How to read a textbook effectively (and actually remember it)
TutorAura guide · Updated
Reading a textbook chapter from start to finish and then highlighting it feels like studying, but researchers rate highlighting and rereading as low in usefulness for learning (Dunlosky et al., 2013). The difference between reading and learning is what you do while you read and straight after.
This guide gives you a simple routine for any textbook chapter: preview it, read it in sections with questions in mind, explain each section in your own words, and test yourself afterwards.
Key takeaways
- Preview the chapter before reading: headings, summary, questions.
- Turn headings into questions and read to answer them.
- After each section, explain it in your own words without looking.
- Test yourself later instead of rereading.
1. Preview (5 minutes)
Before reading, look over:
- the chapter title, headings and subheadings,
- any learning objectives or summary,
- diagrams, tables and bold key terms,
- the questions at the end.
This gives you a map of what's coming, so details have somewhere to fit.
2. Turn headings into questions
For each heading, write a question you expect the section to answer:
| Heading | Question |
|---|---|
| The structure of the atom | What are atoms made of, and where is each part? |
| Causes of the Great Depression | What caused the Great Depression? Which cause mattered most? |
| Photosynthesis | What happens in photosynthesis, where, and why does it matter? |
Reading to answer a question keeps you active and focused.
3. Read one section at a time
Read a section (a page or two) carefully. Study diagrams and worked examples, not just the text. Don't highlight yet. At the end of the section, look away and explain it in your own words: out loud, or in a few lines of notes. Explaining helps you understand and reveals what you missed (Chi et al., 1994). If you can't explain it, reread just that part.
4. Take brief notes in your own words
Write short notes after each section, not during: the answer to your question, key terms with definitions, and one example. Keep them brief. If you highlight at all, do it after reading the section and limit it to the few key terms, because over-highlighting replaces thinking. See how to take notes.
5. Test yourself afterwards
When you've finished the chapter:
- Close the book and answer your heading questions from memory.
- Try the end-of-chapter questions.
- Check your answers and note what you missed.
- Come back a few days later and answer the questions again.
Testing yourself like this is far more effective than rereading the chapter (Roediger and Karpicke, 2006). See active recall.
Different subjects, different reading
- Maths: work through each example with a pencil before reading the explanation of the next step, then try the practice problems.
- Sciences: focus on diagrams and processes; redraw key diagrams from memory.
- History and social studies: track cause, effect and evidence; build a short timeline.
- Literature: read for meaning first, then reread key passages to analyse how they're written.
If a section doesn't make sense after a careful read, ask for help: your teacher, a classmate, or an AI tutor that can explain it another way.
Frequently asked questions
How long should it take to read a textbook chapter?
Longer than a quick read-through, because you stop to explain each section and test yourself at the end. That extra time saves rereading later.
What is the best way to read a textbook?
Preview the chapter, turn headings into questions, read one section at a time, explain each part in your own words, and test yourself afterwards.
Is highlighting a good study method?
On its own, no. Research rates highlighting as low in usefulness. Explaining and testing yourself are far more effective.
Should I take notes while reading?
Read a section first, then write brief notes in your own words. Writing while you read tends to become copying.
How can I remember what I read?
Explain each section from memory as you go, then test yourself on the chapter a few days later.
Sources
- Improving Students' Learning With Effective Learning Techniques. Psychological Science in the Public Interest (Dunlosky et al.), 2013.
- Eliciting Self-Explanations Improves Understanding. Cognitive Science (Chi, de Leeuw, Chiu and LaVancher), 1994.
- Test-Enhanced Learning: Taking Memory Tests Improves Long-Term Retention. Psychological Science (Roediger and Karpicke), 2006.
Keep reading
How to take notes that actually help you learn
Notes in your own words, the Cornell method, and how to turn notes into self-tests.
Active recall: the study technique that beats rereading
Why testing yourself beats rereading, and five practical ways to do it for any subject.
The Feynman technique: learn by explaining it simply
Explain a topic in plain words, find where your explanation breaks down, and fill the gaps.
How to study for a test: methods that actually work
Test yourself, spread it out and mix topics: a research-backed method with a 7-day plan and a one-day emergency plan.