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Strategies for effective reading

Helpful university reading tips and techniques to boost your academic success.

Reading tips
The SQW3R Method
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A student looking at a book in an aisle of the library

When you are new to university study, the amount of reading you are expected to do can be daunting.

When you start becoming an active reader, tackling all of your assigned reading becomes achievable. Become an active reader by asking questions about what you need to find out, taking a strategic and critical approach, and selecting readings that relate to your questions and assessments. 

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Reading at University

Does uni study involve lots of reading?

In a word - yes. Most courses involve a great deal of reading, which is why you need to learn new techniques to manage your workload. 

What am I expected to read for?

  • Lectures: You will be expected to do some pre-heading to prepare for your lectures. 
  • Tutorials: These are often based on your assigned readings. If you have not read the material, you will not be able to participate in discussions. 
  • Assessments: You cannot write your assessments without having completed the necessary research. 

I read novels and online material - will reading uni material be the same?

To get the most out of your academic reading and to use your time effectively, you will generally need to take a more strategic approach to academic reading compared to novels and online material. 

I have a reading list - am I expected to read everything on it?

Lengthy reading lists for courses and essays can be confusing, particularly when the topics are unfamiliar. Only in rare cases will you be expected to read everything. If your reading list looks daunting, don't hesitate to take a strategic approach and be selective. 

How to read and understand difficult material

When you're faced with reading material that seems above your level of understanding, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. It's important to not give up; the ability to absorb challenging material is an essential skill for uni study. 

Try the following tips:

  • If you're feeling snowed under by the amount of reading you need to complete, break it up into chunks. Choose a moderate amount of material and set yourself the goal of completing it and working to understand it before you move onto the next batch. 

  • Skim the reading and try to get an overview. Read the titles, section headings, sub-headings and any summaries or abstracts. Note any graphs, charts and diagrams. Quickly read topic sentences (the first sentence of each paragraph) to get a general idea of what the reading is about. 

  • Read for what you do understand and don't get caught up with the difficult parts just yet. Skim over passages that are difficult and flag them to re-read later. Even a partial understanding will make re-reading easier when you come back for your second attempt. 

  • Ask yourself questions about the reading to work out what you do understand and what you might need to revisit. Try to make connections and associations between what you are reading and what you already know. Revisit the parts you found difficult. How might they fit in with what you already understand?

  • Are there extra resources that might help to improve your understanding of the content?

    • If you need more background material, find an additional source
    • If you're confused about discipline-specific terms or abbreviations, find a subject-specific dictionary and read with it on hand so you can easily look up important words
    • If you're confused about vocabulary, read with an English dictionary on hand.

  • It can help to write while you read. Underline, make notes and write short summaries that help you concentrate and grasp difficult ideas. 

  • When you finish reading, review to see what you have learned. Re-read any ideas that are still unclear to you. Pause and try to restate difficult concepts in your own words. 

  • Complete your reading goal and don't be discouraged if there are still parts you're unclear about. Some material is challenging and it's important to work towards understanding it. Ideas can become clearer the more you read. 

  • If you still don't understand the content in your readings, don't panic. Set it aside and read it again the next day. This gives your brain the chance to process the material. If you've tried this but are still struggling, try talking about the content with your tutor, lecturer or peers. 

See also

Reading for understanding: the SQW3R method

Reading is one of the core activities of study. You need to be able to understand what you read and be able to recall the main ideas when you need them. You can use the SQW3R method to improve your comprehension, to review for exams and to remember they key points of a reading for your classes. 

  • Before you start to read, survey the material to gain an overview of the contents. Look through the whole reading or chapter to preview it. Scan for:

    • Titles and subheadings
    • Summaries and abstracts
    • The introduction and conclusion
    • Visual materials (pictures, charts, graphs or tables) and their captions
    • The first and last sentences in paragraphs
    • Any focus questions. 

    Note how the reading has been structured and look for the author's plan. This will give you an idea of the main thesis.

  • Question the material to help you remember the contents of the reading. As you are surveying, write down your questions. This will keep you alert and focused on your work. 

    Ask yourself:

    • What is this article about?
    • What has my tutor or lecturer said about this topic?
    • What do I already know about the topic?
    • How does reading this relate to what I already know and have read?

    To devise questions that will guide your reading, try turning the title, headings and subheadings into questions. For example, if the heading is 'Qualitative and Quantitative Research', your question might be 'What is the difference between these two types of research?'. 

    Make a list of your questions. You can use these during your review to help you remember what you have read. 

  • Be prepared to read all material twice. 

    First, read without making notes:

    1. Decrease your pace and read actively. Active reading requires concentration, so take your time and find a quiet place to read and focus. 
    2. As you read, look for answers to the questions you noted down earlier. 
    3. Question the author's reasoning. Is each point justified? Is there enough evidence? What is the evidence?
    4. Compare diagrams and illustrations with the written text. Often you will understand more from them.
    5. Ensure you understand what you are reading. Reduce your reading speed for difficult passages. Stop and reread any parts that are unclear.  
    6. If you have difficulty understanding a text, look up difficult words in the dictionary or glossary of terms and then reread. If you're still confused, leave it and read on. Perhaps after more reading you will be able to contextualise the content and the meaning will become clear. Speak to your tutor if your difficulty continues. 
    7. Use reflection to increase your understanding of what you read. When the author makes a claim, reflect on your prior knowledge to support or disprove it. If this raises more questions, note them down. This will help you remember and understand. Keep in mind that you are using personal reflection only as a learning tool - it is not enough to prove or refute a research finding. 

  • On your second reading, begin to take notes:

    1. Take notes from the text but write the information in your own words. 
    2. Read one section at a time (a section might be divided up by headings or subheadings). 
    3. After reading a section, try to sum up the main point in one sentence. 
    4. Note down the main idea(s) of each paragraph in the section. These will usually be in the first or last sentence of a paragraph. 
    5. Examples and illustrations can further your understanding and be good cues for memory. 
    6. In your notes, underline or highlight important points for later review. 
    7. Refer to the list of questions you made earlier and try to answer them. 

  • Recall straight after you finish taking notes. 

    You should have an outline of the reading in note form. Use this to try to recall and write your thoughts about what you have read. 

    1. Close the book and cover your notes.
    2. Write down what you remember about the main thesis and points of reading.
    3. Check their accuracy against the notes you made during your reading. 
    4. Return to the reading. Read one section at a time and try to recall what you have read. If you were unable to recall one of the major points, reread the section to clarify it further. 
    5. It can be helpful to recite ideas aloud. Sum up the main points verbally. This can also help you put ideas into your own words.

  • Now, it's time to review what you have read. 

    At the end of your study period:

    Check the accuracy of your notes against the original material (if you have underlined the main points, this should be simple). This is an important part of the process because it can help you clarify and remember what you have read. 

    The next day:

    1. Read through your notes to reacquaint yourself with the main thesis and key points. 
    2. Read through the questions you noted down and try to answer them from memory. 
    3. Try doing the same thing after a few days. 

    If you are reading for a course, periodically reviewing notes will help you at exam time. The more you review throughout the term, the less you will need to cram during exam study periods. 

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