| If you are considering taking up speed reading, | | | | the evaluation in these more accurate tests. |
| you should first find out if you really need it. For | | | | Why do such tests make more sense? Isn't the |
| instance, many people can finish reading a novel in | | | | fact that one can breeze through a given text |
| a single sitting and scan the pertinent sections of | | | | with record speed? The reason is that effective |
| a whole newspaper inside of an hour. | | | | reading requires a sufficient level of |
| If you're among them, you're probably not a | | | | comprehension. You must be able to absorb |
| candidate for a speed reading course. As a | | | | information and remember details of the read |
| benchmark - a person's reading speed is | | | | material, and this ability usually decreases in speed |
| determined by the number of words that he or | | | | reading. |
| she can read within a minute. You can compare | | | | In other words, being able to read fast is not |
| your speed against the accepted average, which | | | | enough. You need to have understood what you |
| is around 250 words per minute. | | | | have read in order for the whole exercise to fulfill |
| Probably the easiest and most convenient way is | | | | its purpose. If your comprehension level is under |
| to determine your reading speed is to take a free | | | | 50% after reading a certain text at an |
| online reading test. These require you to read a | | | | accelerated pace, you are in fact achieving a |
| sample text at your usual rate after activating a | | | | lower comprehension level than is standard for |
| timer. On finishing, you stop the timer and get | | | | normal reading speeds. |
| your evaluation. | | | | The speed with which you can read effectively |
| However, remember that there is some margin | | | | under normal circumstances is determined by |
| for error in the more rudimentary online reading | | | | many factors. These include the age at which you |
| tests simply because people tend to read faster | | | | began to read, the level of focus and |
| from books than from computer screens. | | | | concentration you can comfortably maintain while |
| You might be better off evaluating your reading | | | | reading, the manner in which you were taught to |
| speed on one of those websites that also test | | | | read, the nature of material you are reading and |
| you for memory and comprehension levels. After | | | | whether you sub-vocalize (read the words out |
| reading the sample text, the person is quizzed | | | | aloud in your mind) while reading. Many experts |
| about the material that has just been read and | | | | believe that sub-vocalization actually aids the |
| checking back for answers is not permitted. The | | | | comprehension process. |
| responses to these questions form the basis of | | | | |