Test Prep Strategies » Reading Comprehension Strategies

Reading Comprehension Strategies for Your Next Exam

Regardless of the type of exam you take, the test will involve some degree of reading. Reading comprehension is so important that many college entrance exams include an entire section dedicated to reading comprehension. Here are a few tips designed to help ensure that your reading comprehension level doesn't negatively affect test scores.

1. Read the instructions carefully.

Incorrectly interpreting test instructions is one of the biggest causes of lower test scores. Before you can expect to answer any question correctly, you've got to make sure you know exactly what you are being asked to do. Slow down a bit; don't rush through the instructions. Better yet, come to the exam already knowing what you will be asked to do for each section. That way you don't need to worry about understanding what you are expected to do.

2. Don't get stuck on a word.

Try first to get a general idea of what you are reading. Do this by reading the entire section quickly. Once you have a general understanding of what you are reading, the words you don't understand will likely make more sense the next time you read the section, which you should do more slowly. Difficult words become easier to comprehend when you read through the sentences surrounding them.

3. Skip answers you don't know.

In a timed test, it's important to first tackle the questions that you are the most certain of. A strategy for that is to look for topics that are familiar to you. As time allows, go back and reread the troublesome questions. When you find you are spending too much time on a question, skip it. If you skip a question, be sure you skip the corresponding section on your answer sheet. Come back to it later. You don't want to run out of time before you have a chance to answer all the "easy" questions first.

4. Base answers only on what you've read.

This seems obvious, but if the answer doesn't support something you've read or something that can be implied from what you've read, it's not the right answer! In every paragraph, pay close attention to the first and the last sentences. These are usually the most important. In fact, many speed reading courses teach you to spend the most time on the first and last sentences in a paragraph. They're that important!

Follow these four reading comprehension strategies and you will surely start to increase your test taking skills.