Learning Assistance Center

Student Assessment Surveys

Textbook Reading Strategies

Come to the LAC and learn how to study smarter (not harder)

Take the following survey and see how much you know about TEXTBOOK READING. While you are in college, it is helpful to know how to get the most out of your textbooks. The more you know about test taking, the more effectively you will be able to perform on your exams. If the statement is true or a POSITIVE strategy, mark P; if the response is false or a NEGATIVE strategy, mark N.

  P N  
1. I read all headings and subheadings in my textbooks.
2. After spending hours reading a chapter, I often can’t remember what I read.
3. I read each chapter straight through, beginning to end, without ever stopping for reflection.
4. Introductions and summaries are excessive information and aren’t very important.
5. I develop questions after previewing a chapter so that I can actively read the chapter.
6. I haven’t got time to stop after each section and summarize what I read.
7. I have problems identifying what’s important when I read; everything seems important.
8. I have trouble reading information that’s not interesting to me.
9. I don’t know what “signal words” are in textbooks.
10. When I don’t know words, I look up their meaning.
11. I use an effective system to take notes in my textbook.
12. I rarely study the right information in my textbooks; the test questions never seem to match what I’ve studied.

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