Keyword marking can genuinely speed up your reading — but only when done efficiently. Here is how to identify and mark the right keywords without slowing yourself down.
Focus on question keywords first, not passage keywords. Before reading the passage in detail, quickly identify the key terms in each question — names, numbers, specific nouns, or unique phrases. These are what you will be scanning the passage for, so they deserve attention before you even start reading closely.
Prioritize unique, specific words. Common words like "important," "study," or "process" appear too frequently to be useful scanning targets. Instead, focus on specific nouns, proper names, dates, or numbers that are less likely to repeat elsewhere in the passage, making them easier to locate quickly.
Use a consistent, fast marking method. Whether you underline, circle, or simply point with your finger while scanning, consistency matters more than the specific method. Switching between different marking styles wastes mental energy that should go toward comprehension instead.
Do not stop to mark every synonym you notice. While scanning, you do not need to mark every paraphrased version of a keyword you spot — just enough to confirm you have found the right section of the passage, then read that section carefully for the actual answer.
Speed comes from practice, not more marking. The real skill is quickly recognizing where a keyword or its paraphrase appears, not marking thoroughly. Practicing this scanning process repeatedly on Readlify's passages trains your eyes to move faster and more purposefully over time.