Reading Comprehension – Quick Revision Notes

Improving Reading Comprehension

• Read the passage at least $2$ times: first for overall meaning, second for details.
• Identify structure: introduction, supporting ideas, conclusion.
• Focus on the author’s main argument and purpose as you read.

Active Reading Techniques

• Underline or highlight key words, phrases, and transition signals.
• Annotate margins with brief notes (e.g., “main idea,” “example,” “counter-argument”).
• Summarize each paragraph in a short phrase to track the flow of ideas.

Question-Handling Strategy

• Before reading questions, be clear on the passage’s gist to avoid rereading extensively.
• For multiple-choice items:
  • Predict an answer before looking at options.
  • Eliminate clearly wrong choices first.
• Refer back to the exact line numbers when evidence is required.

Time Management Tips

• Allocate reading: $\approx$ $40\%$ of total time; question answering: $60\%$.
• Skip lengthy, complex sentences on the first pass; return only if needed for a specific question.

Rapid Review Checklist

• Main idea noted?
• Key details underlined?
• Transition words marked?
• Questions mapped to evidence lines?
• Uncertain answers flagged for revisit?