Reading is one of the most important skills you’ll use throughout your degree, but it can also be one of the most overwhelming. When you’re juggling lectures, essays, seminars, and revision, the reading lists can feel never-ending. And unlike school, you’re no longer reading simply to absorb information — you’re expected to question ideas, analyse arguments, and use what you’ve read to shape your own critical thinking.

That’s why learning the right reading techniques, choosing effective reading strategies, and using flexible reading methods will make your university journey much easier. When you know how to approach different texts, you’ll understand them faster, remember more, and feel more confident in seminars and while writing essays.

This guide will help you do exactly that. By the end, you’ll know how to read smarter — not harder.

Why Reading at University Feels Different?

If you’ve ever sat down with a journal article and wondered why it feels twice as hard as anything you read at school, you’re not alone.

Academic texts are denser, more complex, and often assume you already understand certain theories or vocabulary. On top of that, the volume of reading is much higher. But the biggest shift is this: you’re not reading to memorise, you’re reading to think.

You’re expected to:

  • Engage with arguments
  • Evaluate evidence
  • Notice assumptions and biases
  • Compare different perspectives

Types of Reading Strategies

Different tasks call for different strategies. When you adapt your approach to suit your purpose, you’ll not only save time but also understand the material more effectively. The key is to recognise which reading strategies are most appropriate in each context.

1. Skimming

Skimming allows you to move quickly through a text to gain a general sense of its purpose and structure. Instead of focusing on every detail, you’re scanning headings, subheadings, introductions, conclusions, and topic sentences.

This strategy works particularly well when you want to understand what the text is trying to do, whether it’s worth reading in more depth, or how it might fit into your essay or research.

>> Learn more on how to skim read effectively

2. Scanning

Scanning is a more targeted approach. Instead of aiming to understand the entire text, you’re looking for something specific: a definition, a statistic, a quote, or a reference to a particular concept.

This can be useful when you’re preparing for exams, gathering evidence for an essay, or checking whether a text is relevant to your argument.

3. Intensive Reading

There are moments when you do need to slow down and read closely. Intensive reading is essential when you’re working with complex theories, primary research, or materials that form the foundation of your essay or dissertation.

Internsive reading requires careful attention, re-reading difficult sections, and engaging deeply with the author’s ideas.

4. Extensive Reading

Extensive reading offers the widest overview. Instead of analysing every point, you’re reading broadly to familiarise yourself with a topic, understand the wider scholarly conversations, or prepare for research.

This reading strategy is especially useful early in a module or when you’re exploring potential dissertation questions.

Essential Reading Techniques You Should Use

Once you’ve chosen the right strategy, you’ll need the right reading techniques to help you process and remember the material.

1. Active Reading

Active reading keeps your mind engaged and stops you from drifting off after a few pages. Some of the most effective techniques in reading include:

  • Writing short notes in the margins
  • Highlighting only the most essential ideas
  • Asking questions as you go
  • Summarising sections in your own words
  • Connecting points back to your essay topic

2. Critical Reading

Critical reading helps you evaluate what you’re reading rather than accepting everything at face value. As you read, ask yourself:

  1. What is the author really arguing?
  2. What evidence do they rely on?
  3. Are there gaps or assumptions?
  4. Do other sources agree or disagree?

For more guidance, our article about Essay preparation and critical reading offers a helpful starting point.

3. The SQ3R Method

SQ3R stands for Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review. It’s a structured method of reading that keeps you focused, especially when tackling long chapters or difficult theories.

  • Survey the chapter
  • Question what you expect to learn
  • Read actively
  • Recite key ideas aloud or in notes
  • Review later to reinforce understanding

4. The Cornell Method

The Cornell method is typically used for note-taking during a lesson, but it's also useful to make notes directly alongside your reading. It helps you organise your notes and summarise information clearly.

You divide your page into a left hand column for keywords, a right-hand colums for notes and a bottom section for a summary. This method will encourage you to analyse and not just copy chunks of text.

Practical Methods of Reading for University Success

In addition to the strategies and techniques above, it’s helpful to develop practical reading methods that support your overall workflow.

1. Purpose-Driven Reading

Before you begin reading, take a moment to ask yourself what you actually need from the text. The purpose shapes everything else — whether you skim, scan, or read intensively. When you know what you’re looking for, your reading becomes far more efficient, and you avoid wasting time on irrelevant sections.

2. Layered Reading

Layered reading involves approaching a text in multiple passes. You might skim it first to understand the structure, then read it more slowly to grasp the argument, and finally read it critically to assess its strengths and weaknesses. This method helps you make sense of particularly complex texts and stops you from feeling overwhelmed.

3. Chunking and Structuring

Many university texts are long and dense, which can make it difficult to stay focused. Chunking — breaking the reading into smaller, manageable sections — helps you maintain concentration and absorb information more effectively. You might read a few pages at a time and summarise each section before moving on.

4. Reading for Argument vs Reading for Evidence

It’s useful to understand what kind of reading a text requires.

Some texts — especially monographs — develop large-scale arguments that you need to follow closely. Others — particularly journal articles — are rich in data or examples, so you’re looking more for evidence than for narrative. When you match your approach to the text type, your reading becomes much more purposeful.

How to Choose the Right Reading Technique

Choosing the right technique depends on your goal, the time you have, and the type of text you’re working with. You might skim a text to get your bearings, then decide whether it deserves a deeper read. You might scan a long article to find specific evidence for your essay. Or you might set aside more time for intensive reading when the text is particularly important.

The key is to be flexible. Once you start matching your approach to your needs rather than trying to read everything in the same way, the entire process becomes far less stressful.

Reading Strategies for Non-Native English Speakers

If English isn’t your first language, academic reading may feel slower or more demanding, but the right techniques can make a huge difference.

  • Focusing on abstracts and introductions before diving into the full text
  • Building a vocabulary list of key terms
  • Breaking long sentences into smaller parts
  • Using active reading to check your understanding
  • Reading with a dictionary only for essential words

Common Mistakes You Might Be Making While Reading Your Resources

When reading feels harder than it should, it’s often because you’ve slipped into habits that work against you. These are some of the most common issues — and why they slow you down:

  • Treating every text as equally important

    If you approach a short reading for a seminar the same way you’d approach a core chapter for an essay, you’ll quickly become overwhelmed. Some texts need deep attention; others simply don’t.

  • Highlighting too much without clear direction:

    If everything feels important, nothing stands out. Highlighting whole paragraphs gives you a colourful page, but not a clearer understanding of the material.

  • Reading passively without pausing to think:

    Passive reading leads to quick fatigue and low retention. When you don’t stop to question or reflect, even long reading sessions can leave you feeling like nothing has “stuck”.

  • Re-reading the same sections without intention:

    Going over the same paragraph again and again is usually a sign that you need to slow down, break the text into smaller pieces, or summarise before moving on.

  • Reading in a perfectly linear way:

    Starting at the very beginning and forcing yourself through every line isn’t always efficient. Sometimes the conclusion, introduction, or abstract gives you more clarity than the middle pages.

FAQs about Reading Strategies

Which technique is best for reading?

It depends on your goal. Intensive reading works best for understanding difficult material. Skimming and scanning are ideal for quick tasks or early stages of research.

What are the most effective reading strategies for university?

Active reading, critical reading, skimming, and the SQ3R method are among the most effective — especially when you use them intentionally.

How can I read academic articles more quickly?

Start with the abstract, introduction, and conclusion. Once you know the argument, you can decide how deeply you need to read the rest.

Should I take notes while I read?

Yes — writing things down helps you understand and remember them. Just make sure your notes are purposeful.

Can active reading improve my grades?

Yes. Active reading helps you understand material more deeply, remember it for longer, and use it more effectively in essays and exams. By engaging with the text instead of reading passively, you make your study time more productive. You can learn more here in our article about active reading.

How do I stop re-reading the same paragraph?

Slow down, read in smaller chunks, and summarise each section before moving on.

What’s the difference between reading techniques and reading strategies?

Techniques are what you do (e.g., annotating, summarising). Strategies are how you approach the text (e.g., skimming, scanning, intensive reading).

In summary…

University reading doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Once you understand the different reading strategies, experiment with practical reading techniques, and choose the right methods of reading for each task, you’ll feel far more in control of your workload. With some practice, you’ll read faster, understand more, and approach your reading materials with confidence.

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