The Problem With Speed Reading Promises
Speed reading courses and apps regularly claim you can read three, five, or even ten times faster than your current rate while retaining everything. The research does not support this. At very high speeds, comprehension drops precipitously. What these programmes often measure is skimming, not reading.
That said, most people do not read at anything close to their natural maximum speed. Sub-vocalisation (silently pronouncing each word in your head), regression (re-reading lines you have already processed), and narrow fixation (reading one word at a time rather than chunking) all slow readers down without improving comprehension.
Techniques That Genuinely Help
The following techniques are supported by evidence and worth practising:
- Reduce sub-vocalisation: you do not need to hear every word to understand it. Work on processing meaning visually.
- Expand your fixation span: train yourself to take in two or three words per eye fixation rather than one.
- Preview before you read: for non-fiction especially, reading headings and summaries first gives your brain a framework that speeds processing.
- Reduce regression: if you are constantly re-reading lines, the problem is usually focus, not comprehension. Minimise distractions.
Realistic Expectations
A well-practised reader can typically improve their reading rate by 20 to 50 percent without losing comprehension. That is worth pursuing. Going from 250 to 350 words per minute adds up to roughly thirty extra books a year at the same reading time.
For pleasure reading, though, speed is not always the goal. Literary fiction, poetry, and anything with prose worth savouring should be read slowly.