The power of recall

Want to read faster and digest it all? An article by Barbara Oaff suggests seven ways you can remember more. Wouldn't it be great if you could read faster and remember more. Just imagine the possibilities. As a student you would be able to race through the reading list - and recall useful passages in your assignment. As a job seeker you would be able to blitz all that 'interview research' - and, when prompted, make intelligent comments about the company, its industry and its prospects. Sounds impressive and it's not impossible. You can teach yourself to read faster and recall more. We show you how (appropriately, we do this in just seven steps and 764 words):

1 Determine your ideal reading conditions. If you don't already know, find out when your concentration level is at it's highest - in the morning, in the afternoon, or sometime after dark' Try to open up the pages or click on to the website at this time. And try to do it in a place that is conducive. Some people have to be somewhere quiet. Others find silence deafening and distracting. You may be most disciplined at a desk. Your friend may prefer the comfort of the sofa. Of course it may not always be possible to read when and where it best suits you. But if you can, it will help you to absorb and store more information more quickly.

2 Before you settle into your reading, identify your exact reason for reading. This may sound strange but how often do you ask yourself 'what do I want to get out of this text'' and how often do you just let it aimlessly amble past you. So, determine your goal. Is it for general background' Is it to understand a new concept' Is it to seek out a specific quote or figure' Are you looking for clarification and further explanation' Or do you just need to double check that your existing understanding is correct' Your purpose will help to determine how fast you can get through the material. And it will train your mind to file away key words, phrases and facts.

3 OK, that's some useful advice on the overall context of reading. Time now for some specific tips on reading faster and remembering more. We'll start with an obvious one. Set yourself a deadline as to when that chapter or article or online report should be read by. It will provide a sense of urgency and, yep, you guessed it, it will encourage you to race along.

4 Another common sense tip is to avoid going back over what you have already read. This is a common trait. Most of us tend to do it. To stop yourself, place a piece of paper at the top of each page and bring it down as you read each line. This way, your speed, concentration and comprehension should all be improved.

5 Now for something a tad more complicated. Try to take in more than just one word at a time. Look at each alternate word. Or see groups of words. This may not be easy. Be prepared to practise a little. It will come. And when it does, your reading rate will double, if not triple.

6 As for retaining and retrieving all this data more effectively, well, being more focused in your reading will already be helping, but there are several other brain boosting things you can do as well. Write the relevant points down, recite them back to yourself and review them regularly. Throughout this process try to make good use of mnemonics. You know, those pesky memory techniques like:
Alliteration - a word's sound is repeated
Acronym - a word is formed using the first letter of each word you want to remember.
Acrostic - a phrase or saying is formed using the first letter of each word you want to remember.
Now, these might well sound a bit anoraky, but the end results will make it well worth your while.

7 Last, but not least, learn the art of skimming and use it wherever possible. Look at how the material is organised. Be guided by the headings and cross headings. Scan for the key words, phrases and facts you're after. Read just the first and last sentences of paragraphs to see if they contain the information you are seeking.

As a final comment, bear in mind that the time you spend putting these points into practice really will pay off.