How To Read Quickly for CLAT & Other Law Entrance Exams?

Law Entrance Exams like CLAT and AILET are just a few months away now. You’ve studied the concepts, increased your vocabulary, practised Maths questions, and solved puzzles. You know that you know the answers.

But are you confident that you would get the time to attempt all the questions? Many students wonder how to read quickly with comprehension.

This is where Speed Reading comes in.

CLAT has 150 questions, and 120 minutes to solve them. AILET has 150 questions and 90 minutes. Are the odds in your favour? Here’s how you can make sure that they are!

CLAT is entirely passage-based and thus, reading-intensive. Thus, it is important that you complete the maximum amount of questions in a minimum amount of time. These are a few tips for you to increase your reading speed:

Ever heard a voice in your head when you read something? No, you’re not insane. That is called subvocalization. That is you, speaking each word out loud in your head as you read. This slows you down a lot, since you’re forced to go according to the speed that you talk.

Want to know how to read quickly with comprehension? Eliminate this need to subvocalize. Practice reading passages, and try not to speak along. This will be helpful when you’re reading long passages. For example, in CLAT’s Reading Comprehension and Legal Reasoning Sections.

This technique involves putting your finger or a pen on the book or passage that you’re reading, and moving your finger along the lines as you read. Since CLAT and AILET will be offline, this can help you a lot.

By moving your finger along the lines, you’re forcing your eyes to follow it, and read at the pace that you move your finger. Slowly increase the speed that you’re moving your fingers on.

Another benefit of this technique is that it prevents regression. Regression is the process of rereading, or going back to read words again. We do it unconsciously and never realise it! It takes up a lot of reading time. This is especially helpful when the passage is difficult or tedious, or you’re not very focused.

This involves using your peripheral vision to read. Try keeping your finger in the center of a line, and move it downwards, not left or right. Move downwards and keep your eyes centered. Try to read the words on either side through your peripheral vision.

This can take a bit of practice as you might find comprehension difficult. But with the right amount of practice, you’ll definitely save a lot of time. This technique can also help you get a general idea and theme of the passage.

Keep these tips in mind and try them out, the next time you solve a mock. Check if it helps you save time. Remember, constant practice is key.

All the best!