Efficiently reading academic texts

Reading course materials can be challenging because of the volume, level of difficulty, and limited time available. To read course materials with greater efficiently, try this five-step “SQ3R” reading strategy. 

Applying the “SQ3R” reading strategy may take some practice. Book a free appointment with a CAC academic coach today to discuss and practice strategies for efficient reading.

Quickly skim your course text to see how it is organized, locate its main purpose, determine how many pages it is, and assess its level of difficulty. Scan titles, headings, sub-headings, topic sentences, diagrams, graphs, tables, and words in bold or italics.

Create a more active and engaging reading experience by turning headings and boldface or italicized words into questions. Ask yourself how this reading connects with other concepts you have learned in your course. Try to predict what the author might introduce next as you read. 

Carefully read the abstract, introductory paragraph, topic sentences, and concluding paragraph. Highlight key ideas as you read (ideally, no more than 10% of each page). Jot questions and comments in the margin and note connections to other course content. Avoid looking up unfamiliar words; instead, try to guess their meaning from surrounding context.   

Consolidate your understanding by creating notes that summarize the purpose, main ideas, and key terms of what you have read to test your understanding. You’ll be more likely to remember key ideas if summarized using your own words.  

To embed key information from your course readings into your long-term memory, do something creative with your notes:  make a map, table, or diagram; make flash cards; teach someone what you have learned; make a mock quiz for yourself and take it.   

Quick tip

To improve your reading rate, make reading a regular habit (at least 30 minutes per day) and try to read flexibility. If the material is difficult, slow down. If searching for general information, speed up. If reading for specific information, use the Ctrl F (find function) to locate specific keywords.