TEAS Reading Comprehension Techniques

Overview of the TEAS Reading Comprehension Section

The TEAS Reading Comprehension section contains 45 questions that test your ability to understand, analyze, and apply information from written passages. The time allotted for this section is 55 minutes, so you’ll need to read carefully but also manage your time wisely. The questions typically assess the following skills:

• Identifying key ideas and details - Understanding the main points and supporting information
• Understanding text structure - Recognizing the organization of a passage and how ideas are presented
• Making inferences - Drawing conclusions based on implied information in the text
• Understanding vocabulary in context - Decoding the meaning of words based on their usage in the passage

To succeed in this section, you need to practice active reading, focus on key details, and develop strategies to answer questions quickly and accurately.

TEAS Reading Comprehension Strategies

1. Preview the Passage Before Reading

Before diving into the full passage, take a moment to skim the title and any headings or subheadings. This will give you an idea of the main topic of the passage and help you stay focused as you read. Also, quickly glance at any questions that follow the passage. This will help you understand what information you need to focus on while reading.

2. Read Actively and Purposefully

Active reading involves engaging with the text as you read, rather than passively letting the information go in one ear and out the other. Here are a few tips for active reading:

• Highlight or underline key ideas as you read to help you find important details quickly when answering questions.
• Take notes or make brief annotations in the margins to summarize important points or mark areas that might be relevant to the questions.
• Look for topic sentences in each paragraph, as they often convey the main idea of the paragraph.

By reading with purpose and engagement, you’ll be able to retain information better and answer questions with confidence.

3. Focus on the Main Idea

Each passage on the TEAS will have a central theme or main idea. Your job is to identify and understand this idea as you read. Often, the first paragraph and the conclusion will provide hints about the main idea. Additionally, look for repeating themes or ideas throughout the passage, as these are usually key points the author wants to emphasize.

4. Pay Attention to Text Structure

Understanding the structure of the text will help you identify how information is organized and why it’s important. Common text structures include:

• Chronological: Events are presented in the order they happened (e.g., historical events, step-by-step processes).
• Cause and effect: The author explains the causes of something and its effects.
• Compare and contrast: The author compares two or more things and highlights their similarities and differences.
• Problem and solution: The author presents a problem and then offers one or more solutions.

Recognizing the structure of the passage will help you better understand how information is connected and will make it easier to answer questions related to the text.

5. Make Inferences

Sometimes, TEAS reading comprehension questions ask you to make inferences, or draw conclusions based on information that is implied, rather than directly stated. To make inferences, consider the context of the passage and look for clues that suggest a deeper meaning. Think about the author’s tone, purpose, and the implications of the information provided.

For example, if the author describes a character’s actions in a passage without directly saying they are upset, you can infer the character is upset based on the context and behavior described.

6. Understand Vocabulary in Context

Another important skill in the TEAS Reading section is understanding vocabulary in context. Rather than focusing on memorizing individual words, practice figuring out their meaning based on how they’re used in the passage. Here’s how:

• Look at the surrounding sentences or paragraphs for clues that explain the meaning of a word.
• Consider the overall tone or subject matter of the passage, which can help clarify the meaning of an unfamiliar word.
• If the word is important to the meaning of the passage, the surrounding information will often provide enough context for you to figure out its meaning.

By understanding vocabulary in context, you won’t be caught off guard by unfamiliar words during the test.

7. Practice Answering Questions

After reading the passage, take the time to carefully read each question before selecting an answer. The TEAS will often have questions that require you to identify specific details or make inferences based on the passage. Follow these steps when answering:

• Read the question carefully to understand what is being asked.
• Refer back to the passage to find the section that answers the question. Don’t rely on memory alone—always go back to the text.
• Eliminate obviously wrong answers to increase your chances of selecting the correct one.

Answering questions based on the information in the passage, rather than your own assumptions, is key to getting the right answer.

8. Practice Regularly

Regular practice is essential for improving your reading comprehension skills. Set aside time each day to practice reading passages, and after each one, answer the questions and review your performance. This will help you build your skills over time and become more comfortable with the types of questions on the TEAS exam.

Conclusion

Improving your reading comprehension skills for the TEAS exam takes time and practice, but with the right strategies, you can succeed. Focus on understanding the main ideas, making inferences, and mastering vocabulary in context. Use active reading techniques, pay attention to text structure, and practice regularly to build your confidence. With these techniques in mind, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle the TEAS Reading Comprehension section and achieve your best score.