What is Skimming and Scanning ?

SKIMMING & SCANNING

1. What Is Skimming?

Skimming is a reading technique used to read a text quickly to find the main idea or the general information.

Purpose of Skimming

• To know what the text is about

• To get the general idea

• To choose a title for the passage

• To understand the main points quickly

 How to Skim

1. Read the title

2. Read the first and last paragraph quickly

3. Read the first sentence of each paragraph

4. Look at headings, bold words, pictures

5. Stop reading details (dates, names, numbers)

 Example

Text:
Bali is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Indonesia. Visitors love its beaches, culture, and beautiful nature.

Skimming question:
What is the text about?
→ Bali as a tourist destination.

2. What Is Scanning?

Scanning is a reading technique used to find specific information quickly, such as a date, name, number, price, or fact.

Purpose of Scanning

• To find a specific word or number

• To answer factual questions

• To find details in schedules, tables, announcements

• To locate information without reading the whole text

How to Scan

1. Know what exact information you are looking for

2. Move your eyes quickly over the text

3. Stop only when you find the keyword

4. Don’t read every sentence

Example

Text:
The school event will be held on 21 September 2025 at 8 a.m.

Scanning question:
When is the event?
→ 21 September 2025.