Strong readers do not read everything once at the same speed. They read twice at two speeds — and that is a strategy you can learn in one sitting, then practise for life.
What you can do after this lesson
You can approach any unfamiliar text — an exam passage, a notice, a news article — with a two-pass method that saves time and raises comprehension.
The lesson
Pass 1 — gist (skimming, ~30 seconds). Read the title, the first sentence of each paragraph, and the last paragraph. Then answer one question: what is this text mainly about? Do not stop for unknown words.
Pass 2 — detail (scanning). Now you know the map, go hunting. Take the question you need to answer, choose its keyword (a name, number, date, or technical term), and sweep your eyes for it or its synonyms. Read carefully only the two or three lines around the hit.
Why the order matters: gist first tells you where detail probably lives, so scanning becomes targeted instead of desperate.
Unknown words rule: at B1, expect 5–10 unknown words per page. Guess from context, mark them, keep moving. Stop-and-translate reading destroys both speed and understanding.
Examples
Task: "When does the library close during exam week?"
- Skim a library notice → gist: opening hours, several periods listed.
- Keyword: exam (or a date). Scan for it → find the line → read that line only: answer found in 20 seconds.
Exam multiple-choice: read the questions first, then skim, then scan per question. The questions are a free map of the text.
Common mistakes
- Reading word-by-word from line one — you drown in detail with no map.
- Scanning for the question's exact words. Texts use synonyms: the question says cost, the text says fee.
- Stopping at every unknown word. Ask: do I need this word to answer the question? Usually not.
Self-check — what can I do now?
Take any article today and:
- Give yourself 30 seconds — write its topic in one sentence.
- Set one detail question (a number, name, or date) and time how fast you find it.
- List three words you guessed from context, then check one in a dictionary. How close was your guess?