Make Your Reading More Efficient
The exam is in few days, but there are still so many things to read. It seems that the teacher has forgotten when the exam is and gave a list of books which will take a few years to get through.
Don’t panic. Everyone has this stress and it’s normal before taking exams.
If reading books and trying to find only the most important information is very difficult and time-consuming for you, improve reading skills before you get to work. Here are some tips to help you out.
First, find the right book. Tell your teacher or the librarian what exactly you need and ask for advice. Otherwise you’ll waste a lot of time in the library.
Secondly, define your purpose. What are you looking for? When you already have the book, always keep in mind to concentrate on the things that are essential for your studying. Don’t let your mind wander through very-interesting-though-not-important material. Keep those materials for leisure-time reading.
Read the introduction as it most probably will be about the content of the book.
Skim and scan the text. Read only the titles, the beginnings and the endings of the chapters and choose the one you think contains the information you need. Run your eyes over the text or try to find specific information. Concentrate on the details only when you meet a keyword in the text.
Pay attention to pictures, maps or graphics, if there are any, as they may reflect the idea of the whole chapter.
And most importantly, don’t forget to highlight while you read. If the book is not yours or is very expensive, make a photocopy and feel free to highlight and make notes.
Try to follow these tips, and studying won’t seem so hard. Soon you’ll be done with all those books and have all the necessary knowledge. Good Luck!
Photo: © stevecoutts
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