Skimming for the Main Idea
What is skimming?
Skimming involves quickly running your eyes over the text to get a general sense of the topic, structure, and main ideas. It’s about understanding the “big picture” without worrying about every word. Skimming is particularly useful when dealing with questions like Matching Headings or Identifying the Writer’s Viewpoint.
How to skim effectively:
- Look at headings and subheadings: These usually give clues about the topic and structure of the passage.
- Focus on the first and last sentences of paragraphs: These often summarize the main points.
- Pay attention to keywords: Identify key themes like names, dates, or repeated words that might give you hints about the content.
- Ignore details on your first read: You’re not trying to find specific information during skimming, just getting an overview.
Scanning for Specific Information
Scanning is the process of looking through the text quickly to locate specific information such as numbers, names, dates, or technical terms. You use this technique when answering questions that require precise answers, like Multiple Choice, Sentence Completion, or Short Answer questions.
How to scan effectively:
- Identify the information you need: Read the question carefully and underline the key terms (e.g., names, years, places).
- Move your eyes quickly through the passage: Focus on numbers, capitalized words (e.g., names of people, places), or words with specific meanings (e.g., statistics, scientific terms).
- Pay attention to how information is organized: Texts often use headings, bullet points, or numbers that help you locate the answer more easily.
- Don’t read entire paragraphs: Instead, move your eyes over the text, stopping only when you find relevant information.