Speed Reading Practice: Measure Understanding First
A useful speed reading exercise measures what you understood as well as how quickly you read.
- Time:
- 45 min
- Cost:
- free
- Difficulty:
- moderate
- Where:
- Indoors
- Best:
- Solo
A useful speed reading exercise measures what you understood as well as how quickly you read. Skimming can help you find a passage, while close reading is better for unfamiliar or important details. Use a short article to practise choosing the right approach rather than promising yourself a fixed reading speed.
A reading drill with a comprehension check
Choose a passage of roughly five hundred words. Read it at your normal pace and note the time. Close it and write the main claim, two supporting points and one question. Check those notes against the text. With a similar passage, preview headings first and compare both time and understanding.
Practise skimming separately: give yourself a minute to locate one named fact or section, then read that part carefully. If faster reading causes you to miss qualifications or details, slow down. Contracts, safety instructions and technical material deserve careful reading; pace is useful only when it serves the task.
Why practice speed reading techniques is worth an hour
A manageable first session lets you check the instructions, try an appropriate starting point and decide what to do next. Review what suited your circumstances before increasing the scope or committing to a longer plan.
How to practice speed reading techniques step by step
- 1
Prepare
Choose a short passage and record your normal reading time.
- 2
Try the practical steps
Summarise it without looking, then check the main points against the original.
- 3
Review and follow up
Try previewing a comparable passage and compare understanding as well as time.
Tips to get more out of it
- Previewing and purposeful reading may help you navigate a text, but going faster can reduce understanding. Test yourself with a summary and factual questions rather than relying only on words per minute.
Ways to mix it up
You can use the session to read the linked guidance and plan a suitable next step. If the suggested activity does not fit today, choose a smaller version or ask for individual advice where needed.
For more ideas, browse skills activities.
Another activity to try is improve your writing skills with exercises.
Practice speed reading techniques: frequently asked questions
Can speed reading improve comprehension?
Previewing and purposeful reading may help you navigate a text, but going faster can reduce understanding. Test yourself with a summary and factual questions rather than relying only on words per minute.
Related activities
Skills
Improve your writing skills with exercises
Writing practice is easier to review when each drill has a clear constraint.
Personal Growth
Read a personal development book
Pick up a well-reviewed personal development book and read a chapter with notes.
Skills
Learn to take better meeting notes
Pick up a simple note-taking method that captures decisions and actions, not transcripts.