If you’re wondering how to improve your reading comprehension, this article will show you four practical steps you can take to become a better reader.
Start with This: Read More, and Keep It Up
The most important thing to do is increase the amount of reading you do. This doesn’t mean reading a lot for just a few days—it means making a consistent habit of reading over months, or even years. Over time, your reading skills will naturally improve. The four actions below will help you improve more efficiently as you continue.
1. Build Your Vocabulary
The more unfamiliar words you encounter in a passage, the harder it becomes to understand. To fix this, get into the habit of looking up the meaning of new words and learning them.
Even if you remember a word once, you’re likely to forget it later. That’s why it’s helpful to make a vocabulary list in a notebook and review it regularly.
For even more efficient review, try using the Anki app. It’s a flashcard tool I personally use every day. If you’re interested, check out [this article about Anki].
2. Read at Your Own Speed
If you try to read too quickly, especially under pressure to “read fast,” you’re more likely to miss important information. If you don’t truly understand what you’re reading, there’s no point in reading at all.
So take your time. Read at a pace that allows you to understand. This is especially important for those who are used to quickly scrolling through content on smartphones. Train yourself to read carefully and attentively.
3. Re-read When You Don’t Understand
It’s not efficient to keep moving forward when you don’t understand something. Instead, go back and read it again until it makes sense. In the long run, this approach actually saves time and helps you grasp the content more deeply.
Sometimes while reading, you may come across something and think, “Wait, what was that again?” Don’t ignore it—go back and reread. Not only will you understand better, but you might also notice something new that you missed the first time.
4. Choose Texts That Match Your Level
If you find yourself facing too many unfamiliar words, the text may be too difficult for you right now. Many people believe they should read challenging books to improve, but that can actually lead to frustration and giving up.
As mentioned earlier, the most important thing is consistency. To keep going, choose materials that are mostly understandable, but still introduce the occasional new word. Aim for content that feels like, “I get most of this, but I need to look up a few words.”