Speed Reading/Reading Strategy Book

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I was just reading about speed reading the other day actually on this forum. Many suggest against it since it doesn't enhance retention. Also, many speed reading gudies just tell you how to skip unimportant details which would be a problem for med schools. The problem most medical students face is NOT because they read slow; it's that there's a lot of information to take it. If you're an average reader, you're more than fine. 😉
 
I took a speed reading class at my school. It turned out to actually be about 75% about improving reading comprehension by identifying themes, etc. etc. (good MCAT verbal tips). Speed reading for scientific material is pretty difficult because, as was just mentioned, the nitty gritty details are important. We "speed read" all the time when we skim news articles, non-science textbooks, etc. Sure you can practice doing that kind of reading even faster, but the returns would likely be limited by the fact that our future careers (hopefully) won't involve a lot of that kind of reading to begin with.
 
I used to use this program back in the day called EyeQ. Short-term results seemed great but I didn't stick with it. Maybe read some reviews on that since it's been around for a while.
 
Negrodamus said:
Learn not to sub-vocalize.
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I've heard a lot of people recommend that and it's pretty crazy I didn't know I was doing it until someone pointed out it exists. Takes a good amount of practice though; I tried it for a week or so and sure I got through pages maybe twice as fast but retained about 50% less (I've pretty good about retaining things reading at a normal pace).

I equate it to how it is easier to remember something if you've written it down. Sub-vocalizing is my mental writing it down.
 
Why do you want to speed read is the most important question.

If you're trying to finish MCAT verbal passages faster, take it from an MCAT instructor: Speed reading will NOT help you at all. Your comprehension improves from becoming a better critical reader, and doesn't really have any relation to the speed you "get through" the passage.

You're not just looking at letters and words, you're looking for what the author is trying to say.
 
fullset said:
If I don't, I do read but it doesn't stick. When I read news articles I don't, but when it comes to studying, I feel like I have to.
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Well if you are reading the newspaper you can skip the subvocalization, and come out with the main ideas, and point of the article. Same goes for light leisure reading.

If you are reading a text on cell bio though and you want to do good on the test, unfortunately youre going to have to sub vocalize, maybe even read aloud, take notes and read again, and maybe take notes again....studying. Or is that just me?
 
addo said:
Well if you are reading the newspaper you can skip the subvocalization, and come out with the main ideas, and point of the article. Same goes for light leisure reading.

If you are reading a text on cell bio though and you want to do good on the test, unfortunately youre going to have to sub vocalize, maybe even read aloud, take notes and read again, and maybe take notes again....studying. Or is that just me?
Click to expand...
That's about what I do as well. 🙂
 
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