Hey, fellow students! Do you find yourself struggling to understand what you're reading in your textbooks and assigned readings? You are not the only one who feels lost every now and then, resulting in being unprepared for exams, poor grades, and frustration. But what causes the distractions anyways? Reading seems more complex if the content is outside your taste, which leads to a lack of motivation. Often time management and too much study load can create stress and anxiety, as quoted by a penmypaper writer. Another reason can be that English is your second language, and not quite good at it. Now going beyond these common obstacles of reading comprehension, there are strategies to help you become a better reader:

Know Your Purpose

Before diving into any text, it’s essential to know why you are reading it. Understanding your purpose for reading can help you focus on the most important information and avoid getting lost in the details. For example, are you reading to gain background knowledge on a topic, or to prepare for an exam? Is it for your MCQ test, viva test, or a descriptive written test? Knowing your purpose will help you approach the text with intention and get the most out of it.

Preview Before You Read

Before diving into a text, take a few minutes to preview it. This involves quickly scanning the headings, subheadings, and any visuals to get an idea of what the text is about. This can help you make connections to what you already know, make possible predictions about the content, and better understand the structure of the text. It can also help you identify any unfamiliar vocabulary or concepts that you may need to pay closer attention to.

Use Active Reading Strategies

Active reading means engaging with the text and thinking critically about what you're reading. One effective strategy is to ask yourself questions as you read. What is the author trying to say? How does this information relate to what I already know? Another strategy is to make connections between what you're reading and real-life situations or examples.

Break Reading into Chunks

Reading a long text can be daunting, but breaking it into smaller sections can make it more manageable. In between you can take short breaks. This will benefit you by giving rest to your mind, getting occasional body movements, improving focus, and helping in better understanding and retention. You can set a timer for each session.

Highlight What’s Important

Highlighting key information can help you identify and remember important details. It can also make it easier to review the material later. But be careful not to overdo it - highlighting every sentence defeats the purpose of highlighting in the first place. Stick to highlighting only the most essential detail.

Take Notes

Writing down notes is an excellent way to process and retain. Use a highlighter or pen to mark important information, or jot down notes in the margins. Summarize each paragraph or section in your own words to help reinforce your understanding of the material. You can ask eduhelphub to get you a gist of different types of note-taking methods. If you are preparing with enough time, revising quick peek notes will be all for you to go through the night before your exam.

Use Context Clues

Context clues are hints in the text that can help you figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words. Look for clues such as synonyms or antonyms, examples, or explanations that can help you decipher the meaning of new vocabulary.

Read Aloud till It Reaches Your Ears

Reading aloud can help with comprehension in several ways. It can help you focus on the words and their meanings, improve pronunciation, and increase retention. If you’re in a public space and can’t read aloud, try silently mouthing the words instead.

Practice Active Recall

Active recall is the process of retrieving information from memory. It’s an effective technique for improving long-term retention and comprehension. To practice active recall, you can try the following techniques:

• Summarizing what you’ve read in your own words
• Test yourself by quizzing on key points
• Discussing the text with a study group or classmate

These techniques can help you reinforce your understanding of the material and identify areas where you may need further study.

Ask for Help When Needed

Finally, don’t be afraid to seek help if you’re struggling with reading comprehension. Many colleges offer resources such as tutoring, study groups, and writing centers that can help you improve your skills. Professional help like PenMyEssays can also be a good option. Take advantage of these resources if you need them.

Final Thoughts

Improving your reading comprehension in college takes time and effort, but it’s worth it. By practicing these strategies, you can become a more confident and effective reader. But, don’t get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results. Keep practicing consistently, and you will see improvement over time.