What's the fastest way to read a textbook?
I have four classes and each one assigns 50+ pages of reading per week. I can't keep up. I read every word but by the end of a chapter I don't remember the beginning. Is there a faster way to read academic material? I've heard of speed reading but isn't that just skimming? How do college students manage all this reading?
Sign in to message the asker.
Flashcards still work. Old-fashioned index cards. Make them yourself — the act of writing the card is half the learning. Quiz yourself, shuffle them, put the hard ones in a separate pile. Low-tech but it gets results.
4 Answers
Flashcards still work. Old-fashioned index cards. Make them yourself — the act of writing the card is half the learning. Quiz yourself, shuffle them, put the hard ones in a separate pile. Low-tech but it gets results.
Form a study group, but a small one — three or four people max. Explaining something to a classmate is the best way to find out whether you actually understand it. Just make sure it stays a study group and doesn't turn into a hangout.
Break big assignments into small chunks with their own deadlines. 'Write a 20-page paper' is paralyzing. 'Write one paragraph today' is doable. The hardest part of any project is starting, so make starting as small and easy as possible.
I graduated college 5 years ago and wish I'd known this earlier: the specific knowledge you learn matters less than learning HOW to learn. Develop good study habits and critical thinking skills and you can adapt to any subject or career.
This question is resolved and no longer accepting answers.