Stop Making These Three Reading Comprehension Mistakes on Exams
- Heather Adam
- Mar 13
- 3 min read
Many students feel as though reading comprehension exams are a guessing game. However, strong readers rarely rely on luck. In reality, a few small habits can make a major difference in your results.
In this article, I’ll walk through the three most common reading comprehension mistakes I see during tutoring sessions and how you can avoid them.
Mistake One: Reading the Questions First on Reading Comprehension Exams
You may think you’re helping yourself out by reading the questions and skimming the text for answers, but this often leads to choosing the wrong answer.
Why?
Reading comprehension exams evaluate your ability to understand a text in its fullness. If you read the questions first, you only look out for specific things in the reading, which leads to missing out on important themes, ideas, and literary devices. In other words, you’re going through the test with tunnel vision! Test designers often include incorrect answers that are designed to trap students who skim the passage instead of reading carefully.
What to do Instead:
Read the text first and make sure to highlight important aspects of the text such as:
literary devices (irony, symbolism, contrast)
shifts in tone or mood
key ideas that seem central to the author’s message
Mistake Two: Skipping Footnotes
Do you see a small number floating at the end of a sentence or a word? That’s a footnote. These are used to offer definitions for difficult words, or to give you some information about a phrase or idea that you might not be familiar with. Most exams list footnote information at the bottom of a page; however, there are some that list footnotes in the margins.
I have seen a handful of questions that are easily answered if you have read a specific footnote. Taking the time to check them out is worth it!
Mistake Three: Not Returning to the Text for Evidence
If you come across a question that has line numbers in it, always go back and re-read that section. I advise reading one line before and one line after the designated line numbers to make sure you have a good idea of what is going on! For example, if a question asks about line 18, reading line 17–19 often reveals important context that changes the meaning of the sentence.
Quick Recap: Avoid These Reading Mistakes
Students often struggle on reading comprehension exams because they:
read questions before understanding the text
ignore helpful footnotes
fail to return to the passage when answering questions
By slowing down and reading more intentionally, you can approach reading comprehension with confidence instead of guesswork.
Want to Ace Your Next Exam?
If you are preparing for the ELA 30-1 Diploma Exam, I created a Part B Diploma Handbook that walks students through:
proven reading comprehension strategies
key literary devices that appear on diploma exams
practical ways to approach multiple choice questions with confidence
It’s designed to help students feel prepared instead of guessing on exam day and approach the reading section with a clear strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Reading Comprehension Exams
Why do students struggle with reading comprehension exams?
Many students struggle because they approach reading comprehension as a search for answers instead of trying to understand the text as a whole. When students focus only on specific words or lines, they may miss the broader ideas, themes, and literary devices that help reveal the correct answer.
Should you read the questions before the passage?
Although some students believe reading the questions first saves time, it often leads to “tunnel vision.” Students may skim the passage looking for specific words instead of understanding the author's message. It is usually more effective to read the passage carefully before looking at the questions.
How can I improve reading comprehension for the ELA 30-1 Diploma Exam?
Students can improve their reading comprehension by practicing active reading strategies such as highlighting key ideas, paying attention to literary devices, and returning to the passage when answering questions. These habits help students understand the text more deeply and avoid common mistakes.
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