Reading is truly at the center of learning in academic environments—especially in higher level learning. Whether you are reading a classic novel for English class or sifting through the pages of a physics textbook to better understand a scientific theory, reading comprehension skills will come in handy. When these skills are developed early, they will lift you to higher academic pursuits than you previously thought imaginable.

Write it down.

Many go into reading assuming they will remember the things that stand out to them. It’s best, however, to assume you’ll need a written record of what stood out to you to look back on later, as our capacities to memorize things typically do not serve us as well as we would like them to. Write down quotes word-for-word that you think are especially key, and take notes on general ideas and patterns you see in your reading. Use whatever method works for you, be it sticky notes, notebook paper, writing directly within the text, or typing notes on a computer. The simple act of writing things down will help you remember them better, and you can look back on your notes later during study rather than skim through the text again. If you want to make your note taking especially effective, consider writing out your notes a second time.

Keep track of new vocabulary words.

Encounter a new vocabulary word or a word with a usage you’ve never seen before? This is an essential part of note taking. Jot down these words and look them up immediately or soon after finishing your reading. Learning these words within their context will help you to remember them in the future.

Summarize.

In addition to taking notes as you go, it helps tremendously to pause at significant breaks in your reading to synthesize what you have just read. How would you summarize a long chapter in a textbook in just five bullet points? What is the main theme being conveyed in the portion of the novel you just read? Try to put these things in your own words. You’ll know you have sufficiently summarized a portion of reading if you feel that you can teach the underlying basics of the reading to someone else.

Verify that you covered the bases.

It’s a good idea before going into a reading to draw out a quick outline of questions that you’ll need to answer from the reading. After synthesizing the reading, be sure you covered the main points you needed to. While reading a novel, for example, were you able to draw out a theme, understand new plot developments, find common motifs, and list the literary devices used by the author? From a scientific text, were you able to write out a list of key equations and their variables, and gain an understanding as to how to use them?

Formulate a response.

Go a step beyond covering the content of the reading and consider how the reading made you feel. Is anything leaving you confused? Are you seeing lessons that apply both on a personal level and on a societal level? Making a habit of going beyond the content will prepare you for higher level learning where synthesizing and expounding on reading is essential for discussion and research.