How to Increase Your Reading Retention Rate

By James McNair

Our reading retention rate depends on how active we are in the learning process. It is so common for someone to sit and read a whole chapter or section of information, and at the end, not remember any of it. Usually that person goes back and starts all over again. This is so frustrating! Not to mention the amount of time wasted. There are certain things that we can do to improve our reading retention rate and avoid unnecessary re-reading.

Before settling in to start reading the first page, take a few minutes to develop a strategy plan. Firstly, why the decision to read this information? Determine if it is work that you need to study in great detail or perhaps you are searching for more specific information. The other question that needs to be asked, is what you will be needing the information for. Perhaps for study purposes or for wanting to learn how something is done. Maybe you are simply interested in the topic. By asking these questions we prepare our brain and remind ourselves exactly what it was that we want to be remembering. The purpose for the reading is now established.

Much more of the information is remembered if we are more active in our reading. This will involve making summaries while you are reading. There are various ways to make summaries, depending on the individual's preferences, although all summaries should contain only keywords. Do not re-write the textbook! Decide before reading which will be the best summarizing technique to use.

Write a main heading at the top of your page and then divide the page into three columns. The first column is usually for one main keyword, and the other two columns are for further keywords relating to the main one. The use of colors and small simple pictures wherever possible is much encouraged during summarizing. By breaking the keywords into columns, the work will be much easier to study later, and one can see at a glance what it is all about. Your reading retention rate will be far higher if you are making notes while you are reading.

The other summarizing technique is called the mind map, which is a huge success with millions of people worldwide. The mind map is the best idea for anyone who struggles to remember their work. The most important thing about the mind map, is that it is non-linear which facilitates the way our brains think. Start with the main concept in the centre of the page. This can be a word or a picture representing your main idea or topic. From this central point, branch out with the next main keyword. Then add further branches with more detailed keywords relating to the main one. Ideally each branch should have it's own unique color and only one keyword per branch. Once again, the use of pictures greatly enhance retention. The mind map is a very easy way to capture information during the reading process. As it is not in linear form, additional facts can easily be added to any of the branches.

For a high reading retention rate we should ideally have been taught summarizing methods as a child. From as early as possible, children should learn how to effectively summarize their reading. They then learn to write ideas in their own words and study better in higher grades.

While reading, try to eliminate distractions. Your mind must focus attention on the task at hand. If you are constantly interrupted, reading retention rate will be low.

It is best to experiment with a few summarizing methods to find the one you like the most. Often the type of information will also determine the summarizing technique best used. Once you have become active in your reading, you will be pleasantly surprised at how your reading retention rate has increased.