Exams
A guide to speed and accuracy in reading comprehension
Comprehension questions eat time and cost the most marks. Three reading strategies that actually work.
· 7 min read
In comprehension questions, speed comes not from reading fast but from slowing down in the right place. Most students read the text twice; reading it once, correctly, is enough.
Read the question first
Reading without knowing what you are looking for means trying to memorise the text. Reading the question first saves an average of 12 seconds.
Underline the connectives
Words like "however", "whereas" and "therefore" mark where the author's argument turns. The answer usually sits right after those turns.
Match, don't eliminate
Elimination costs time. Look for the option that matches a sentence you found in the text.
