8 Best Speed Reading Courses
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Table of Contents
Our Top Pick
Become a SuperLearner 2: Learn Speed Reading to Boost Memory (Udemy)
This is the best all-round, comprehensive speed reading course online that we would recommend to readers of any ability. Become a SuperLearner 2 will teach you not only to read faster but to maintain 80% cognition while you do it – all in just 5 hours!
Cost: Originally $145 (promotions available)
Length: 5 hours Platform: Udemy
“I’m not a speed reader. I’m a speed understander.”
Isaac Asimov
Have you ever wished there was a way to get more reading done when you’re pressed for time? Avid readers all over the world sympathize with you.
Luckily, you don’t have to wish any longer! There are many speed-reading courses available online to help you scan through walls of text in record time – without reducing your comprehension.
Whether you need to optimize your reading speed at work or just want to meet your yearly reading goals, there’s a course out there to meet your needs as well as your budget!
So, without further ado, allow us to take you into the wonderful world of speed reading and help you find the perfect course for your rapid reading requirements!
Course List
- Become a SuperLearner 2: Learn Speed Reading to Boost Memory (Udemy)
- Iris: Speed Reading Foundation Course (Iris Reading)
- Iris: Speed Reading Mastery Course (Iris Reading)
- Speed Reading Mastery: Double your Reading Speed in 7 Days (SkillShare)
- Triple Your Speed Reading in Just 7 Days (SkillShare)
- Super Reading by Jim Kwik (MindValley)
- Become a Learning Machine 2.0 (Udemy)
- Learn Speed Reading Online (RevItUpReading)
Best Speed Reading Courses Reviews
1. Become a SuperLearner 2: Learn Speed Reading to Boost Memory
Pros
- Created and led by experts
- Focus on effective memorization
- Inclusive of visual and learning disabilities
Cons
- Only taught in English
Let’s be honest, we’d all like to be super learners – but often, that’s easier said than done. With the Become a SuperLearner course on Udemy, though, you’ll be amazed at your own potential – and how easy it is to reach!
The thing that initially drew us towards this course wasn’t its grand claims or promises – actually, quite the opposite!
The creators of this course demonstrate a real focus on realism, basing their estimates on scientifically-tested averages of college reading speeds.
Moreover, they foreground the importance of retaining the information you read as well as just processing it visually, which is something that is sadly lacking in many speed-reading courses you’ll find online.
The Become a SuperLearner 2: Learn Speed Reading to Boost Memory course aims to teach students to read at 3 times the speed of average college graduates.
The course focuses on strengthening your cognitive infrastructure and imparting useful memorization techniques (from ‘chunking’ to using markers) to achieve a faster reading speed while maintaining 80% cognition!
Best of all, you can complete this course in as little as 5 hours, although you get lifetime access to the course materials. When you complete the course, you get a certificate to recognize your achievement!
Students with learning disabilities or visual impairments are invited to contact the course instructors before purchase to ensure that proper support can be provided.
We love to see this kind of inclusivity and consideration in all fields of education, and it’s great to see it applied to something like speed reading, which is too often considered to be an unattainable skill for most people.
We feel that the main drawback to this course is that it’s currently only taught in English. Speakers and readers of all languages could really benefit from the knowledge imparted in this course, so we’d love to see SuperLearner expand to include lessons in more languages.
2. Iris: Speed Reading Foundation Course
Pros
- Not too time-consuming
- Incorporates speed reading software
- Available as a live class
Cons
- Aimed at complete beginners
You may not yet be familiar with Iris because it doesn’t have the same wide reach as other platforms like Skillshare or Udemy, but it’s the most purpose-built platform for learning speed reading.
The Speed Reading Foundation Course by Iris consists of 3 main classes, each between 45 minutes to just over an hour long.
There are also lots of shorter lessons based around handy tips and tricks like ‘Skipping Words with No Meaning’ and ‘How to Train Yourself to Read Faster.’
These lessons are much shorter than the first 3 classes, however, so the whole course is relatively easy and quick to get through in between 5 and 6 hours.
Iris also incorporates the use of a free speed reading program called AccelaReader into their course structure to give you a boost in your training. Once you’ve purchased the course, you receive lifetime access to all the lessons and videos.
The Speed Reading Foundation Course available online is based on the live classes conducted by Iris educators. These live classes are available in many U.S., Canadian, and international cities.
In addition to all the incredible learning experiences the Speed Reading Foundation Course has to offer, you’ll get a couple of extra bonuses for your money.
These include a PDF detailing ‘30 Tips to Improve your Memory’ and an ebook called ‘Focus’ by Leo Babauta, which is about overcoming distractions to maintain a consistent focus. You’ll even receive a certificate to celebrate and cement your achievement at the end of the course!
This course is exclusively aimed at beginners, so it probably won’t be suitable for learners with a pre-existing understanding of basic speed reading techniques.
3. Iris: Speed Reading Mastery Course
Pros
- Teaches advanced skills
- Includes access to test strategies
- 8 + hours of content
Cons
- Not for beginners
So, what if you complete Iris Reading’s Speed Reading Foundation Course and want to take your newfound skills to another level? Well, with the Speed Reading Mastery Course, you can!
The Speed Reading Mastery Course is designed as a follow-up to the Foundation Course. However, it could also be taken by speed readers who have developed basic speed-reading skills elsewhere and now want to enhance their abilities.
Where the Foundation Course focuses mainly on instilling key skills and techniques for faster reading, the Mastery Course works on developing and fine-tuning these skills for maximum efficacy.
This will include lessons such as ‘How to Sharpen Your Focus for Increased Speed’ and ‘High-Speed Comprehension Strategies.’ In essence, this course will teach you how to push your reading speed to an even faster pace while improving your comprehension simultaneously.
As part of the course bundle, you’ll receive the same PDF that comes with the Foundation Course on ‘30 Tips to Improve your Memory’, but you’ll also gain access to some test strategies for SAT, LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, and GRE!
Of course, as in the Foundation Course, your achievement will be marked by a certificate of completion.
This is a more extensive course than the Foundation module, with over 8 hours of content as opposed to 5. This means that you’ll need to be prepared to commit to the challenge, but for those who are ready, it’s a detailed and thorough learning experience.
As you’ll probably have gathered by now, though, this course is not for speed reading beginners. If you have no experience with speed reading, you should start with the Speed Reading Foundation Course and work your way up.
If you want to save yourself some money, we’d actually recommend purchasing the Foundation and Mastery courses together so that you can progress directly on with your speed reading journey and benefit from Iris Reading’s deals.
4. Speed Reading Mastery: Double your Reading Speed in 7 Days
Pros
- Expert-led
- Quick and easy to complete
- Includes tests and certificate
Cons
- More content would be ideal
This course from Skillshare is also called Speed Reading Mastery, but don’t confuse it with the advanced Iris Reading course! This is a unique speed reading education experience that promises to double your reading speed in just 7 days!
A significant selling point of this course is that it’s perfect for busy students and professionals who want to boost their reading speed in as short a time as possible. The course features only between 1 and 2 hours of video content, so it’s quick and easy to complete, but there are tests along the way to track your progress so you can fully appreciate the results.
One of the things we like best about this course is that you know you can trust your instructor. The course is led by John Harry, a speed reading expert with his own personal experience of struggling with reading. John has conquered his difficulties with reading and public speaking and is now committed to helping others to do the same, leading by example with his transformed reading speed of 7 times the average person!
With that being said, although the condensed content is really helpful for those super-busy readers out there, a little bit more video content and detail overall would increase the value of this course.
5. Read BETTER FASTER: Triple Your Speed Reading in Just 7 Days
Pros
- Good beginner course
- Teaches impressive reading speeds
- Encourages long-term focus
Cons
- Not everyone will triple their speed
If you liked the sound of Skillshare’s Speed Reading Mastery: Double Your Reading Speed in 7 days, but found yourself wishing there was a way to learn to read even faster, you’re in luck! Skillshare also offers another popular course that aims to triple your reading speed in that same amount of time!
This course is ideal for beginners because it starts on the assumption that you, the student, have no prior knowledge of how to speed read.
The first step to the Read BETTER FASTER course is for students to familiarize themselves with their current reading method. We really like this because many courses will try to jump straight into teaching without first allowing the student to fully understand where they are and what the problems are with their current methods.
Despite the fact that this is a beginner-friendly course, the results are very impressive. The course aims to teach students how to attain reading speeds of up to 800 words per minute.
This is more than double the average college graduate’s reading speed, yet it’s still a realistic goal to aim for, which is part of what drew us towards this course as a reliable, trustworthy resource.
Another great thing about this course is that it teaches and encourages long-term focus for up to 4 hours at a time. Sustained focus goes hand in hand with speed reading, so it’s reassuring to see this foregrounded in the BETTER FASTER speed reading course.
We should point out, despite all the amazing features of this course, that the claim of tripling your reading speed will not be true for everyone – at least, not in 7 days.
6. Super Reading by Jim Kwik
Pros
- Expert-led
- Fast-paced
- Includes group training calls
Cons
- Expensive
The Super Reading course by Jim Kwik is one of the most comprehensive overviews of speed reading techniques on the internet.
For anyone who isn’t familiar, Jim Kwik is a Youtube content creator, author, learning expert, and learning advisor. Jim suffered a brain injury at just 5 years of age which left his reading functions impaired. Since then, he has gone on to teach himself and others how to overcome cognitive challenges to read and learn faster and more effectively.
This expert-led course is fast-paced, taking students through the theoretical foundations, science-backed speed reading techniques, and practical tips and tricks for doubling your reading speed in just 10 to 20 minutes for a period of 21 days.
As a bonus, you’ll also get access to 4 recordings of group training calls led by Jim himself. Jim’s training calls would usually cost you in the region of $10,000 an hour, so these recordings are a fantastic deal.
Sadly, all these incredible features and learning experiences don’t come cheap. This is normally a very expensive course (we’re talking close to $1000), although there are frequently deals in place to make the course much more affordable. Additionally, you get to trial the course risk-free for 15 days.
7. Become a Learning Machine 2.0
Pros
- Reasonable time commitment
- Focus on active learning
- Read 100 + books a year
Cons
- Occasionally repetitive
For anyone whose ultimate goals are to be able to read more books and become a better learner in the process, the Become a Learning Machine 2.0 course is the perfect educational tool.
The Learning Machine 2.0 course is a fully revised and updated version of the original course with even more helpful tips and learning tools.
Following the guidance of this course, you should be able to read at least 100 books a year, if not as many as 300!
This is enabled by the course’s focus on active learning, which involves a practical 7-step framework to follow as well as learning how to internalize information for complete understanding and personal growth.
In order to succeed in this course, you need to be able to commit just 10 minutes each day to reading. This is very doable and will allow you to keep on top of your other commitments and goals while you learn to speed-read effectively.
Included with this course are 2 hours of video content, 2 articles, and 9 downloadable resources. Once you’ve purchased this course, you have access to it for life through mobile and TV devices. You’ll also receive a certificate of completion once you finish the course.
One common criticism of this course is that the content can occasionally become repetitive. Repetition can help with memorization, but some learners may find this approach frustrating.
8. Learn Speed Reading Online
Pros
- Expert-led
- Comprehensive
- Good balance of theory and practice
Cons
- Limited access
Finally, if you’re looking for a beginner-friendly, expert-led speed reading course that’s both comprehensive and sufficiently detailed, we’d highly recommend the Learn Speed Reading Online course by Abby Marks Beal!
Abby Marks Beal is an expert in learning processes who has published 3 books on the subject. She has a master’s degree in Adult Learning and has gone from self-confessed reading-hater to avid book-learner using the tools and techniques featured in this course.
With 5 hours of learning content, this course strikes a good balance between fast pacing and detail, so you can gain an in-depth understanding of the theory and practice behind speed reading without compromising on your other time commitments.
The course features 9 modules that cover key skills in all aspects of speed reading, including how to read faster, maintain concentration, and take more effective notes. There are also exercises to help you put your new skills into practice.
We particularly like how this course manages to balance realistic goals and time commitments with detailed, thoughtful content and an equally theoretical and practical approach.
Our only real complaint about this course is that the modules are only accessible for a limited amount of time, with payments being based on how long you want access to the course.
The maximum registration time is 365 days. However, you can enjoy 1-day access to a single module for free.
How To Choose The Best Speed Reading Courses
Now that we’ve introduced you to the 8 best speed reading courses on the market, we realize you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the options.
Check out this guide for more information on how to select your perfect speed reading course!
Experience Level
A big part of choosing a speed reading course is making sure the content is appropriate for your level of experience. This can be tricky because you might not know exactly what level your skills are at beforehand.
We would recommend starting your selection process by finding a text of a certain length (ideally around 300 words) and timing how long it takes you to read it. Don’t rush! Read at your normal pace, and make sure you’re focusing on the words and understanding them fully.
If it takes you a full minute or more to read 300 words, your reading speed is either at or below that of the average college graduate, and you could definitely benefit from a speed reading course for beginners.
If, however, your reading speed is much higher (say, you power through the text in 30 seconds with good comprehension), you might be ready for a more advanced course. However, if you’ve never taken a speed reading course before, it might still be a good idea to start with the basics to ensure your reading technique is sound.
Practical vs. Theoretical
Different people learn in different ways. Some learners respond better to theory, while others need a more practical approach.
Ideally, a speed reading course should encompass both practical and theoretical teachings for a balanced learning experience. This will make sure that you understand the methodology but are also able to apply it effectively.
That said, some courses will lean slightly more towards the theoretical or practical side of learning and may rely on certain methods more than others.
Therefore, it might help you to find out what kind of learner you are before you choose a course so that you know it will work for you.
There are several quizzes and questionnaires you can take online to find out whether you’re a visual, verbal, logical, or physical learner, so we’d recommend taking at least one.
Accessibility
Accessibility really comes down to 3 factors when it comes to speed reading courses.
Because the courses we’ve featured in this article are accessible through reputable online platforms, they should be easy for most people to find.
However, issues of accessibility can start to arise when cost and inclusivity are factored in.
There is a lot of variety in cost between the courses we’ve reviewed. Some are originally priced closer to $1000, while others come with more modest price tags.
Obviously, paying hundreds of dollars for a course isn’t a viable option for everyone.
Luckily, there are several courses on our list priced at under $100, and with the help of platform coupons and additional promotions, prices can drop as low as $12. You may also be able to benefit from a free trial, so be sure to see if any are available.
Inclusivity is also of the utmost importance. Speed reading courses should be accessible to people with learning difficulties and/or visual impairments because everyone deserves to be able to learn and grow as they choose.
This is one of the main reasons why we chose Become a SuperLearner 2 as our top choice – this course really commits to being adaptable to students’ needs.
Finally, we need to talk about the question of actual access – as in, how long course materials remain accessible.
Many courses will grant purchasers lifetime access to their materials, but others will only grant you access for a limited amount of time based on your payment plan. Make sure you’re fully aware of these terms and conditions before you complete your purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do speed reading courses actually work?
Yes, the courses we’ve reviewed in this article really do work.
However, in many cases, appreciating the benefits of speed reading involves moderating your expectations. What we mean by this is that many potential speed-readers are often put off by the fact that they don’t notice any obvious results early on.
If this sounds like your experience, it’s probably not your fault.
You’ve likely been misled by some less reputable courses that reel you in with bold (and unrealistic) claims of teaching you how to effectively read and comprehend hundreds of thousands of words per minute.
Scientific studies have shown that your average college graduate reads at a speed of roughly 300 words every minute.
For reference, that’s about a page of your average novel. Similar studies have also shown that it’s actually possible to read up to 600 words a minute with the right training and practice.
So, there is some substance to the claims you see from courses that promise to double your reading speed. In fact, if you’re a slower than average reader (say, 200 words a minute), you could potentially even triple your pace!
About the Author Jacob M.
Jacob has a background in finance and engineering. Outside of his day job, he is a lifelong learner, who enjoys reading, taking online courses, and writing about what he's learned.
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