anyone else read ridiculously slow? (A-level essay subjects) 😭

hey guys, ngl I'm starting to properly stress over the time limits for the essay papers next year. I feel like it takes me ages just to get through the source extracts compared to everyone else in my class.

I was procrastinating earlier instead of doing my homework and did one of those 1-minute reading speed tests online (testmyreading.com if anyone's curious) and I only got like 235 WPM?? 💀

for anyone who's actually getting A/A*s in English or History... how fast do you guys actually read? is 235 enough to get through the extracts and still have time to plan/write a decent essay, or do I need to start actively training myself to speed read?

genuinely panicking a bit tbh, any advice would be a lifesaver 🙏

Reply 1

Kit - UOS

Official Rep

Original post

by sarah88.J

hey guys, ngl I'm starting to properly stress over the time limits for the essay papers next year. I feel like it takes me ages just to get through the source extracts compared to everyone else in my class.
I was procrastinating earlier instead of doing my homework and did one of those 1-minute reading speed tests online (testmyreading.com if anyone's curious) and I only got like 235 WPM?? 💀
for anyone who's actually getting A/A*s in English or History... how fast do you guys actually read? is 235 enough to get through the extracts and still have time to plan/write a decent essay, or do I need to start actively training myself to speed read?
genuinely panicking a bit tbh, any advice would be a lifesaver 🙏

Hello,

Have you ever been tested for extra time? I did geography in A-level, so I had extra time in that because of my reading and writing speed due to my autism.

My other advice would be to just skim-read and then look for specific words you need to find in the text. I know I didn't study either of those at A-level, but just wanted to ease your anxiety in any way I could, if possible.

Reply 2

divine-matrix

I did it twice and got 484 wpm, then 708 wpm on different texts. I doubt 'words per minute' really matters as this is probably fake, and 'speed reading' isn't important; learning to skim & highlighting the info you'll need later in the texts is. I'm getting an A* in English lang alevel and honestly, highlighting is the best thing u can do.

But also, I would heed the other poster's advice. IDK about extra time so am not helpful giving advice in that respect.