Building Reading Speed

Reading speed is a trainable skill. Most candidates can increase their effective reading speed by 30–50% over 4–6 weeks of targeted practice, without any loss of comprehension. This lesson provides specific drills, progressive targets, and evidence-based techniques for building the reading speed you need for UCAT VR.

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Your Current Reading Speed

Before you can improve, you need a baseline. Here is how to measure it:

Baseline Test

1. Select a passage of approximately 300 words from a broadsheet newspaper or non-fiction book (similar in complexity to UCAT passages)
2. Set a timer
3. Read the passage at your normal pace, trying to understand the content
4. Record your time
5. Answer 3–4 comprehension questions about the passage (to verify you actually understood it)

Interpreting Your Baseline