How to Improve Your Reading Speed for the IELTS Exam
Reading speed is a crucial factor for success in the IELTS exam, especially in the reading section where time management is key. In this blog, we’ll delve into effective strategies to enhance your reading speed, making your IELTS preparation more efficient and ultimately improving your score. We'll be using examples throughout to illustrate these strategies in action.
Understand Your Current Reading Speed
Before you start working on improving your reading speed, it's essential to establish a baseline. This will help you track your progress over time. To do this, simply choose a passage (around 500 words) and time how long it takes you to read it. Then divide the total number of words by the time taken in minutes. This will give you your reading speed in words per minute (wpm). For instance, if it took you 5 minutes to read a 500-word passage, your reading speed is 100 wpm.
Reading Speed Improvement Strategies
1. Minimize Subvocalization: Subvocalization is the habit of silently pronouncing each word in your head as you read. This practice can significantly reduce your reading speed since you can read much faster than you can speak. Try to break this habit by focusing on visualizing the content or using your finger to guide your reading, preventing your lips from moving.
2. Chunking: Rather than reading word by word, try to read in phrases or groups of words. Our brains are capable of processing multiple words at once, and this practice can help increase your reading speed. For example, in the sentence "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog," instead of reading each word individually, try to read it as "The quick brown fox / jumps over / the lazy dog."
3. Use a Pointer or Your Finger: This simple technique can help guide your eyes and prevent them from wandering or skipping back to previous lines – a common habit known as 'regression.' By maintaining a steady pace with your finger or a pointer, you can improve both your focus and reading speed.
4. Improve Vocabulary: A broad vocabulary allows you to recognize and understand words faster, reducing the time you spend on interpreting the meaning. Regularly learn and practice new words. The more familiar you are with a word, the quicker you can read and understand it.
5. Practice Skimming and Scanning: As we discussed in a previous blog, skimming and scanning are essential techniques for quickly identifying the main ideas and specific details in a text, which is incredibly useful for the IELTS exam.
6. Regular Reading Practice: Like any other skill, improving reading speed requires consistent practice. Try to read a variety of texts – articles, essays, reports, and so on. As you get more comfortable, gradually increase your reading speed.
7. Use Speed Reading Apps: Several apps can help you improve your reading speed by displaying text in a way that minimizes eye movement or by providing exercises to reduce subvocalization and improve chunking. Examples include Spreeder and Spritz.
8. Previewing: Before you start reading a passage in earnest, take a moment to preview it. Look at headings, subheadings, highlighted words, and any diagrams or charts. This gives you a sense of what to expect, which can help you read more quickly and with better comprehension.
9. Focus on Comprehension: While it might seem counterintuitive, focusing on comprehension can actually improve your reading speed. When you understand what you're reading, you're less likely to go back and re-read sentences, which slows you down. Try to engage deeply with the text and use context clues to figure out the meanings of words you don't know.
10. Expand Your Peripheral Vision: Often, when we read, we focus on a single word. But by expanding your peripheral vision, you can take in more words at once, which can significantly increase your reading speed. Try to widen your gaze to capture full phrases or even whole lines at once.
11. Read More: The more you read, the better you'll get at it. It's that simple. Regularly reading a variety of texts can help you get comfortable with different writing styles and types of vocabulary. This comfort can lead to increased reading speed.
12. Speed Drills: Just as athletes use drills to improve their skills, you can use speed drills to improve your reading speed. Push yourself to read faster than your comfort speed for short bursts, then go back to normal reading speed. This can gradually increase your overall reading speed.
13. Eye Exercises: Your eyes are like any other muscle in your body: they can be exercised to improve their speed and efficiency. Try some simple eye exercises, like tracing the figure eight with your eyes, to improve flexibility and speed of movement.
14. Relax: Tension can slow you down, so try to stay relaxed when you read. Don't hunch over the text, as this can cause fatigue. Instead, sit up straight and take regular short breaks to rest your eyes and mind.
15. Develop a Reading Schedule: Just as a regular workout schedule can help in improving physical fitness, a structured reading schedule can help improve reading speed and comprehension. Make it a point to dedicate specific time slots for reading in your daily routine.
16. Active Reading: Engage with the text as you read. Ask questions, make predictions, and draw connections to what you already know. Active reading can improve your comprehension, which can help you read faster because you're more likely to understand the text the first time through.
17. Master Pronunciation: Understanding the correct pronunciation of words can significantly improve your reading fluency and speed. This is especially important for non-native English speakers. Use online resources, dictionaries with audio pronunciations, and language learning apps to work on your pronunciation.
18. Use Online Resources: There are numerous online resources and courses designed to improve reading speed and comprehension. Websites like Coursera, Udemy, or Khan Academy offer free or paid courses that can help you master speed reading techniques.
19. Mind Mapping: This technique involves creating a visual representation of the information in the text. Mind maps can help improve understanding and recall, which can lead to improved reading speed over time.
20. Avoid Multitasking: Multitasking while reading can significantly slow down your reading speed and decrease comprehension. When you read, put away distractions and focus solely on the text.
21. Read Out Loud: Though this may slow down your reading initially, reading out loud can enhance your fluency over time, improving both your reading and speaking abilities. This can be particularly helpful in preparing for both the reading and speaking sections of the IELTS exam.
In summary, the ultimate objective of reading, especially in the context of the IELTS exam, is not just about reading quickly but about understanding the material comprehensively. Speed and comprehension should go hand in hand for effective reading. Implementing the various strategies discussed, including reducing subvocalization, chunking, using a pointer, expanding vocabulary, and active reading, can significantly enhance your reading speed.
However, it's crucial to remember that improving your reading speed is not an overnight process; it requires consistent practice, patience, and the correct application of techniques. By incorporating these strategies into your routine, you'll gradually notice improvements in both your reading speed and comprehension. This balanced improvement is key to efficient IELTS preparation and achieving a high score on the exam. So, keep practicing and good luck with your IELTS preparation!
Post credit: Banglay IELTS
