6 Tips to Speed Read Faster

Do you know how to read faster? Better still, can you read faster? Reading is a skill many people take for granted. We often focus on learning to read, but rarely on reading efficiently.

Your Potential to Be a Speed Reader

In an age of information overload, it helps to read with intention. The key idea is simple. You can often increase speed on familiar or low-stakes material, but pushing speed too far usually reduces comprehension, especially on complex texts. Research reviews of reading consistently describe a trade-off between speed and accuracy, and note that doubling or tripling reading speed while keeping full comprehension is unlikely for most readers (systematic review of speed reading research).

That does not make “reading faster” pointless. It just means you should match the technique to the task. Skimming a report for structure is different from reading a textbook chapter for understanding, and both are different again from reading a contract, policy, or technical paper where small details matter.

Contrary to popular belief, reading a lot does not automatically make you a fast reader. Many highly educated people read slowly because they re-read, pause frequently, or get pulled into details before they have the overall structure of the text.

Reading faster also does not mean scanning without comprehension. A good reader chooses the right depth for the goal, then reads efficiently while still processing what matters.

6 Easy Tips on How to Read Faster

1. Use a simple pointer (a finger, pen cap, or stylus) to guide your eyes along each line.
2. Keep the pointer moving at a steady pace that you can still understand, and aim to reduce long pauses. With practice, this can improve flow without sacrificing comprehension.
3. Reduce heavy sub-vocalization (silently “saying” every word). Aim to hear fewer words in your head, especially on easy text, while keeping meaning intact.
4. Preview before you read. Scan headings, first sentences, and summary sections so your brain has a map of the argument. This helps you decide what deserves slow reading and what can be read lightly.
5. After each paragraph, take a brief moment to summarize the point in your own words. This protects comprehension while you increase pace.
6. Use a structured practice method rather than random “speed reading programs.” Track time and comprehension on the same type of text you actually need to read.

A Plan to Hone Your Reading Skills

Start by removing habits that slow you down without adding value. Two common ones are (i) frequent back-skipping to re-read lines and (ii) reading with constant distractions (music, TV, notifications) that break concentration.

Then separate your reading into two modes. Use a “map first” pass (preview and skim for structure), followed by a “focus” pass on the parts that matter. This keeps you fast overall while still protecting understanding.

Finally, measure results realistically. If your speed rises but your recall drops, you have not improved reading. You have only moved faster through the text.