Survey
Question
Read
Recall
Review
SQ3R: Reading Strategy
Survey
get an overview of the paper
trigger background knowledge
decide if a paper is useful or not
during research
This helps to:
Skim the text quickly,
without reading every word.
Focus on headings,
introductions, conclusions,
images, glossaries and
diagrams.
Question
Write down some questions
you want the text to answer
based on your initial survey,
or turn the headings into
questions.
give you a purpose or goal while reading
maintain focus and concentration
This helps to:
Read
Read the text
thoroughly to find
answers to your
questions and take
notes.
think critically about what
you're reading
identify and summarise key
points in your notes
This helps to:
Recall
Put the text and your
notes aside and try to
recall what you have just
read. Answer your
questions and make notes
in your own words.
This helps to:
check your understanding and
memory
Refer back to your questions
and the text and make sure
your notes contain all the
important points from the
reading. Review these notes
frequently.
Review
This helps to:
improve your memory
identify gaps in your understanding
develop useful study notes
Asking your
tutor for
clarification
SQ3R
Survey
Question
Read
Recall
Review
Academic Skills
Enabling students to realise
their full academic potential
and achieve excellence
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
academic-skills@unimelb.edu.au

SQ3R Reading Strategy

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Survey get an overviewof the paper trigger background knowledge decide if a paper is useful or not during research This helps to: Skim the text quickly, without reading every word. Focus on headings, introductions, conclusions, images, glossaries and diagrams.
  • 3.
    Question Write down somequestions you want the text to answer based on your initial survey, or turn the headings into questions. give you a purpose or goal while reading maintain focus and concentration This helps to:
  • 4.
    Read Read the text thoroughlyto find answers to your questions and take notes. think critically about what you're reading identify and summarise key points in your notes This helps to:
  • 5.
    Recall Put the textand your notes aside and try to recall what you have just read. Answer your questions and make notes in your own words. This helps to: check your understanding and memory
  • 6.
    Refer back toyour questions and the text and make sure your notes contain all the important points from the reading. Review these notes frequently. Review This helps to: improve your memory identify gaps in your understanding develop useful study notes
  • 7.
  • 8.
    Academic Skills Enabling studentsto realise their full academic potential and achieve excellence http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills academic-skills@unimelb.edu.au