HOW TO IMPROVE READING SKILLS

 

Reading skills are the abilities needed to understand, interpret, and analyze written texts.
Good reading skills help you find information, understand ideas, and think critically about what you read.Reading is one of the four main language skills:listening – speaking – reading – writing.

⭐ HOW TO IMPROVE READING SKILLS

1. Read Every Day

Spend 10–20 minutes reading:

• Short stories
• Articles
• Textbooks
• Online blogs

Daily exposure builds fluency and confidence.

 

2. Choose the Right Level

Pick texts that are not too easy and not too difficult.
You should understand about 70–80% without using a dictionary.

 

3. Build Vocabulary

When you find a new word:

1. Guess the meaning from context
2. Check the dictionary
3. Write an example sentence

More vocabulary = better comprehension.

 

4. Use Skimming

Skim to get the general idea:

• Read the title
• Look at headings
• Read first and last sentences

This helps you understand the big picture quickly.

 

5. Use Scanning

Scan to find specific information, such as:

• names
• dates
• places
• numbers

This is useful in tests and academic reading.

 

6. Make Predictions

Before reading, ask:

• What do I think this text will be about?
• What do I already know about this topic?

This activates background knowledge and improves comprehension.

 

7. Identify Main Ideas

After each paragraph, ask:

• What is the main idea?
• What details support it?

This improves summary and analysis skills.

 

8. Summarize What You Read

Write a 2–4 sentence summary.
This helps you check if you truly understood the text.

 

9. Ask Questions While Reading

Good readers interact with the text:

• Why did this happen?
• What is the author’s purpose?
• What will happen next?

This builds critical thinking.

 

10. Read Different Types of Texts

Practice with:

• Narrative
• Descriptive
• Expository
• Argumentative
• News articles

Each type strengthens different reading strategies.