Skimming vs Scanning: When to Use Each

Time pressure is one of the biggest challenges in the IELTS Reading test. With just 60 minutes to read three long passages and answer 40 questions, efficient reading is essential. That's where skimming and scanning come in — two powerful strategies that can save time and boost accuracy.

But when exactly should you skim, and when is scanning the smarter move? Let's break it down.

What is Skimming?

Skimming is a quick read-through of a passage to get the main idea or overall structure. You're not reading every word — you're reading fast and selectively to understand what the text is generally about.

When to Use Skimming

• Before reading questions: Quickly skim the passage to get a sense of what it’s about.
• Matching headings questions: You need to understand the gist of each paragraph.
• Identifying writer’s views or claims: Helps locate tone and opinions before scanning for details.
• To locate context: Helps when a question refers to a section or idea rather than a specific word.

How to Skim Effectively

• Read the first and last sentences of paragraphs
• Pay attention to titles, subheadings, and keywords
• Don’t stop for unknown words — focus on general meaning
• Practice reducing your reading time without losing comprehension

💡 Pro Tip: Use skimming before you even look at the questions to build a mental map of the passage.

What is Scanning?

Scanning is about searching for specific information, like a name, number, or keyword. You're not interested in understanding everything — you're hunting for one exact detail.

When to Use Scanning

• True/False/Not Given questions: Find the exact statement in the passage Related guide ➡️
• Short answer or completion tasks: You’ll need to locate factual info quickly
• Multiple-choice questions: Often require finding and matching a specific idea or phrase
• Matching names/dates/events: Scanning is ideal for locating these quickly

How to Scan Effectively

• Use the keywords from the question
• Move your eyes vertically or diagonally down the passage
• Don’t read full sentences — just look for matches
• Once you locate the section, slow down and read more carefully

📘 Example: If the question asks "In which year was the law changed?", you’d scan for numbers like 1998, 2004, 2011, etc.

Skimming vs Scanning: Key Differences

Feature	Skimming	Scanning
Purpose	Understand main ideas	Find specific details
Speed	Fast	Very fast
Reading Style	Read selectively across text	Search for a target word/phrase
When to Use	At the beginning, for gist	After reading the question
Task Types	Headings, gist, opinion questions	Factual, detail-based questions

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• ❌ Skipping skimming: Diving straight into questions without understanding the text wastes time later.
• ❌ Scanning without clear keywords: You need a target; otherwise, you'll reread blindly.
• ❌ Reading everything slowly: This defeats the purpose of these techniques.
• ❌ Using the wrong method: Don’t scan when the task requires a general idea, and don’t skim when specifics are needed.

Sample Practice Prompts

Try applying both techniques to the following IELTS-style tasks:

• Skim this paragraph and identify the main idea: “Despite the widespread use of antibiotics in agriculture, recent studies have raised concerns about their long-term impact on human health.”

• Scan the passage to find the answer: “What year did the scientist win the Nobel Prize?”

Set a timer ⏱️ for 60 minutes and use both strategies on a full reading test to simulate real exam conditions. Check this guide for time-saving tactics.

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