Do you ever feel like your reading list is a mountain that keeps getting taller?

ARE YOU TIRED OF RE-READING THE SAME PARAGRAPH THREE TIMES?

You are not alone!

As a student or teacher in New Zealand, your time is your most precious resource.

Whether you are prepping for exams at the University of Auckland or grading papers in Christchurch, reading faster is the ULTIMATE SUPERPOWER!

Imagine finishing your study session in HALF the time.

Imagine having more hours in the day to explore the beautiful Kiwi outdoors or hang out with friends.

NOW IS THE TIME to reclaim your schedule!

At ISIC New Zealand, we are all about making student life easier and more affordable.

Let’s dive into these FABULOUS tips to help you read at lightning speed!

1. PREP YOUR STAGE FOR SUCCESS

Before you even open a book, you need the right environment.

A cluttered space leads to a cluttered mind!

Find a spot with FRESH air and BEAUTIFUL natural light.

Sit up straight, your brain needs oxygen to process information at top speed!

Turn off those pesky notifications on your phone.

GIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF FOCUS.

If you need more help getting into the “zone,” check out our other studying tips and tricks!

2. CREATE A SKELETON FIRST

Don’t just dive into the first page!

Explore the “skeleton” of the text before you start reading word-for-word.

Scan the headings, subheadings, and any bolded text.

Look at the images, graphs, and summaries!

THIS IS YOUR MENTAL MAP.

By knowing where the author is taking you, your brain can process the details MUCH FASTER.

Ask yourself: “What do I need to learn from this?”

When you have a goal, your eyes naturally hunt for the answers!

3. STOP READING WORD-BY-WORD

Did you know your eyes can take in more than one word at a time?

Most people read like they are walking, one step at a time.

It’s time to start LEAPING!

Try to capture “chunks” of words.

Instead of seeing “The,” “cat,” “sat,” try to see “The cat sat” as one single image.

Soften your gaze and use your peripheral vision to catch the words on the left and right of your focus point.

THIS IS A TOTAL GAME CHANGER!

The more you practice “photographing” the text with your eyes, the faster you will go.

4. USE A PACER TO LEAD THE WAY

Your eyes are naturally attracted to movement.

Have you noticed how your eyes jump back to the beginning of a line sometimes?

This is called “regression,” and it KILLS your speed!

Use a pen, your finger, or even a digital cursor as a pacer.

Move it smoothly across the line and let your eyes follow it.

KEEP IT MOVING!

Don’t let your “guide” stop.

This forces your brain to keep up and prevents you from wasting time re-reading what you already know.

GRAB A PEN AND TRY IT NOW!

5. SILENCE THE INNER VOICE

Do you “hear” the words in your head as you read them?

This is called subvocalization.

While it’s great for poetry, it limits your reading speed to the speed of your speech.

Your brain can actually process images and meanings MUCH faster than you can talk!

To quiet that inner voice, try listening to instrumental music or even humming a simple tune while you read.

Focus on the visual shape of the phrases.

SOAK IN THE MEANING without saying the words!

6. ACCESS CRAZY DEALS ON YOUR READING MATERIAL

Reading faster is great, but getting your books for a STEAL is even better!

Did you know that with your ISIC card, you get EXCLUSIVE DEALS on educational resources?

One of our favorite “gifts” for students is our partnership with Perlego!

You can unlock a massive digital library and save a fortune on textbooks.

Simply get your digital ISIC card for just $3 a month and start saving!

It’s the smartest way to fuel your learning journey.

7. PRACTICE ACTIVE RECALL

Fast reading is useless if you don’t remember what you read!

Every 10 minutes, stop and close the book.

Briefly summarize what you just learned out loud.

“Okay, I just learned about the pacer method and how it stops regression.”

This locks the information into your long-term memory.

IT’S THAT SIMPLE!

You are making the most of your studies and bringing those memories home for the exam.

WRAP IT UP AND GET MOVING!

Reading faster is a skill, not a talent.

The more you do it, the better you get!

Start with something fun: maybe a blog post blog post: and practice these techniques.

Don’t forget to grab your ISIC card to join over 4.5 million students worldwide getting the best deals on travel, shopping, and education.

NOW GO OUT THERE AND CONQUER THAT READING LIST!

YOU’VE GOT THIS!