Tackling High School (or any grade, really) Reading Comprehension Tests
Most subjects are easy to study for; reviewing your science notes, doing as many math questions as possible, and memorizing important dates in history are all straightforward yet effective methods for many learners. However, when it comes to the daunting subject of English, many students, if not all, find reading comprehension to be a challenge and scary task. Isn’t English supposed to be easy, since we speak and see English words all around us every day? How do you study for a reading comprehension test, anyways?
Like all study methods, there is no definite way to study for these tests. However, there are definitely some strategies and habits to practice to help gear you up and confront the test feeling more prepared. They may seem tedious, but when your work pays off with a high English average, I guarantee you’ll feel relieved (and a little proud, too).
Tip 1: Read, read, read!
By now, you may have had all your previous English teachers drill this into your head. Unfortunately, I’m doing the same. Read, read, read! There are numerous, if not seemingly endless, benefits to reading. The most important benefit is the process of familiarizing yourself with the language. This applies to learning a new language as well; by reading and comprehending the text, elements such as sentence structure, vocabulary, context, literary devices, and purpose are analyzed. By continuously doing so, you begin to recognize these patterns unconsciously, allowing you to understand the text with more ease. More subtle implications, such as sarcasm, jump out at you more easily and help you answer questions on reading comprehensions more easily. Learning new words to add to your vocabulary, as well as identifying the effects of different sentence structure (syntax) aid in your understanding, and act as a bonus when it comes to those pesky written assignments.
But what exactly do you read? You don’t have to specifically read fiction; reading nonfiction, books on history, and scientific papers can expand your vocabulary and introduce you to different styles of writing. If you struggle a little with reading, or have difficulty focusing when you read, pick a fun book that’s lighter on the content. Even if you aren’t picking up new vocabulary, you’re still pinpointing syntax and analyzing the content. Once you’re more comfortable with reading, choose a book that’s a little harder, and continue increasing the complexity of your reading. However, when you’re reading, try not to just skim or skip to interesting parts. The entirety of a text is published for a reason, so take the time to segment parts of the text and understand it to the best of your ability. This is the best way to practice your reading comprehension.
Tip 2: Practice Questions For all the students who go through booklets and booklets of questions before a math or science test, I’m sure your hands are itching to try practice questions. My answer: go for it! Doing practice is the next step to preparing for a reading comprehension, as you get a feel for the kinds of questions that will be asked.
Tip 3: Targeting Your Vocabulary
Diction is a critical component to any piece of writing, and so is it to your understanding of the text. Without it, you’ll have a much more difficult time getting what the author is trying to say, or get stuck on questions that ask specifically for the meaning of a word. Even worse, meaning changes with context (connotation), so it can mean different things in different settings! For a lot of people, flashcards are an easy way to study vocabulary, but that method doesn’t work for me. To solve this problem, I used to find ten unfamiliar words per week, find its definition, and compose a sentence with each. I grabbed words from SAT word lists, from dictionary.com’s word of the day, and from books I read all the time. By sitting down and challenging myself to use the word, I practiced syntax while expanding my vocabulary, enabling me to understand more of the texts I was reading. If you’re stuck on a word, search up the definition and read example sentences before trying it out on your own. I promise that this will help out a lot! If you really feel like challenging yourself, use specific sentence starters, such as words that end in “ing” or “ly”, adverbs, and the like.
Tip 4: Write!
Yes, you heard (read) me. Try writing your own work! It may seem awkward at first, but if you have a list of stories you want to try writing, now is the time! By putting yourself in the role of the author, all the elements you analyze in a reading comprehension text are now yours to fabricate. When you’re done, ask a friend or someone other than you to read it and see if they understand what you are trying to write. If they do, it means that you’re able to convey the message you want across using your own writing style and diction, which translates to identifying the same methods on tests. It helps you understand the finer details behind the text, as you’ve done the writing and understand what it is that jumps out at readers.
That’s all the tips I have for preparing for reading comprehension. These are easily applicable to just about any level of testing you’ll encounter in high school. Remember, improvement is not overnight! Practice and develop these habits over the long-term to help get your way through those reading comprehension tests!