The Best Ways to Speed Read & Become a Faster Reader

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Easy tricks to increase your reading time and retain information

Co-authored by Tristen Bonacci and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: March 31, 2024 Fact Checked

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Speed Reading Techniques

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Skimming Text

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Whether you’re studying for your philosophy class or flipping through the morning newspaper, reading can seem like such a chore, especially because it can take so long. But what if we told you there was a faster way to read? Speed reading is a skill that allows people to process information quickly with skimming techniques. So, how do you learn and master this amazing skill? We’ll show you the best speed reading and skimming techniques in this article, so you’ll be zooming through your homework in record time.

Things You Should Know

Use an index card or bookmark to cover words you’ve read. This way, you can focus on the words ahead rather than behind.
Focus on keywords like proper nouns and adjectives instead of reading every word in a sentence.
Read the first and last sentence of a paragraph to quickly skim a section of text for relevant information.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Speed Reading Techniques

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1
Set obtainable goals to improve your speed reading. Practice makes perfect, even when it comes to speed reading. Aim to work on your speed reading daily by completing speed reading exercises or timing your WPM. Use these average speeds to set a milestone for yourself:
- 200 to 250 WPM is the expected reading speed for someone 12 or older.
- 300 WPM is the reading speed of the average college student.
- At 450 WPM, you're reading as fast as a college student skimming for the main points. Ideally, you can do this with almost total comprehension.
- At 600 to 700 WPM, you're reading as fast as a college student scanning for a word. Most people can learn to read at this speed with about 75% of their normal comprehension.
- At 1,000 WPM and above, you're reaching the level of competitive speed readers. This usually requires extreme techniques, and most people can't remember much at this speed.
- It typically takes 2 to 4 weeks to double your reading speed, so be patient with yourself and keep trying.
2
Time your reading speed or WPM so you can track your progress. Track your progress by timing yourself daily, or each time you do a speed reading exercise. Not only does trying to beat your best speed motivate you, but it can also give you a goal to work towards. Follow these tips to time your average WPM:
- Count the number of words on a page, or count the number in a line and multiply by the number of lines on the page.
- Set a timer for 10 minutes and see how much you can read in that time.
- Multiply the number of pages you read by the number of words per page.
- Divide the previous number by 10 to get your WPM.
- Don’t feel like doing the math yourself? Try using an online speed reading test. Although, be aware that you may have a different pace on a screen than on a printed page.^{[1]
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3
Set a faster reading pace before working on comprehension. Extreme speed readers swear by training their reflexes first. They believe that learning to increase reading speed depends on eye movements rather than understanding a text. There isn’t enough evidence to prove this theory, but it doesn’t hurt to give it a try! Follow these steps to help increase your reading time, even if you don’t understand what you’re reading:
- Move a pencil along the text, saying “1,100” until you reach the end of the line.
- Spend 2 minutes trying to read at the pace of the pencil. If you can't understand anything, stay focused on the text and keep your eyes moving.
- Rest for 1 minute.
- Spend 3 minutes trying to read at the pace of a pen that moves across 2 lines every time you say “1,100.”
4
Cover words you've already read with an index card. When reading, your eyes can move back to earlier words. These are typically short habitual movements that don't improve understanding or speed. Use an index card to cover words right after you’ve read them. This way, you can train yourself not to look back at previous sentences.
- These regressions also happen when you've failed to understand something. If your eyes jump several words or lines back, it could be a sign that you need to slow down.
5
Move your eyes less as you read. While reading, your eyes move, stopping on some words and skipping others; however, you can only comprehend what you're reading when your eyes stop moving. Learning to move your eyes less can help you read faster, so try staring at one line at a time without gliding your eyes over the words.^{[2]
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- Try this exercise to train yourself to make fewer eye movements while you read:
  - Place an index card over a line of text.
  - Write an X on the card over the first word.
  - Write another X on the same line. Place it 3, 5, or 7 words away from the first X.
  - Write more Xs at your chosen spacing until you reach the end of the line.
  - Read quickly as you move the index card down, trying to only focus your eyes below each X.
- Research shows that a person can only read 8 letters to the right of their eye position and 4 to the left, which is roughly 2 or 3 words at a time.
- In other words, you can notice letters 9 to 15 spaces to the right but can’t comprehend them.
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Talk to yourself less and avoid sounding out each word. Some readers subvocalize or sound out every word they read in their heads. This may help readers remember concepts but can also be a major barrier to speed. Keep in mind that you don’t need to read every single word to understand the sentence’s overall meaning.^{[3]
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Research source} Here are a few ways to curb a subvocalizing habit:
- Chew gum or hum while you read
- Hold a finger against your lips
- Tap your foot or hand
- Point to the words you’re reading on the page^{[4]
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Try RSVP software to reach your speed reading goals. RSVP, or Reading Rapid Serial Visual Presentation, is an app or computer software that can help you read faster. These types of softwares flash a single word on the screen at a chosen reading speed. They then asks you to relay what you read, helping you comprehend more words per minute (WPM).
- Websites like WPM Test and apps like Spreeder offer RSVP.
- These softwares can be very beneficial when reading news articles but may not be as helpful when studying or reading for fun.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Tricks for Skimming Text

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Skimming is the process of previewing text to get an impression of its content, and the first step is to start by reading the titles and headers. Glance at the page and focus on bolded, underlined, or larger words and phrases. For instance, the headlines of a magazine or the table of contents of a textbook.
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Read the beginning and end of a section. If you’re skimming a textbook or article that’s broken up into separate sections, choose a section you’d like to focus on based on the headings. Then, read that section's introduction (first paragraph) and conclusion (last paragraph). This can give you a better understanding of what’s discussed and if you need to give the material a closer look.
- For example, let’s say you’re researching how plastic bottles are recycled and are looking for specific information on bottle collection. Skim the article for headers featuring keywords like “collection” and “recycling process.” Then, read that section's first and last paragraphs to see if it includes information you need.
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Circle important words throughout the text. Narrow your reading to 1 section of the text at a time. Then, scan the section for words that stand out to you or are relevant to your research. Use a pen or highlighter to underline or circle these keywords. Pay close attention to:^{[5]
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- Words that are repeated several times^{[6]
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- Proper nouns
- Italicized, bolded, or underlined words
- Main ideas–often including words from the title or section header
- Words you don't recognize
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Pay attention to pictures and diagrams. If the text you’re studying or reading includes charts, pictures, or diagrams, look over them. These additions usually show more information than the text, summarizing the main ideas and facts. Read the diagram or picture’s description and note why it may be relevant to the written information.
- Let’s return to our previous example on plastic bottles. Suppose you’re skimming the text and come across a line graph showcasing the rise of plastic waste in the ocean. In that case, it’s probably because there’s a text section detailing how plastic affects the ocean’s ecosystem.
If you've lost track of the subject, read the start of each paragraph. The first sentences of a section will typically teach you the main points of the paragraph, helping you decide whether or not the section is worth reading.^{[7]
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Resort to skimming when a vague understanding is needed. Knowing when to skim a piece of text is an essential part of speed reading. While skimming or grazing over words is helpful for reading faster, it can make it harder to understand the text's context.
- For instance, skimming the morning paper or a textbook can help you find keywords or interesting material fast.
- On the other hand, skimming through a book you need to write an essay on may not be the best idea, as you may miss essential details and ideas.

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How do I train my eyes to make fewer movements when I read?

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Read from further away. Then you won’t need to make that many movements, and you can also take in sentences and even paragraphs at a time.

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Can I train my brain to read more than 17,000 wpm?

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Probably not. Claiming to be able to read that fast is extremely rare. In the movie, "Rain Man," the title character could read up to 20,000 words a minute. His left eye read the left page, right eye read the right page, but that is something very rare. It is not associated with neurotypical people.

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What can cause someone to no longer be able to improve their reading ability?

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When a person has little or no desire or patience, the willingness to read and improve their reading wanes. If you want to improve, you can.

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Prioritize reading to help improve your reading speed. Set aside time each day to read a news article or book chapter. The more you read, the easier speed reading will be.^{[8]
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Take a break from speed reading every 30 to 60 minutes to help you stay focused and reduce eye strain.

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Practice in a quiet, well-lit environment, and consider using earplugs to drown out any distracting background noise.

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