Studying/Reading Speeds

[EmpathMan]

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Out of curiosity, I was wondering how fast fellow students read while studying material. Do you hear a voice in your heads while you read the material? I find that the faster I read, the more I just see the words instead of hearing myself speak the words in my mind. I read some articles about speed reading here on SDN and on the Internet, and I wonder how people actually pull that off for med school courses and still comprehend the material. For example, if I read while hearing a voice repeat each word in my head, I'm at 262 WPM. This seems to let me better comprehend material, but feels pretty slow. On the other hand, this type of reading style differs quite a bit compared to how I read articles, novels, e.t.c. Just wondering if other people find themselves slowing down dramatically when studying vs. not studying. It seems like my classmates all read at 1000 WPM and comprehend everything haha.

 

[Ismet]

It seems like my classmates all read at 1000 WPM and comprehend everything haha.

Stop caring about what your classmates are doing.

I read slower when I'm studying. I don't know about my WPM and it doesn't really matter, it's not a race. Do what works for you. Unless you're extremely inefficient and take hours to go through one lecture, whatever you're doing is fine.

 

[zeppelinpage4]

I know the feeling, honestly do what works for you.

I have classmates that will get through Goljan, then Pathoma, then FA all in the same day and have time to chill in the evening. I ignore them. For me, I'm lucky if I can read one of those in the whole day. I've always been a slower reader than most, but I don't force myself to read faster.
Trying to read everything fast, you might get through it quicker...but in the end if you didn't retain it, you may as well have not read it at all. It's almost wasted time.

If you comprehend better reading slowly, and you're keeping up with classes at your own pace, you're doing fine. If anything, the slower reading might mean you're retaining it better than some of your speed reading classmates. Some like quick passes on lots of material, some prefer to take their time and do a long pass on one. End result, it usually evens out I think. But hey, experiment and see what works best for you.

 

[MedWonk]

Out of curiosity, I was wondering how fast fellow students read while studying material. Do you hear a voice in your heads while you read the material? I find that the faster I read, the more I just see the words instead of hearing myself speak the words in my mind. I read some articles about speed reading here on SDN and on the Internet, and I wonder how people actually pull that off for med school courses and still comprehend the material. For example, if I read while hearing a voice repeat each word in my head, I'm at 262 WPM. This seems to let me better comprehend material, but feels pretty slow. On the other hand, this type of reading style differs quite a bit compared to how I read articles, novels, e.t.c. Just wondering if other people find themselves slowing down dramatically when studying vs. not studying. It seems like my classmates all read at 1000 WPM and comprehend everything haha.

First time going through material can be slow going. Each time after that, it goes by quicker and I start to notice little details that tie everything together. Don't focus on reading speed so much. Read at a pace where you're comfortable you're getting a reasonable understanding of what you're reading.

 

[DermViser]

I know the feeling, honestly do what works for you.

I have classmates that will get through Goljan, then Pathoma, then FA all in the same day and have time to chill in the evening.

🙄 Like a chapter?

 

[anbuitachi]

Out of curiosity, I was wondering how fast fellow students read while studying material. Do you hear a voice in your heads while you read the material? I find that the faster I read, the more I just see the words instead of hearing myself speak the words in my mind. I read some articles about speed reading here on SDN and on the Internet, and I wonder how people actually pull that off for med school courses and still comprehend the material. For example, if I read while hearing a voice repeat each word in my head, I'm at 262 WPM. This seems to let me better comprehend material, but feels pretty slow. On the other hand, this type of reading style differs quite a bit compared to how I read articles, novels, e.t.c. Just wondering if other people find themselves slowing down dramatically when studying vs. not studying. It seems like my classmates all read at 1000 WPM and comprehend everything haha.

You aren't alone. Ppl have different attention spans. I have so many voices in my head when i read... or do anything for that matter. Its extremely difficult for me to concentrate. I once took a reading speed test [read something and anwer questions later, and i took it seriously] and I scored on a 3rd grade level... no joke... 1 Uworld block literally takes me 10-12 hours NONSTOP. [xcept for a 1 hr lunch break]

 

[zeppelinpage4]

🙄 Like a chapter?

Hahaha, I'm sure some of them probably just quickly passover a small section or two in each and nothing more. It sounds more impressive listing all the resources though doesn't it? ^_^

Just incase the OP doesn't get confused. We're not reading the entire books. The point is more that I'll usually cover the same amount of reading but take a bit more time.
Real life example, my friend might cover the whole neuro section of Goljan in just a few hours and be done. I take the entire day, or even two days to cover the same.
It's not just being a slower reader though, he might have just casually read through it, whereas I like to highlight and look things up as I go. For my friend that quick pass works, for me, I need to take more time. But in the end we both know what we need for the exam. Which is why the OP shouldn't feel too bad about being slower, everyone just goes at their own pace, whichever is most efficient for them to learn.
If I tried doing the quick passes like my friend, I wouldn't retain any of it well.

 

[DermViser]

Hahaha, I'm sure some of them probably just quickly passover a small section or two in each and nothing more. It sounds more impressive listing all the resources though doesn't it? ^_^

Just incase the OP doesn't get confused. We're not reading the entire books. My point is that I'll usually cover the same amount of reading but take a bit more time. Real life example, my friend might cover the whole neuro section of Goljan in just a few hours and be done. I take the entire day, or even two days to cover the same.
It's not just being a slower reader though, he might have just casually read through it, whereas I like to highlight and look things up as I go. Which is why the OP shouldn't feel too bad about being slower, everyone just goes at their own pace, whichever is most efficient for them.

Yeah, I tend to be the type to go over several times. The first time is more a cursory review skimming and maybe getting a detail here and there, seeing bold headings, etc. and then maybe 2nd and 3rd read it's getting in the details. If you get in the first time reading slowly and reading once, it adds up to the same time. Our brains just have different ways of absorbing and processing info. and just bc you copy it doesn't mean you'll get better results. Some people handwrite things out, some people type or make charts on the computer, or are auditory learners and read out loud, etc. and I guess now with these Anki cards, or whatever.

The ones who brag about how much they went thru are more doing it for external validation, which then makes them feel better. Best to ignore it and concentrate on what you need to do to learn the information.

 

[Ismet]

You aren't alone. Ppl have different attention spans. I have so many voices in my head when i read... or do anything for that matter. Its extremely difficult for me to concentrate. I once took a reading speed test [read something and anwer questions later, and i took it seriously] and I scored on a 3rd grade level... no joke... 1 Uworld block literally takes me 10-12 hours NONSTOP. [xcept for a 1 hr lunch break]

Uhh if 46 questions is taking you 10-12 hours you need to seriously evaluate what is taking you so long. It's not going to get better on it's own, and even people who don't struggle with time on UWorld struggle with time on the real thing.

I thought you were an upperclassman? How did you get through step?

 

[sinombre]

I can't comment on speed reading, but I know a lot about speed podcasting. It's taken me a year and a half of training, but I'm finally playing in the big leagues.

 

[anbuitachi]

Uhh if 46 questions is taking you 10-12 hours you need to seriously evaluate what is taking you so long. It's not going to get better on it's own, and even people who don't struggle with time on UWorld struggle with time on the real thing.

I thought you were an upperclassman? How did you get through step?

What? I already said what is wrong. I read slow lol..
I couldn't finish uworld for step 1. I used my entire summer and didn't take vacation...

 

[Ismet]

What? I already said what is wrong. I read slow lol..
I couldn't finish uworld for step 1. I used my entire summer and didn't take vacation...

Yeah the tense in your post made it confusing ("takes" vs "took") and I didn't realize what year you were until after I posted the first part. I was just curious how you did with time on the actual exam. I used up every single second on the actual exam but I was pretty comfortable with time on UWorld and NBMEs.

 

[anbuitachi]

Yeah the tense in your post made it confusing ("takes" vs "took") and I didn't realize what year you were until after I posted the first part. I was just curious how you did with time on the actual exam. I used up every single second on the actual exam but I was pretty comfortable with time on UWorld and NBMEs.

I skim on exams. there is a lot of junk on nbme/step questions.. Sorry about tense. It's prob cause im doing uworld right now for step 2. depressing

 

[Ismet]

I skim on exams. there is a lot of junk on nbme/step questions.. Sorry about tense. It's prob cause im doing uworld right now for step 2. depressing

Ah yeah. I feel like there's even more junk in the step 2 stems. Best of luck!

 

[DermViser]

Yeah the tense in your post made it confusing ("takes" vs "took") and I didn't realize what year you were until after I posted the first part. I was just curious how you did with time on the actual exam. I used up every single second on the actual exam but I was pretty comfortable with time on UWorld and NBMEs.

Yes, so true. It felt kind of weird, bc I had more than enough time on Qbank questions, but the real thing I used up close to the entire thing. Maybe it was just nerves.

 

[Ophthoseidon]

Id be glad w/ 262 :/ lol

 

[Lysinee]

Out of curiosity, I was wondering how fast fellow students read while studying material. Do you hear a voice in your heads while you read the material? I find that the faster I read, the more I just see the words instead of hearing myself speak the words in my mind. I read some articles about speed reading here on SDN and on the Internet, and I wonder how people actually pull that off for med school courses and still comprehend the material. For example, if I read while hearing a voice repeat each word in my head, I'm at 262 WPM. This seems to let me better comprehend material, but feels pretty slow. On the other hand, this type of reading style differs quite a bit compared to how I read articles, novels, e.t.c. Just wondering if other people find themselves slowing down dramatically when studying vs. not studying. It seems like my classmates all read at 1000 WPM and comprehend everything haha.

The first pass is always the hardest and slowest. You can go a little faster in 2nd pass as the material becomes more familiar.