• Books in piles

Reading

Improve your reading

As a student, you will spend a lot of time reading, often more than you can fully absorb. To study effectively, adjust your reading based on your purpose.

Ask yourself why you are reading: is it out of interest or to pass an exam?
These reflect intrinsic or extrinsic motivation.

Finding an inner motivation can give your studying more purpose, value, and direction.


A computer and a cop of coffee

Before you start reading

Textbooks often contain complex or technical information, so simply reading is not enough to retain it.

1. What do you want from this text?
Consider how the text fits into the syllabus. Is it a key text or a secondary one? Decide whether you need to learn all details or just the main points. Think about how you will use the text in your exam. If unsure, ask your lecturer for guidance.

Setting a clear purpose for your reading helps you stay focused and remember more. Ask yourself these two questions before you start:

2. What type of text are you reading?
Texts can vary - textbooks, case studies, research articles, or reports. Consider the structure, content, and relevance to your field of study. Identify whether it is a fundamental text or offers new perspectives.

Focus your reading

To read effectively, create a setting that helps you stay focused. Try these tips:

  • Keep your reading purpose in mind
  • Set a specific reading time
  • Take regular breaks to clear your mind
  • Drink water
  • Read in a quiet environment
  • Take notes while reading
  • Minimize distractions by turning off TV, social media, and your phone

5 ways of reading

A compass for orientation

Orientation reading

Purpose
Get an overall idea of what the text is about, how it is organized, or how difficult it is.

How to read
Get a quick overview of a text, by reading the title, the chapter and the section titles, the table of contents, models, illustrations, conclusions, or the abstract.

Book and a clock

Skimming (to read)

Purpose
Get an overview of the content of the text and identify the sections of the text you want to read more thoroughly. Skimming can be useful when you are looking for certain information in a text.

How to read
You read quickly through the text, without getting stuck on sentences or words. You focus only on key terms and concepts.

Finger pointing at text in a book

Selective reading

Purpose
Identify the relevance of a text in terms of a specific focus. Selective reading can be useful when you are reading for projects or specific cases.

How to read
You read the text with a specific outset, focus or perspective. You interpret the text while you are reading it.

Ordinary book

Normal reading

Purpose
Getting the overall message, entirety and argumentation of a text. You use normal reading when reading the primary texts in a course, to acquire the main perspectives.

How to read
You read everything to understand and extract the meaning of the text. This is probably how you consider reading for your studies.

Reading intensely

Intense reading

Purpose
To understand the text in detail. To be able to recall the content from precise and specific sections. You often use intensive reading when you are required to be able to access the knowledge at your fingertips, without preparation.

How to read
You read each word in the text while writing notes and comments. You are interested in all details of the text, and might even revise it again later.

Now you know all the details

Go back to the main page Study Hacks or go to information about Taking notes.