Unlock Faster Reading on TOEIC with This Simple Skimming Technique

Student using skimming technique to scan reading passages

🗝 Before you read:
Look at the article title and image. What do you think this article will be about?

Struggling to finish the TOEIC Reading section on time? You’re not alone. Many students run out of time — not because their English is bad, but because their reading method is too slow.

High scorers use skimming — reading quickly to understand the general idea. They don’t read every word. Instead, they focus on headlines, topic sentences, transition words (like however or for example), and repeated keywords.

Accelerated Learning says that the brain finds meaning faster when it has a purpose. So before reading, ask: What am I looking for? A date? A reason? An opinion?

Practice scanning for details (numbers, names, keywords) and skimming for structure (what’s this paragraph doing?).
Once you know the shape of the text, answering is much faster.

Faster reading isn’t about speed — it’s about direction. Know where to look and what to skip.

📋 Understanding meaning

How well do recall and understand?

  1. Why do many students run out of time during TOEIC reading?

  2. What is skimming?

  3. What kinds of words should you focus on when skimming?

  4. Why does setting a reading purpose help?

  5. What’s the difference between scanning and skimming?

  6. What does 'direction' mean in the context of reading?

🧠 Building Vocabulary

Match the meaning word

  1. Retain

  2. Distraction

  3. Ritual

  4. multitasking

  5. Concentrate

A .Focus

B. Routine

C. Doing many things at once

D. Remember

E. Interruption

✍️ Part 6 – Text Completion

Instructions: Choose the word or sentence that best fits the blank in the text.

Passage 1:
Before you start reading, ask yourself what you are ______ for.

A. hoping
B. searching
C. reading
D. looking

Passage 2
Skimming means reading ______ to get the main idea.

A. slowly
B. clearly
C. carefully
D. quickly

✍️ Part 5 – Incomplete Sentences

Instructions: Choose the best answer to complete each sentence.

  1. Good readers scan the text to find important ______.

    A. fonts
    B. chapters
    C. indexes
    D. numbers

  2. Skimming helps you understand the ______ of the passage.


    A. exact words
    B. grammar rules
    C. word count
    D. general idea

✍️ Part 7 – Reading Comprehension

Reading Passage

On the TOEIC test, reading every word takes too much time.
The best readers use a strategy called skimming. They focus on keywords and structure to get the meaning faster.
This means looking at headings, topic sentences, and repeated ideas.
They also scan for specific answers — dates, names, reasons.
With practice, this saves time and helps avoid trick answers.

Skimming lets your brain move faster by skipping what’s unnecessary and finding what’s essential.

Questions:

  1. Why is reading every word on the TOEIC a problem?
    A. It leads to misunderstanding
    B. It takes too much time
    C. It increases grammar errors
    D. It’s bad for vocabulary

  2. What is the main benefit of skimming?
    A. It improves pronunciation
    B. It saves time
    C. It increases spelling
    D. It slows down reading

  3. What do good readers focus on when skimming?
    A. Every detail
    B. Grammar
    C. Repeated ideas
    D. Definitions

  4. What is one use of scanning?
    A. To find emotions
    B. To highlight new grammar
    C. To locate specific information
    D. To skip all paragraphs

🧠 Self-Reflection

The most important step in any lesson is not just completing the task, but making meaning from it. Take 2–3 minutes to reflect on your learning today. You don’t need perfect answers — just honest ones. This is how high performers grow.✍️ Write in a notebook, type below, or say it aloud — what matters is doing it.

  1. How do I usually read TOEIC questions?

  2. Do I try to understand every word?

  3. What kind of clues help me find the answer faster?

  4. Can I practice reading with more purpose this week?

  5. What’s one strategy I will try in my next TOEIC reading session?

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