Effective strategies for reading comprehension?

Hello all! I've always found reading comprehension rather challenging and it's something I want to get better at. Can someone share strategies they found particularly effective? I'm hoping that improving now will help me with college admissions tests and college itself. Thanks!

Happy to offer some guidance here! The first thing is to try to slow down and really understand what you’re reading. It's not just about getting through the text, it's about comprehending and retaining the information.

Active reading is a great strategy. That means, as you're reading, try asking questions about the text, making predictions, and summarizing to yourself. This might slow you down at first, but you'll find that you'll be absorbing more of what you read.

Another helpful tip is to take physical notes as you read. Jot down the main points, any questions you might have, and try to summarize each paragraph or section in your own words. This promotes engagement with the text and helps solidify your understanding.

Reading out loud can also be helpful, as it engages multiple senses: you see the text, speak the words, and hear them as well. Some people find this helps with comprehension and retention.

Lastly, practice! Just like any other skill, the more you practice, the better you'll get. Consider trying different types of reading material - not just fiction, but also non-fiction, news articles, academic texts, etc. This can also help prepare you for college admissions tests, which often feature a variety of reading passages.

Remember that everyone has different strategies that work best for them. So, try out a few and see what resonates most effectively for you. Best of luck!