On a timmed test, you’ll often hear about the importance of speed reading or skimming a passage. But when you do that, are you really taking in the necessary information? Unless you’re absorbing the information while you read, you’re wasting your time; and with [info:'act-english' only 45 minutes for 75 questions], you do not have time to waste. Here are three ways to help you connect to your ACT reading passages and stop wasting time.
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Ask (and answer) questions while you read. Ask yourself what the main idea of the passage is, what evidence the author provides in support, and if you think it’s strong evidence. Asking questions keeps your brain focused on the task at hand.
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Mark up your books – at least the important parts. Stars, circles, and underlining help you focus in two ways. First, it will keep your eyes focused on the text you’re reading instead of simply staring at the page letting your mind wander. Second, it provides a visual marker for your brain to pick up later when skimming for important points.
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Summarize sentences. Exam passages squeeze a lot of information into a tiny space, so make sure you’re stopping to summarize what you’ve read every 2-3 sentences. Plus, if you take a moment to jot key summary words down this will give your mind something to go back to later while you’re answering questions.
Bonus Tip: All of these techniques can be applied to your overall exam studying, as well as regular school work. Save yourself some time in the long run and study smarter, not harder.
Read the full article: Stop Wasting Time; Improve your Critical Reading
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