READING

COMPREHENSION
STRATEGIES
 Reading Comprehension Strategies

When answering overview questions in the

TOEFL reading section, it's essential to
efficiently gather key information from the
passage

STRATEGIES
Use clues the author provides.
Use what you know from personal experience or
knowledge to predict what might happen.
 Reading Comprehension Strategies

SKIMMING:

Quickly read the introduction and conclusion of the

passage. These sections often provide an overview of
the main topic and the author's perspective.

Focus on headings, subheadings, and topic sentences of

paragraphs. These parts usually contain important
information about the main ideas of the passage.

STRATEGY
Use what you know about yourself, other stories and
the world to relate to the text.
 Reading Comprehension Strategies

IDENTIFYING MAIN IDEAS

The main idea is like the big, juicy secret hiding in the
story.
It's the most important thing you need to know. When you
find the main idea, you get to the heart of the story and
understand what it's all about. You look for clues in the
characters, the setting, and the events to figure out the
main idea.

STRATEGIES
Look for the most important information in the story.
Ask yourself, "What is the story mostly about?"
Find the key points that tell you what happened in the story.
Pay attention to the beginning, middle, and end of the story
Think about the characters, setting, and events
 Reading Comprehension Strategies

SCANNING:

Scan the first and last sentences of each

paragraph. These sentences often contain the
main idea and supporting points.

Use keywords mentioned in the question to scan

the passage for relevant information. Train your
eyes to spot these keywords quickly.

STRATEGIES
Think about what you liked or didn't like in the story.
Form your own opinions and judgments about the characters, plot, and themes.
Consider different perspectives and viewpoints.
Ask yourself questions like "Why did the character do that?" or "What would I have done in
that situation?"
 Reading Comprehension Strategies

UNDERSTANDING TEXT STRUCTURE:

Recognize the structure of the passage

(chronological, cause and effect, compare and
contrast, etc.). This can give you clues about the main
ideas and how they are organized.
Note transition words and phrases (such as
"however," "on the other hand," "in contrast," etc.) that
indicate shifts in the author's argument. These
transitions often highlight important points.
 Reading Comprehension Strategies

TAKING NOTES:
Jot down key points or make a quick outline as you read.
These notes can help you recall important information
when answering questions.
Underline or highlight sentences that encapsulate the
main ideas. This can save time when you need to revisit
the passage for specific details.

STRATEGIES
Re-read slowly
Look at pictures
Use a dictionary.
 Reading Comprehension Strategies

UNDERSTANDING THE AUTHOR'S TONE:

Consider the tone of the passage (positive, negative,
neutral). The author's attitude towards the topic can
provide insights into the main ideas.
Identify the author's purpose. Understanding why the
author wrote the passage can help you grasp the
overarching theme.

STRATEGY
Use words & clues from the story to create a picture in
your mind.
 Reading Comprehension Strategies

PRACTICE TIME MANAGEMENT:

Allocate your time wisely. Spend more time on

passages that seem complex, but don’t dwell too long
on a single question. Move on and come back if you
have time.
 Reading Comprehension Strategies

ELIMINATING DISTRACTIONS:

Be cautious of answer choices that include extreme

language (always, never) or information not found in
the passage. Eliminate these choices first.
Cross out answer choices that do not directly
relate to the overview of the passage.