Improving reading comprehension skills?

Hi everyone! I'm struggling with my reading comprehension skills and it's affecting my test scores. What strategies or resources did you guys find helpful to improve your skills when you faced the same issue?

Hi there! Improving reading comprehension skills can significantly impact your test scores in a positive way. Here are a few strategies and resources you might find beneficial:

1. Build your vocabulary: Increasing your vocabulary helps you understand more complex texts better. Try using tools like flashcards, vocabulary apps (e.g. Quizlet, Vocabulary.com), or even daily word-a-day calendars to consistently learn new words.

2. Active reading: As you read, try to engage with the material by underlining important points, highlighting key ideas, or jotting down notes in the margin. This keeps you focused and helps you retain information better.

3. Summarize what you read: After each chapter or section, pause and summarize the main points in your own words. This helps solidify your understanding and boosts retention.

4. Ask questions: As you're reading, ask yourself questions about the content. What is the author's main argument? How do they support their claims? What conclusions do they come to? Answering these questions can increase your comprehension.

5. Practice regularly: The more you read, the better you'll become at comprehension. Set aside dedicated time for reading daily, and challenge yourself with diverse and complex texts. This can include newspapers, magazines, novels or even academic articles.

6. Improve reading speed: If you find it difficult to keep your focus while reading, working on your reading speed can help. Try out apps like Spreeder to practice speed reading, but remember not to sacrifice comprehension in the process.

7. Khan Academy: Khan Academy has a range of free resources focusing on reading comprehension that are geared toward standardized tests like the SAT and ACT. Their practice questions and explanations can help you hone your skills.

Remember that practice is key. The more you engage with different types of texts and employ these strategies, the more adept you'll become at reading comprehension. Stay patient and consistent, and you'll see improvement over time. Good luck!