Reading Comprehension Log: Free Practice Template
A useful reading log records what you understood as well as how long you read. After a short session, close the text, write its main point, recall supporting details, and note unanswered questions. Use those observations alongside speed instead of chasing a words-per-minute target alone.
Download the free reading comprehension log (CSV)
Choose comparable passages
A familiar blog post and an unfamiliar technical chapter are different reading tasks. If you compare their speeds without context, the numbers can tell a misleading story. Pick passages with a similar purpose, subject, and level of difficulty when you want to compare practice sessions. Record whether you have seen each passage before.
Write down your goal before starting. You might be reading for an overview, an argument you need to explain, or instructions you must follow. A session that meets one goal may not meet another. The template is a personal practice aid, not a standardized test or a measure of intelligence.
Record time without letting it dominate
Note the passage's word count if you have a reliable count, then time the active reading. For an illustrative calculation, 900 words in six minutes gives 150 words per minute: divide words by minutes. If your time is recorded in seconds, divide the word count by seconds and multiply by 60. Leave the speed blank when the word count is unknown.
Record interruptions and rereading. You do not have to remove them to make a result look better. A pause to understand a diagram may be part of doing the task well. A single fast session is a data point, not proof that your reading ability has permanently changed.
Close the text and check recall
- Write the main point in one or two sentences without looking back.
- List two supporting details, examples, or steps you remember.
- Write one question that remains unclear.
- Reopen the passage and compare your notes with what it actually says.
- Mark specific omissions or misunderstandings rather than giving yourself a vague “good” score.
For a practical article, the main point might be a recommended process. For an essay, it might be the author's claim and reasons. For fiction, adapt the check to the scene's events or character motivations. Do not treat every kind of reading as the same exercise.
Review patterns across sessions
The log has separate fields for your initial summary and corrections after checking. Keep both. If the correction field repeatedly shows missed qualifications, try slower pacing or more deliberate pauses around those passages. If recall stays useful for your purpose across comparable sessions, experiment with a small pace change and check again.
Compare several sessions rather than selecting your best result. Record changes in reading method, device, familiarity, or distractions so a trend has context. This method helps you observe your own practice; it does not promise a particular speed increase or establish a scientific comprehension score.
Download the log and try one session
Open the CSV in a spreadsheet app. Add the date, passage, goal, word count, minutes, summary, details recalled, questions, and corrections. It contains column headings and an empty row, with no account or app purchase required. You can also copy the headings into a notebook.
If you are exploring word-by-word presentation, read our explanation of RSVP reading and the guide to balancing pace and comprehension. The Velo product page describes the planned app and its availability. This template works independently and does not imply that Velo imports spreadsheets.
Share or adapt the template
You may copy, edit, and share this original Soldra template, including in a class or household. Attribution is welcome but optional. Link to this guide if its explanation would help someone use the sheet. No backlink is required.