Reading speed standards
| Level | WPM |
|-------|-----|
| General reading | 200-250 |
| Skimming | 400-700 |
| Speed reading | 700-1,000 |
| World record (85% comp) | 4,251 WPM (Howard Berg) |
Why read faster?
- Save 30+ min/day = 182 hrs/year
- Cover more information in less time
- Better at exam reading
Test yourself
- Pick a 1-page book (~250-300 words)
- Start stopwatch
- Read normally
- Stop stopwatch when done
- Calculate: words ÷ minutes = WPM
- Quiz yourself — did you understand?
Techniques to speed up
1. Stop subvocalization
- Most readers "speak" each word internally
- Train: focus eyes, don't say in mind
- Initially comprehension drops — quickly recovers
2. Chunking
- Read groups of words, not single words
- Start with 2 → 3 → 5 words per chunk
3. Pointer technique
- Use finger/pen to guide eyes
- Eyes follow the pointer
- Gradually increase speed
4. Preview
- Before reading: scan headings, images, bold (30 sec)
- Brain prepares context → reads faster
Warning
- Comprehension must stay >80% — otherwise pointless
- Bad for literature/poetry — needs slow appreciation
- Studying = deep reading, NOT speed reading
30-day plan
| Week | Activity |
|------|----------|
| 1 | Baseline + comprehension test |
| 2 | Pointer + stop subvocalizing |
| 3 | Chunking 3-5 words |
| 4 | Retest & compare |
Goal: +30-50% WPM in 1 month without losing comprehension