Reading Strategies
Predict, question, visualise, infer and summarise to read deeply.
About this topic
Active readers use strategies before, during and after reading. Preview the title, headings and images; predict what will happen; ask questions; visualise scenes; make connections to prior knowledge, other texts and the world; infer meaning from clues; monitor understanding and re-read when confused; summarise key points. These habits turn reading into a conversation with the text.
Annotate texts by underlining, circling unfamiliar words and writing notes. Adjust speed for the purpose: slow down for a complex poem, speed up for a news article. Reading widely builds vocabulary and comprehension. Good readers think about the text rather than simply moving their eyes along the lines. Inference means combining clues with what you know to work out something not stated.
Worked example: if a text says "Mia stared at the empty chair and slowly folded the letter", you infer she is grieving or disappointed, though the author never says so. Predicting before reading a chapter, then checking your guess, keeps you engaged. If your mind wanders, stop and summarise the last page in a sentence.
Common mistakes include reading passively, skipping unknown words without trying context clues, and believing a good reader never rereads. Rereading is a sign of skill. Before an exam passage, read the questions first so that you know what to look for, and use the evidence in the text to support every answer.
Key ideas
- Annotate as you read
- Make inferences from clues
- Reread tricky parts
Quick check
Use cases: where Reading Strategies helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind Reading Strategies before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall Reading Strategies without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how Reading Strategies changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain Reading Strategies in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
Strong reading and writing are needed in every subject, job and exam.
Frequently asked questions
What is Reading Strategies?
Predict, question, visualise, infer and summarise to read deeply.
What will I learn in Reading Strategies?
Annotate as you read. Make inferences from clues. Reread tricky parts.
Is Reading Strategies part of English?
Yes. It is one of 60 English topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the Reading Strategies lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study Reading Strategies?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
No account is needed. Marking a topic as learned is saved in your own browser, so it stays on that device and is not sent to a server.