When and where did the first meeting of Head of Audit Offices of the region take place?

1973

Suva, Fiji

Does reading faster decrease or increase understanding of the text?

Yes, but not always. It very much depends on the person, familiarity with what they are reading and the kind of text.

In general, it is believed that fast readers attain high levels of comprehension. Speed reading benefits those who are voracious readers including university lecturers, postgraduate students, doctors, lawyers, and writers. Moreover, in today’s fast-paced world where there’s information overload in both our personal and professional lives, being able to read fast enables us to keep abreast of what is happening in the world around us. We can then choose what we would like to read more closely and at a slower pace.

There is a case for slower reading particularly when reading a technical or complex scholarly text or one that is on an unfamiliar topic. In addition, some scholars question speed reading arguing that it comes at the cost of accuracy and lower comprehension levels.

In a nutshell, it is difficult to answer this question with a simple yes or no, but what is important is to be aware of the benefits of fast reading and how it is a great asset in today’s constantly changing world. As we practice reading faster, we can aim for a high level of comprehension to find the optimal speed rather than simply going for speed and sacrificing comprehension. Some scholars, e.g. Paul Nation, compiled simple texts for second language learners to practice both speed and accuracy by reading one text per day and recording their time as well as answering questions to check comprehension. The score they get on each aspect can guide them on how to proceed with the next texts.