07-Oct-10 Speed Reading techniques for CAT 201…

Speed Reading techniques for CAT 2010 Reading Comprehension

Sreetama Datta | 07 Oct , 2010 0325 hrs IST

To provide you expert advice on the technique of speed reading, we bring to you extracts from the
chapter 'Speed Reading and On Screen Reading' from the book 'Reading Comprehension for the
CAT' authored by Sujit Kumar.

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Most graduates read at around 250 words per minute (wpm). You can find out your speed by reading for one
minute and counting the number of words you have read.

Reading Comprehension is a concern for many CAT takers. With the CAT going computer-based in 2009 the
section has now become a bigger concern for MBA aspirants. Many of the aspirants feel that tackling RC is a
tedious process on the computer screen. They feel that it is a time consuming process to read the passages,
understand them and then answer the questions.

Experts suggest that Speed Reading is one of the methods by which MBA aspirants can easily tackle the RC
segment. To provide you expert advice on the technique of speed reading, we bring to you extracts from the
chapter ‘Speed Reading and On Screen Reading’ from the book ‘Reading Comprehension for the CAT’
authored by Sujit Kumar, published by Pearson Education India. These extracts are brought to you exclusively
by MBAUniverse.com in association with Pearson Education India.

Read the extracts:

What is speed reading?

It is a technique by which one reads faster by taking in, a group of words in one glance (fixation) and moves on
to the next group, thus processing a large number of words in short durations. The speed reader does not need
to regress because the enhanced concentration gives her better comprehension.

How fast should I be able to read?

Most graduates read at around 250 words per minute (wpm). You can find out your speed by reading for one
minute and counting the number of words you have read. Though this speed is not bad, when it comes to difficult
text like the passages in the CAT, one is forced to reduce the speed to probably 100 wpm or so, because the
text is difficult. Hence acquiring greater speeds in normal reading, say around 250-500 wpm and then reducing it
to 250 or 300 wpm in the examination makes you stress free.

How can I improve my reading speed?

You can improve your reading speed by reading more and by consciously making an effort to read faster. This is
the first step.

What are those techniques?

Those techniques include: first, learning to take in, a group of words in one glance (fixation) rather than read
word by word. One’s eye-span is the number of words that one can comfortably read in one glance without
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07-Oct-10 Speed Reading techniques for CAT 201…
shifting focus. Eye-span is the number of words that one can comfortably read in one glance without shifting
focus. Eye-span differs from person to person and improves with practice; hence there is no ideal eye span.

For example, the phrase or the idea unit ‘The technique of speed reading’ –can be read in one glance by focusing
your eyes softly, slightly above the word of in one glance and without shifting focus. Longer sentences can be
broken down into phrases (groups of words) that make sense, and each group can be read in one fixation rather
than word by word and in several fixations. If you try to read groups of words you will immediately experience
that you are reading much faster.

For example try to read the next paragraph in fewer fixations rather than several. For your convenience in
identifying the phrase a ”/” is put after each group of words that you should try to read in one glance by focusing
softly slightly above the middle word in that group.

Speed Reading can help you/to read and understand/written information/much more quickly./This makes it an
essential skill/in any environment where you have to master/large volumes of information quickly,/as is the norm in
fast-moving professional environments.

The phrasing habit (the way you read the above text) is helpful in increasing your speed. The ‘/’ is not necessary
when you practice. Use the newspaper for this purpose as newspapers are printed in narrow columns to facilitate
speed reading.

How long do I have to practice?

If you practice for 45 minutes to an hour per day for two weeks, you must be able to experience the difference.

Is there anything else I have to take care of?

Yes. You need to make sure that all you practice/experiment with speed is limited to easy text. It is wise to avoid
the kind of text that you have difficulty with. Do not experiment with your text book or study material. Do not
experiment with dense and serious stuff. In the beginning, limit yourself to texts that are comfortable for you and
the comprehension of which is not crucial. Newspapers, magazines, and bestsellers (novels) are excellent
material to experiment with speed. With diligent practice with this material your reading speed will significantly
improve. This will in turn improve your speed with more difficult material later on.

Is there anything else I can do to increase my reading speed?

Yes. Bring in a sense of urgency when you start reading. When you studied for your examinations you were able
to complete your syllabi in shorter time with greater comprehension. This happened because there was a sense of
urgency to complete the portion. If you are able to approach any kind of text with such a sense of urgency, you
will be able to at least double your reading speed, as well as improve your comprehension.

I am comfortable with on paper reading but not with reading on screen. What should I do?
We generally process more text on paper (books, newspapers, magazines etc.) than on the computer screen.
That does not mean the skill set applicable to reading on screen in completely different. First of all, get rid of the
mindset (if any) that reading on screen is difficult. It is as natural as reading on paper. The only difference is we
cannot handle (manipulate) a screen the way we handle a paper or book. Hence we are physically restrained
(that is why kindle and other devices).

The first thing we should develop to be comfortable with on-screen reading is the ability to sit upright in one
position for as long as we want to read. The second is to get used to the format of the text presented in and
examination. Third, purely from the examination point of view, deal with our habit of using a pacer or making
notes in the margin etc., as this is not possible during on-screen reading.

What should I do to get used to on-screen reading and to the format?

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First, read a lot on screen, without giving up the habit of reading on paper, all newspapers are now available
online. Numberless books (including classics) are available in the electronic form. Make it a habit to read your
daily newspaper online. Download books and read them on-screen as a part of your preparation for exams.

The width of the text in an editorial, generally, is the width of the pane in which you have the text in an exam.
Make sure that you do not miss the editorials-on paper or on screen. Look for practice material that gives you
text in two columns on a page rather than the way this page is written. Do not use your finger or another pacer or
try to make notes etc., while doing this. Substitute making notes or underlining with mentally registering the key
points in what you are reading; thus improve your comprehension without the help of external devices. Diligent
practice this way would make reading on screen as natural as reading on paper.

Author Sujit Kumar is a Faculty at CPL (Pvt. Ltd.), Mumbai. He has been mentoring thousands of students in
the competitive exams like CAT, CET, GRE, GMAT etc. for the Verbal Ability section. He is a Masters in
English literature from University of Mumbai and has a Diploma in Management. Apart from corporate
experience of over a decade, he has taught in the mainstream as well as parallel education in India and abroad.

Pearson Education is one of the top global publishers of books for the education domain. Pearson Education
India specializes in the publication of academic and reference books in the fields of computer science,
engineering, business and management, professional and trade, higher education and competitive examination
preparation books.

Also read:

http://www.mbauniverse.com/mba-exam-preparation/varblemain.php
http://www.mbauniverse.com/article/id/3682/Strategies-for-attempting-CAT-2010

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more on CAT 2010 preparation.

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