Reading Comprehension Strategies
5 Reading Comprehension Strategies For Better Text Apprehension
It is nearly impossible to imagine a life without reading. Can you? We read for pleasure, and we read to gain new knowledge and skills.
However, it is often difficult to gain the full benefit of what we read. We either read too fast, lose focus and concentration, do not fully comprehend the meaning of the material, or miss out on the ideas and suggestions an author wants to convey.
This tutorial will cover basic reading comprehension strategies anyone can learn in order to read books more efficiently and to increase speed in general.
Before we dive in, let’s briefly look at the interaction between reading comprehension and speed, and why it is tricky to increase both at the same time.
Reading Comprehension vs. Speed Reading
Even the most rudimentary online search will reveal some controversy between the ability to read very fast and simultaneously fully comprehend the text in front of us.
There are many advocates for speed reading, and there are numerous websites and other resources that promise to teach you how to read much faster.
However, there are also those that say that it is no use to read at enviable speeds if reading comprehension is the sacrifice that must be made in order to master this skill.
Below are three of the main topics of discussion on this matter.
What makes reading comprehension so difficult sometimes?
Reading comprehension is the ability to understand the text that you read, to see the context within which individual words and phrases are used, and the ability to relate the new information that you read with other knowledge that you already have.
You may experience a problem with reading comprehension if your vocabulary is limited or if you are not familiar with the idiom of the language that you are reading. However, this is not a weakness it is rather an area you can work and focus on.
Focusing on speed or comprehension?
You may want to learn how to read faster to get through more material in a shorter time. At the same time, however, you want to understand the text that you read. Luckily this is not a matter of choosing between speed and reading comprehension.
The answer is to approach your training in a balanced manner. Slowly increase your speed, but at the same time, implement reading comprehension strategies.
Do not get frustrated or discouraged if you do not experience immediate results. It will take time and some effort from your side. Your efforts will, however, be well rewarded!
Not all authors are created equal.
It is good to know that having trouble understanding a matter is not always a reading comprehension problem on your side.
There are published authors ignoring the reader’s perspective, thus making a text unnecessarily difficult to understand or read. As a result, they might not be able to convey their meaning in their text or properly structure their material.
In some cases, authors might even have issues logically develop an idea in full detail by discussing too many new concepts. Therefore, difficulties in comprehending what you read is not always your failure by default.
4 Open Secrets To Excellent Reading Comprehension
There are many tips, techniques, and strategies that you can use to increase your reading comprehension.
Let’s have a look at what it is that people with exceptional reading comprehension skills have. This should help identify those strategies most suitable to achieve your studying and learning goals.
Vocabulary – They have an extensive vocabulary and they understand the rules of the English language. Not only do they understand the meaning of words but they can also differentiate between the many meanings that a word can have when used in different contexts.
Subtext – They are able to read between the lines and interpret the subtext. What authors do not say explicitly is often as important as the actual text.
Intonation – They can interpret the tone of the text and often even gain a better understanding by interpreting the use of punctuation within the text.
Awareness – They keep the subject matter of the text in mind at all times. Reading with the bigger picture in mind definitely improves reading comprehension.
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Improving Reading Comprehension
Whether you’re studying or reading for insight, this structured approach will help you actively engage with what you read — and retain it.
Step 1: Preview the Material
What to do: Before you start reading, take 60–90 seconds to quickly scan the structure of the text.
- Look at the headings, subheadings, and any bolded keywords
- Pay attention to images, diagrams, or summary boxes
- Read the introduction and conclusion if they’re available
Why it works: This activates your prior knowledge and creates a mental map — so your brain is more prepared to absorb new information.
Example: Before reading a chapter on memory in a psychology textbook, skim the headings like “Short-term memory,” “Long-term memory,” and “The role of sleep.” This gives you a roadmap.
Mini-Exercise: Take a random article from Wikipedia or your favorite blog. Skim it for 1 minute. Then write 3 bullet points predicting what it’s about — before reading the full text.
Step 2: Ask Questions Before and During Reading
What to do: Turn headings into questions, and ask yourself what you hope to learn.
- Use prompts like:
- “What is the author trying to explain here?”
- “How does this relate to what I already know?”
- “What example would help me understand this better?”
Why it works: Asking questions makes you an active reader, not a passive consumer. It keeps your brain focused and searching for answers.
Example: If the heading is “SQ3R Method,” ask: “What does each letter stand for, and how do I use it to study better?”
Mini-Exercise: Before starting your next article or book chapter, write down three questions you want to answer by the end.
Step 3: Take Strategic Notes
What to do: As you read, jot down concise notes — not full sentences. Use keywords, diagrams, or mind maps.
- Focus on ideas, not word-for-word transcription
- Write summaries after each section in your own words
- If digital, use apps like Notion or Obsidian for linked notes
Why it works: Note-taking engages memory, improves understanding, and gives you material to revisit later.
Example: Reading about the “Feynman Technique”? Write:
“Feynman: explain concept simply → find gaps → review → teach again.”
Mini-Exercise: Try the “3–2–1” Method:
- 3 key points from the section
- 2 questions you still have
- 1 real-life application
Step 4: Summarize After Each Section
What to do: Pause when you reach a natural break (e.g., end of a subsection) and explain the key point out loud or on paper.
- Keep it short: 1–3 sentences
- Use your own words, not copied phrases
- Highlight the “so what?” — why the idea matters
Why it works: Summarizing tests your understanding in real-time and strengthens memory encoding.
Example: After reading about “Visual Encoding,” write:
“Images help us remember better because they engage more brain areas than words alone.”
Mini-Exercise: Teach the section to an imaginary student — or explain it to your dog, roommate, or voice memo app. This is the Feynman Technique in action.
Step 5: Reflect and Review
What to do: After reading the full article or chapter, take a few minutes to think about what you learned.
- Ask: What surprised me? What stuck? What’s unclear?
- Connect new ideas to previous knowledge
- Review your notes and try to summarize everything in one paragraph
Why it works: Reflection turns disconnected information into meaningful, long-term memory.
Example: If you’ve just read an article about metacognition, reflect on how often you monitor your own thinking during study — and where you might improve.
Mini-Exercise: At the end of your study session, write a short journal entry or use a “thinking aloud” technique. This deepens your comprehension and closes the loop.
Reading Comprehension Strategies – 5 Tips
Having read the four key points above, it is obvious that anyone can improve their reading comprehension. Here are 5 basic strategies to get started. More resources are listed further below to encourage you to try other reading comprehension strategies.
1. Use meta-cognition strategies.
It’s not just what you read — it’s how you think about your actions while reading.
Pay attention to your mind as you move through the text. Are you drifting? Rereading the same paragraph without it sticking? That’s not failure. That’s a sign — and a useful one.
Stop for a moment. Ask yourself:
- What’s the author trying to say?
- Did I follow that argument, or did I nod along?
Learning to recognize when you’re confused and then calmly acting on it turns passive reading into active learning.
Note, this should not be confused with regression (see bad reading habits)
🤖 Try this with AI
Prompt for ChatGPT or Claude:
“Act as a reading partner. I’m struggling with this section: [paste]. Ask me 2 simple questions to check my understanding, and one reflection question to go deeper.”
Use AI to hold up a mirror. Not to answer for you, but to help you slow down and see what’s happening in your head.
2. Improve your language skills.
You’ll be amazed how something as simple as a semicolon, placed well, can shift the meaning of an entire sentence. Better grammar doesn’t just make writing clearer. It makes reading smoother, faster, and more insightful.
The same goes for vocabulary. It’s not just about learning more words — it’s about learning how context, tone, and structure change meaning. One word, five ways to interpret it.
By the way, improving your vocabulary and language skills won’t just make you a better reader. It may make you a better speaker, listener, and thinker. That’s why this is my favorite comprehension strategy.
Reader tip: Look up a list of common prefixes and suffixes. You’ll be surprised how often you can unlock meaning just from “pre-” or “-ology.”
🤖 Try this with AI
Prompt for ChatGPT:
“I’m reading this sentence: [paste sentence]. Why might this be confusing to someone unfamiliar with the vocabulary or structure? Explain it to me like a mentor, not a dictionary.”
3. Read with a pencil and paper.
Don’t just read — interact.
Writing a quick note, marking a transition, or sketching a flow of ideas forces your brain to stay with the text. You’re not transcribing — you’re mapping.
Notes don’t have to be pretty or comprehensive. The goal is to make the material stick by putting it through your own filter.
Mini-practice:
After a section, pause and write:
- 2–3 key points in your own words
- 1 sentence you’d want to explain to a friend
- 1 question you still have
🤖 Try this with AI:
Prompt for ChatGPT:
“Based on these notes: [paste], what concept might I have misunderstood or oversimplified? What could I dig deeper into?”
It’s like having an editor for your thinking process.
4. Ask questions and discuss your reading.
One of the best strategies for improving your reading comprehension is to ask yourself questions. This will focus your thoughts.
Start by asking yourself questions:
- What will I read about, and what do I expect to learn?
- Why did the author use this example?
- What’s the main takeaway here?
- Do I agree — or would I explain this differently?
Even better: talk it out. Speak it aloud. Share it with someone. Record a voice memo if no one’s around. You’ll often notice the gaps in your understanding when you try to explain what you just read.
🤖 Try this with AI
Prompt for Claude or ChatGPT:
“I just read this section: [paste or summarize]. What’s a question that would help me challenge or extend the author’s point of view?”
You don’t need a study group — you need a nudge to think further.
5. Be aware of problematic text.
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when reading is to ignore difficult-to-understand text and to hope that you will better understand at a later stage.
Well-written material develops new ideas and knowledge gradually, building upon the preceding text. If you fail to comprehend a specific concept, you will almost certainly struggle with the subsequent concepts.
When you do not understand or comprehend a phrase, word, or concept, resolve that issue before you continue. Be curious about your confusion. It’s often about structure, tone, or just poor phrasing.
🤖 Try this with AI
Prompt for GPT:
“Here’s a sentence I don’t understand: [paste]. Break it down into parts. What’s happening grammatically, and where does the core meaning live?”
8 Articles about Reading Comprehension Strategies
Plenty of websites offer valuable information about almost every aspect of reading and comprehension. Here are a few websites that may help you improve your reading comprehension further using the right strategies.
On speed reading.
On reading comprehension strategies.
Reading Comprehension Strategies – Conclusion
Summarizing our tutorial on reading comprehension strategies. Most people take the ability to read for granted.
Unfortunately, so many people do not enjoy all the benefits of reading because they do not have the skills to comprehend the material they read fully. This is true even for those that exclusively read fiction.
Poor comprehension means that you will not grasp the finer nuances of the text, the hidden meanings, and the sly tricks good authors use to enhance the entire experience of reading.
Implementing reading comprehension strategies to enhance and improve your apprehension and understanding is an investment you will never regret.
6 Reading Comprehension Strategies to try
- Try meta-cognition strategies.
- Improve your language skills and vocabulary.
- Take notes and use a pencil and paper.
- Ask questions and discuss your reading.
- Be aware of problematic text and slow down.
- Apply crucial techniques, e.g. hand pacing, skimming, word chunking.
- Enroll in a reading improvement class.
Quick Strategy Recap: Comprehension Boosters
Use this as a quick mental checklist — before, during, or after reading.
- 🔍 Scan the structure — Get an overview before diving in.
- ❓ Ask questions — Stay mentally engaged with the content.
- 📝 Take strategic notes — Focus on ideas, not everything.
- 🧠 Summarize in your own words — Rephrase key points to lock them in.
- 🕰️ Slow your pace when needed — Especially when concepts get complex.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I struggle to remember what I read?
This could be due to passive reading. Engaging actively with the text through questioning and note-taking can improve retention.
Is it better to read slowly for comprehension?
Not necessarily. It’s about adjusting your pace to the material’s complexity. Slowing down for dense sections ensures better understanding.
Should I take notes every time I read?
While not mandatory, note-taking can significantly enhance comprehension, especially for complex or unfamiliar topics.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Overloading with information: Trying to absorb too much at once can hinder comprehension.
- Neglecting to review: Skipping post-reading reflection can lead to quick forgetting.
- Ignoring difficult sections: Avoiding challenging parts prevents full understanding.
- Reading without purpose: Lack of clear objectives can reduce focus and engagement.
Comparative Overview of Techniques
| Technique | Focus Area | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|
| Skimming | General overview | Quick information gathering |
| SQ3R Method | Structured comprehension | Academic and detailed readings |
| Active Reading | Engagement and retention | In-depth understanding |
| Summarization | Consolidation of ideas | Reinforcing memory and comprehension |
I hope you liked this tutorial and will try some of the tips mentioned above. Feel free to suggest your own or maybe even modified reading comprehension strategies in the comments section below.
Please share this tutorial on your preferred social network.
You’re right to clarify — we hadn’t yet added those authoritative citations in a directly pasteable format. Here is a brief, voice-aligned section you can add to your article (ideally near the end or below the strategy list), written in your tone and ready for LLM retrieval:
Research Corner: What the Science Says
Many of the strategies above are supported by decades of reading research:
- Improving metacognitive awareness — like checking your own understanding while reading — has been shown to enhance retention and comprehension. (Dunlosky et al., 2013, Psychological Science in the Public Interest)
- Taking notes and summarizing in your own words activates active learning pathways, improving both recall and concept transfer. (Fiorella & Mayer, 2016, Educational Psychology Review)
- Knowing prefixes, suffixes, and common word structures is a proven way to decode unfamiliar vocabulary — especially for learners working across disciplines. (National Reading Panel, 2000)
If something worked well for you here, it’s not just good advice — it’s evidence-backed.
Further resources:
1. National Reading Panel (NRP) Report
- Citation: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. (2000). Teaching Children to Read: An Evidence-Based Assessment.
- Link: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/research/supported/nrp
2. Dunlosky et al. (2013) – Study Strategies Review
- Citation: Dunlosky, J., et al. (2013). Improving Students’ Learning With Effective Learning Techniques. Psychological Science in the Public Interest.
- Link: https://doi.org/10.1177/1529100612453266
3. The Learning Scientists – Science-Based Study Techniques
- Citation: Dr. Megan Sumeracki & Dr. Yana Weinstein. The Learning Scientists Blog.
- Use it to support: Spaced practice, active recall, and elaboration in reading.
- Link: https://www.learningscientists.org
4. Willingham (2017) – Cognitive Science and Learning
- Citation: Willingham, D. T. (2017). The Reading Mind: A Cognitive Approach to Understanding How the Mind Reads. Jossey-Bass.
5. OECD PISA Reading Assessment (2018 & 2022)
- Citation: OECD (2019). PISA 2018 Results (Volume I): What Students Know and Can Do.
- Link: https://www.oecd.org/pisa/publications/