Reading Strategies for English Tests: Previewing, Scanning, Skimming, and Guessing
Reading English texts can feel difficult, especially when the text is long or contains unfamiliar vocabulary. However, students do not always need to read every word slowly. With the right reading strategies, students can understand the text better and answer reading questions more effectively.
Why Do Students Need Reading Strategies?
In English reading tests, students often have limited time. They may need to read several passages and answer many questions. Because of this, reading strategies are very important.
Reading strategies can help students find information faster, understand the main idea, guess the meaning of unfamiliar words, and avoid spending too much time on one question.
Good reading is not only about knowing every word. Good reading is also about knowing how to find and understand important information.
1. Previewing
Previewing means looking at a text quickly before reading it in detail. The purpose of previewing is to get a general idea of what the text is about.
When students preview a text, they do not read every sentence. They only look at important parts that can give clues about the topic and organization of the text.
How to Do Previewing
- Read the title of the text.
- Look at the first sentence of each paragraph.
- Look at the last sentence of the text.
- Pay attention to repeated words or important keywords.
- Notice pictures, captions, tables, or headings if available.
Example
If the title of a text is “The Benefits of Reading Books”, you can predict that the text will probably talk about why reading books is useful.
By previewing the title and the first sentences, you can prepare your mind before reading the whole passage.
2. Scanning
Scanning means looking for specific information quickly. When you scan a text, you already know what information you want to find.
Scanning is useful when a question asks about a name, date, number, place, year, synonym, or a specific word in the passage.
When Should You Use Scanning?
- When the question asks about a date or year.
- When the question asks about a person’s name.
- When the question asks about a place.
- When the question asks about a number or percentage.
- When the question asks the meaning of a certain word in the text.
Example
If a question asks, “When was the competition held?”, you do not need to read the whole passage from the beginning. You can scan the text to find time expressions such as last Saturday, in 2020, or on May 15.
3. Skimming
Skimming means reading a text quickly to understand the main idea. It is different from scanning. In scanning, you look for specific information. In skimming, you try to understand the general meaning of the text.
Skimming is useful when students need to answer questions about the main idea, topic, purpose, or conclusion of a text.
How to Do Skimming
- Read the title carefully.
- Read the first paragraph to understand the topic.
- Read the first sentence of each paragraph.
- Notice repeated keywords.
- Read the final paragraph to find the conclusion.
Example
If a text talks about air pollution, factories, vehicle smoke, and health problems, the main idea may be about the causes and effects of air pollution.
You can get this idea by skimming the text without reading every word slowly.
4. Guessing Meaning from Context
Guessing meaning from context means trying to understand the meaning of an unfamiliar word by looking at the words and sentences around it.
This strategy is very useful because students may not know every word in an English text. Instead of stopping too long on one difficult word, students can use context clues to guess the meaning.
Useful Context Clues
- Definition clue: the text explains the meaning directly.
- Example clue: the text gives examples of the word.
- Contrast clue: the text gives an opposite idea.
- Cause-effect clue: the text shows a reason or result.
- General context: the sentence gives enough information to guess the meaning.
Example
Look at this sentence:
The room was tiny; there was only enough space for one bed and one small table.
Even if you do not know the word tiny, you can guess that it means very small because the sentence says there was only a little space.
Previewing, Scanning, Skimming, and Guessing: What Is the Difference?
| Strategy | Purpose | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|
| Previewing | To get a general idea before reading | Understanding the topic and preparing your mind |
| Scanning | To find specific information quickly | Dates, names, numbers, places, and keywords |
| Skimming | To understand the main idea quickly | Main idea, topic, purpose, and conclusion questions |
| Guessing | To understand unfamiliar words from context | Vocabulary questions and difficult words |
Common Mistakes Students Should Avoid
- Reading every word slowly even when the question only asks for specific information.
- Ignoring the title and first paragraph.
- Spending too much time on one difficult word.
- Choosing an answer without checking the text.
- Forgetting to look at context when answering vocabulary questions.
Simple Reading Test Tips
Before Reading
Preview the title, first sentences, and keywords. Try to predict the topic of the text.
During Reading
Skim for the main idea and scan for specific details. Do not panic when you find difficult words.
After Reading
Check the question again and make sure your answer is supported by information in the text.
Practice Questions
Try to answer these questions first. Click each question to see the answer.
1. What is previewing?
Previewing is looking at a text quickly before reading it in detail to get a general idea.
2. When should students use scanning?
Students should use scanning when they need to find specific information such as names, dates, places, numbers, or certain words.
3. What is the purpose of skimming?
The purpose of skimming is to understand the main idea or general meaning of a text quickly.
4. How can students guess the meaning of an unfamiliar word?
Students can guess the meaning by looking at the words, examples, explanations, or clues around the unfamiliar word.
5. Why are reading strategies important in English tests?
Reading strategies are important because they help students save time, understand the text, find information, and answer questions more effectively.
Conclusion
Reading English texts becomes easier when students know the right strategies. Previewing helps students understand the general topic before reading. Scanning helps students find specific information quickly. Skimming helps students understand the main idea. Guessing meaning from context helps students deal with unfamiliar vocabulary.
By practicing these four strategies, students can become more confident and more effective readers in English tests.
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