How to Successfully Pass Your Reading Comprehension Tests

Reading comprehension is about thinking critically about the material

Reading comprehension tests can be difficult because you're not reading to give a short summary of what you read. Instead, you're often reading for what certain passages mean and for the author's overall message. Often this requires you to read a passage two times in order to better understand it. You should also be careful not to skip paragraphs or read them too fast because you may miss some key concepts.

Instructions

1. Look for concepts you're familiar with. If you're tested on a passage that deals with the Russian Revolution, and you've taken courses on Russian history, think about how what you learned in those courses would specifically apply to this particular passage.

2. Search for important words in the passage. If you read a passage that talks about women's role in World War II, pay attention to words such as "women's labor", "morale boost" or "women's contributions."

3. Read books on the test material prior to the test. For example, if you're taking an English test on the novel "Catcher in the Rye," read the book beforehand to get a better understanding of what the author's overall message was. Also, read articles that pertain to the book.

4. Get tutoring before test day. Speak with your teacher or a tutor about what problems you have and ask specific questions. Take notes during the trutoring session so you can study them on your own.

5. Build your vocabulary. If the teacher gives you a vocabulary list of words that will be used in the test's passages, use your dictionary to look each word up and memorize the definitions. It also helps to make sentences using the words.

References

• Providence College: Reading Comprehension Tips
• Scholastic.com: Reading Comprehension Strategies
• Educational Testing Services: GRE General Test: Verbal Reasoning, Reading Comprehension