Skimming vs scanning under time pressure
Read the questions first, separate locating from understanding, and map each paragraph's topic to find answers fast.
The reading section is a race against the clock, not a comprehension marathon. Strong readers do not read every text closely from start to finish — they read the questions first, then hunt for the answer using the fastest technique the question allows. Knowing whether you need to skim or scan for each question is what buys you the time to finish.
Questions first — always
Reading the questions before the text tells your brain what to look for. You stop reading passively and start searching for specific information, which is far faster. Underline the keyword in each question — a name, a number, a concept — so you know your target before your eyes touch the passage.
Skimming vs scanning: two different jobs
When to use each technique
| Technique | Goal | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Skimming / survol | get the gist fast | main idea, tone, text type / idée générale, ton |
| Scanning / repérage | find one precise fact | detail, number, name, date / détail, chiffre, date |
| Close reading / lecture fine | understand exactly | inference, vocabulary-in-context / inférence, sens d'un mot |
Question : « Combien d'habitants la ville a-t-elle gagnés en dix ans ? » — c'est du repérage : on cherche un chiffre.Paragraph-topic mapping
As you skim, write a two-word label beside each paragraph: « causes », « chiffres », « avis de l'auteur », « solutions ». This map lets you jump straight to the right paragraph when a question arrives, instead of rereading the whole text. The topic sentence — usually the first line of a French paragraph — carries most of the label you need.
Un paragraphe qui commence par « En revanche, plusieurs experts s'inquiètent... » s'étiquette « critiques / risques ».Try it: on your next reading practice, label every paragraph before answering a single question, then check how often the label alone pointed you to the right line.
Original ScoreRoute lesson — written for TEF Canada / TCF Canada preparation.
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