What are skimming and scanning for?
Learn when to get the big picture and when to search for a specific detail.
2 min read · Updated 9/8/2026
The key idea
Skimming means running your eyes over a text quickly to understand its general direction. Scanning means searching for a specific name, number or fact.
These are not a substitute for careful reading. Use a quick look to find the place, and read the relevant part carefully before choosing the answer.
Looking at the title and the main idea of the paragraphs creates an initial map. Then, depending on the question, you go back to the place you need on that map.
See an example
Passage: The town introduced its first bicycle-sharing scheme in 2018. At first, only the centre had stations. Later, the scheme expanded to residential areas. Residents now use it for short daily journeys.
“What is this paragraph about?” → with a general reading you see the development of the scheme.
“When did it start?” → you search for the date 2018 and check the sentence.
Now you try
Passage: The garden opened in 1996. Its original purpose was plant research. Today, it also runs workshops for local schools and welcomes visitors throughout the year.
- Find the starting year.
- Choose the more suitable summary for the paragraph: “The changing role of a garden” or “The history of school buildings”?
A personal draft. It is not saved when you leave or automatically graded.
Reveal the answer and explanation
Answer and explanation
- 1996 — scanning for a specific date.
- The changing role of a garden — first it was for research, now it also runs activities for schools and visitors.
You can't choose the second summary just because you see the word schools. A title must cover the topic of the whole paragraph.
Matching headings: how do I choose a heading?
Official sources for this topic
IELTS · Reading