Reading Skills: Skim First, Scan Second
July 25, 2026 · Sourov · 1 min read
⏱ 5 Minutes · B1
📖 From Experience
When I was studying for my French C1 test, I had to read long articles in 40 minutes. There was no time to read every word. I learned to skim first — get the main idea — then scan for specific details. These two skills changed how I read in any language.
📚 Two Reading Strategies
| Strategy | What you do | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Skim | Read very fast — only titles, first lines, key words | To get the gist (overall topic) quickly |
| Scan | Search for a specific word, date, name, or number | To find a specific detail — like a number in a table |
📚 How to Skim
- Read the title and any subheadings.
- Read only the first sentence of each paragraph.
- Look at any bold words, numbers, or images.
- Do NOT read every word.
✅ Examples
- Skimming: You have 30 seconds to know if a news article is about politics or sports.
- Scanning: You need to find when a restaurant opens in a long webpage.
- Intensive reading: You read a contract or a recipe word by word.
✏️ Your Turn
Apply the strategies:
- You want to know: ‘Is this article about climate change or economic policy?’ Which strategy?
- You want to know: ‘What is the phone number in this text?’ Which strategy?
- You want to understand every step in a medical instruction. Which strategy?
💡 Check Answers
- Skim — you want the general topic.
- Scan — you are looking for a specific piece of information.
- Intensive reading — you need every detail.
Independent project — not affiliated with, endorsed by, or accredited by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Confers no qualification.
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