Success in CLAT depends heavily on how fast you read and how well you understand. The reading comprehension section, legal reasoning, and even GK require sharp reading skills. But reading quickly means nothing if you keep misunderstanding the passage. You must increase your reading speed for CLAT while keeping your comprehension intact. That balance gives you both speed and accuracy in the exam.
Stop Subvocalizing While Reading
Subvocalization means reading every word in your head as if you were speaking it. This habit slows you down. Try to reduce this gradually. Focus on visualising the meaning instead of sounding out the sentence. Start by reading simple texts silently and then build up to dense passages.
Use a Pointer or Finger to Guide Your Eyes
Many toppers use a pen, finger, or cursor while reading. This technique trains your eyes to move faster across lines. Your brain starts associating motion with focus. When you keep your eyes guided, you reduce unnecessary backtracking and maintain rhythm across the passage.
Train With Timed Reading Practice
Set a timer for five minutes and read an editorial or essay. Track how many words or paragraphs you cover. The next day, try to read slightly faster while retaining clarity. After finishing the article, summarise the main idea in two lines. This habit builds both speed and understanding.
Read in Meaningful Chunks
Avoid reading word by word. Instead, group words together. For example, read “the right to freedom of speech” as one phrase—not six separate words. With practice, you start identifying patterns and absorbing whole ideas in one go. Chunking increases your reading speed for CLAT significantly.
Avoid Regression and Eye Jumps
Many students reread sentences multiple times even when they understood them correctly the first time. This habit eats into time and breaks focus. Train yourself to read forward unless the question requires you to refer back. As your confidence grows, your reliance on re-reading will drop naturally.
Start With Familiar Content Before Moving to Complex Passages
Begin your speed training with topics you enjoy—sports, opinion columns, or short legal pieces. Once your pace improves, move on to tougher passages like those in The Hindu or LiveLaw. Familiarity reduces mental resistance and helps you build comfort with academic tone.
Practice Skimming and Scanning
When reading long passages, learn to skim for the main idea and scan for details. Skimming helps you grasp the structure quickly. Scanning allows you to locate facts when answering questions. These techniques help you approach CLAT passages with purpose, not panic.
Conclusion: Speed Without Clarity Fails in CLAT
You don’t need to become a speed reader. You need to become an efficient reader who understands quickly and answers correctly. Improving your reading speed for CLAT requires regular, conscious practice—not shortcuts. Use these methods daily, and within weeks, you’ll read faster, retain more, and stress less during the exam.
