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Study Skills
Grade 6-12
Skimming & Scanning Techniques Cheat Sheet
A printable reference covering skimming, scanning, previewing, keywords, text features, and purpose-based reading strategies for grades 6-12.
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Skimming and scanning are fast reading techniques that help students use time wisely while studying. This cheat sheet explains when to use each method and how to apply them before, during, and after reading. Students need these skills for textbooks, articles, test passages, research, and review sessions. The goal is to read with purpose instead of treating every word the same way.
Key Facts
- Use skimming to get the main idea by reading titles, headings, first and last sentences, bold words, and summaries.
- Use scanning to find a specific fact by looking for keywords, numbers, names, dates, or exact phrases.
- The skimming formula is Preview + Headings + Topic Sentences + Summary = Main Idea.
- The scanning formula is Question + Keyword + Text Feature + Match = Specific Answer.
- Before reading, set a purpose by writing one question such as I need to find the cause, date, definition, or main idea.
- Headings, captions, bold words, charts, and bullet points are text features that guide your eyes to important information.
- Skimming is best for choosing sources, previewing chapters, reviewing notes, and understanding the overall structure.
- Scanning is best for finding definitions, page numbers, statistics, names, dates, and answers to specific questions.
Vocabulary
- Skimming
- Skimming is a quick reading method used to understand the main idea and organization of a text.
- Scanning
- Scanning is a quick search method used to locate a specific word, fact, number, or answer.
- Keyword
- A keyword is an important word or phrase that helps you find the information you need.
- Text Feature
- A text feature is a visual or structural clue such as a heading, caption, bold word, chart, or sidebar.
- Topic Sentence
- A topic sentence states the main point of a paragraph and is often found near the beginning.
- Reading Purpose
- A reading purpose is the reason you are reading, such as finding a fact, learning a concept, or reviewing for a test.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using skimming when you need an exact answer is wrong because skimming gives the main idea, not precise details.
- Reading every word while scanning is wrong because scanning works by moving your eyes quickly toward keywords and clues.
- Ignoring headings and bold words is a mistake because text features often point directly to the most important information.
- Choosing vague keywords is a mistake because broad words can appear too often and make the search slower.
- Stopping at the first matching word can be wrong because the sentence may not answer your question or may use the word in a different context.
Practice Questions
- 1 A chapter has 18 pages, 6 headings, and a summary at the end. Which parts should you read first if your goal is to skim for the main idea?
- 2 You need to find the year the Civil Rights Act was passed in a 12-page article. What keywords or numbers should you scan for?
- 3 A science article includes 4 diagrams, 7 bold vocabulary words, and 3 captions. List three text features you would check before reading the full article.
- 4 Explain why skimming is better than scanning when you are deciding whether an article is useful for a research project.