Reading Comprehension Test in TOEFL iBT

As you skim, ask yourself: "What is the passage about?" and "What are the main points being discussed?" This will give you a good sense of what information the passage contains. Before diving into the passage, preview the questions. 

Doing this will establish a clear purpose for your reading---you'll know what to focus on in order to answer the questions accurately. When you read the passage, maintain a normal reading pace, but skip over minor details. 

You can go back to specific paragraphs when answering certain questions. Always keep your reading purpose in mind, and avoid reading word for word.

 Instead, read in chunks or phrases to improve both comprehension and speed. It's important to remember that you don't need to understand every single word to answer the questions correctly. If you encounter an unfamiliar word, decide whether it's essential to the passage's meaning. If it isn't, move on. If it is, use context clues or word analysis (such as prefixes, suffixes, and roots) to figure out its meaning.

 Answer the questions one by one, applying the relevant strategies for each type of question. If you're unsure of an answer, you have two options: make an educated guess by eliminating incorrect answers and marking the question for later review, or skip the question entirely. Keep in mind that you should aim to spend no more than 20 minutes on each passage. 

Ideally, you should skim the passage in about one minute and read it in more detail, skipping unnecessary parts, in about three minutes. This leaves you with roughly one minute per question. 

Some questions, like Negative Factual Information, Schematic Framework, and Prose Summary questions, will take longer to answer, while others, like Vocabulary and Reference questions, typically require less time. To manage your time efficiently, avoid reading the entire passage at a normal rate. Instead, skim first and then go straight to the questions to allow yourself more time for thoughtful answers.

 

Speed-Reading Tips for TOEFL Success

To improve your reading speed and comprehension, avoid looking up unknown words immediately. Instead, try to deduce their meaning from the context or by analyzing word parts, such as prefixes, suffixes, or roots. 

When reading, focus on groups of words or phrases rather than individual words to help process information faster and more effectively. Enhance your reading efficiency by expanding your eye span---aim to take in multiple words with each eye movement, rather than focusing on one word at a time.