From students to professionals, the majority of as spend a significant amount of our time reading. Students have multiple chapters, articles and notes to read everyday. Professionals have documents, contracts and proposals to read that can seem endless. Some of us love it and some of us hate it. Regardless, the more time you have to spend reading, the less time you have to spend on other aspects of your life. Thankfully, researchers across the world have investigated and tested various speed reading techniques to allow us to read faster.
Speed reading techniques are assessed based on the ‘average words per minute’ that it allows someone to read at. We have reviewed tried and true methods and compiled a list of the best speed reading techniques. These techniques have all been shown to increase readers average words per minute.
We are so obsessed with helping students read faster that we even developed our own free speed-reading application called SpeedNotes. We have included the details as #6 on the list! The SpeedNotes team is extremely excited to share this with students across the world.
These are all simple and completely free techniques that anyone can implement immediately in order to read faster without losing comprehension.
Speed reading technique #1 – Tracing
The tracing technique involves using a ‘guide’ to underline words as you read them. Your ‘guide’ that you underline with can be your pointer finger, a pen or pencil, an index card. If you are reading online you can use your cursor as a ‘guide.’ We recommend testing out various ‘guides’ to see what works best for you.
Use your ‘guide’ to maintain a constant pace of reading. It will prevent you from lagging behind on a certain sentence or paragraph. You can also increase the speed with which you move your ‘guide’ in order to improve the average words per minute you are capable of reading. Test out different speeds to find a pace that you’re comfortable with. The right speed should allow you to read faster than average without losing comprehension.
The tracing technique also significantly reduces the amount of times you lose your place and how often your mind wanders. Your guide tells your eyes where to look which enhances your focus and ability to read faster.
Speed reading technique #2 – Cover-up
The cover-up technique involves the use of either an index card or a sheet of paper to cover up the lines you have already read. As you read a line of text you will move your sheet of paper to cover-up what was previously read. If you are reading on your computer, we recommend using the scroll feature to move the page down and hide previously hidden text. If you are reading a PDF, you can also use the highlight feature to cover previously read words with a black highlight.
This technique increases the words you read per minute because it prevents you from seeking to re-read a sentence. It also stops you from losing your spot and can create a constant reading pace. Similar to the tracing technique, it increases your engagement with what you are reading and enhances your focus.
Speed reading technique #3 – Nod
Most of us have felt the eye strain from constantly darting our eyes back and forth while reading lines of text. The nod technique aims to reduce this eye strain and in turn increase your ability to focus on what you are reading. With this technique, you don’t move your eyes from left to right as you read a line. Instead, you soften your gaze and move your head slightly from left to right as you read.
The nod technique is a simple change in the way your read, but can have a big impact. It will shift you from reading individual words to reading phrases (i.e. multiple words at a time) by utilizing your peripheral vision resulting in faster reading. Plus, you won’t be stuck with those sore tired eyes by the end of your reading session.
Speed reading technique #4 – Skim
We have all been in a rush and quickly skimmed over an article or document before a class or meeting. This is often a last resort utilized for the unexpected. However, skimming can be a powerful speed reading technique if approached appropriately. Lets apply a methodology to this madness and actually use it to read a short piece of text quickly (such as an article or blog).
To utilize the skim technique, read the first and last paragraph of the text thoroughly and skim the middle paragraphs. Skimming essentially means quickly glancing over the text. Also, focus on titles, key phrases, diagrams and graphics. This technique allows you to see the ‘big picture’ of the text and helps you to understand the main points of the text quickly.
We would recommend the Skim Technique for texts that are short, and not complex. If your text is long and you need to know the details of the text, use any of the other techniques listed.
Speed reading technique #5 – Chin-Up
Walk into any library and you will see people with their books open on their desk or lap and their neck bent to read. This is actually one of the worst possible positions to read in. It can cause neck pain and eye fatigue. Bending your neck to read reduces your ability to focus as your eyes become strained resulting in slower reading.
Instead of placing your book flat on your desk or lap, hold it at a 30-degree angle to your eyes. You won’t have to bend your neck and you’ll find it much easier to read at a quicker pace. You can purchase a portable and adjustable book stand to hold the book for you as well.
If you read on a laptop or desktop computer, adjust the angle of the screen to 30-degrees and use a few textbooks under the screen to prop it and have it at your eye level. Adjustable and portable stands are also available to assist with this.
This technique is a must – pair it with any of the other techniques listed to further boost your average words per minute.
Speed reading technique #6 – SpeedNotes
The team at SpeedNotes understand the struggle that students and professionals deal with trying to manage the amount of reading required in school or at work. So we created the easiest and fastest way to read any text! There is no hassle of implementing any complex speed reading techniques. It is also completely free!
How does SpeedNotes work?
SpeedNotes eliminates the need for you to move your eyes while reading by displaying content one word at a time in rapid succession. It is based on the scientifically proven technique called “Rapid Serial Visual Presentation” (or RSVP for short). By removing the eye movement typically involved in reading, you can read much quicker. It also curbs unintentional mind-wandering and the likelihood of re-reading sentences. You’ll find yourself breezing through notes, articles and documents easily and quickly.
How fast can I read with SpeedNotes?
You can use SpeedNotes to read up to 1,000 words per minute. This five times the average reading speed of 250 words per minute.
SpeedNotes allows you to choose the best reading speed for you. Speeds from 100 to 1,000 words per minute (staggered by 100’s) are available. We recommend you test various speeds to find the best speed that allows you to read quicker while maintaining comprehension.
How do I use SpeedNotes?
To use SpeedNotes, simply copy and paste the text you need to read into SpeedNotes. Then select the speed at which you would like to read and click play. You’ll be finished reading in no time! You can pause, rewind and forward as needed.
We often read in dimly-lit areas or at night (we have all had those midnight study sessions or late-nights in the office). So we made sure to add a Dark Mode to SpeedNotes that you can turn on at anytime. Our Dark Mode feature darkens the background of the application and lightens the text you’re reading. This significantly reduces eye strain when reading in the dark.
We are so excited for you to try SpeedNotes!
Wrap-Up
Reading will always be a part of the way we learn. But, that doesn’t mean we can’t experiment and implement new ways to read and read faster. So don’t be afraid to use these techniques (or even combine a few) to help you speed-read.
There are also multiple factors outside of these specific techniques that can impact your reading speed from your environment to your state of mind. Check out our ‘How to read faster – speed reading 101’ post for more tips.
