What Impacts The Reading Speed Of High School Students?

By the time students enter high school for their freshman year, the average reading speed is roughly 151 words per minute. The goal is to reach a reading speed of 200 – 250 words per minute by the time they turn 18. Teachers say it is essential for students to read at an adequate rate to become a better test taker and be able to complete timed exams. Should students not be able to complete an exam with time to spare, you risk poor grades and will not be prepared for more critical exams like SATs and ACTs necessary when applying for colleges. It is one thing to read fast; it is different than reading fast and comprehending everything correctly. 

Studies show that kids today are less efficient and slower readers than their counterparts 50 years ago. Reasons could because of an increased amount of electronic distractions and social media. Also, with tablets and e-readers, high school students use screens now more than ever to read. If students are reading slower, what is the average reading speed of a high school student today, and how can they improve?

Computer vision syndrome

In a reading test from the opticians Lenstore, they tested the reading speed of 1,600 people ages 25 to 65. While you could argue that those 65 and older would read slower due to their age, they read faster than their younger counterparts. Overall, over-65s completed the test 14% more quickly than those ages 35 to 44. Researchers believe that computer screens are to blame for the slower rate at which younger people read. Birmingham University explains that those who spend an excessive amount of time looking at screens (computer, laptop, tablet, and smartphone) causes what we now know as computer vision syndrome. The most common symptoms include dry eyes, blurred vision, headache, and eye strain all interfere at the rate at which a person reads. As these devices have become so much a part of our lives, students need to find a solution to help them increase their reading speed to excel in their studies.

Reading speed and comprehension

Reading speed and how well a person comprehends text go hand-in-hand. Read too slow, and you won’t remember the information as well as if you read it at an average pace. Those who read more slowly are guilty of doing too much subvocalization, skim reading, and rereading, which also hurt comprehension. Meanwhile, those high school students who read at the average 200 – 250 words per minute or speed read are more likely to understand what they read the first time and remember it better too.

How to improve reading comprehension skills

One of the most common questions we get at Iris Reading is how to improve reading comprehension. The answer is simple, read! Similar to those aspiring to become painters, writers, and problem-solvers, you must practice a lot to help improve upon that skill. As if high school wasn’t stressful enough! Between studying for your regular subjects, students are also asked to participate in extracurricular activities and study some more for SATs, ACTs, and other exams required by colleges. Wouldn’t it be great to learn a skill that can increase productivity, improve your memory, and help comprehend information better? Speed reading accomplishes all three! 

If you’re a student and would like to breeze through homework quicker, consider taking our Advanced Comprehension & Memory. This course will help you improve your memory by teaching you useful strategies to comprehend your reading, understand it better, and remember it longer. Click to learn more and unlock all the best available strategies for reading comprehension improvement.