on the needs of your assignment. You may skim a textbook chapter to get the layout, scan through to find important dates or definitions, and then deep-read a section that you need to learn in detail.