How to use Wedu

First, check your reading speed

Try and take this test a few times to figure out what, on average, your words-per-minute (WPM) reading speed is.

Take the Reading Speed Test Now

Then take a look at the following table:

Words-Per-Minute Under 160 160-200 200-250 Over 250
Suggested Level Easy Regular Challenging Elite

When you begin working on the actual Wedu system, try a setting that corresponds to your WPM. If it is too easy, level up! Too difficult, level down!

Now, let’s move on to learning how to maximize your reading gains using the quiz system.
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Maximize your reading gains.

There are a few things to remember as you take these quizzes.

Specifically, try and

  • Simplify the questions in your head before doing anything else. Make sure you understand exactly what is being asked before moving on.
  • Try and make a rough answer in your head before you look at the answer choices. This will ensure you aren’t distracted by the contents of the answer choices.
  • Rather than look for the correct answer, try and eliminate answer choices by eliminating words or phrases you believe are wrong. This will allow you to be more impartial and analytical in your answer choice selection/elimination.
  • Always make sure you have evidence to support your answers. There is always evidence to support correct answer choices. If you can’t find evidence it is likely you do not have the correct answer.

Generally, try to remember that

  • Understanding the questions and answer choices themselves is just as important as getting the answers correct. Take the time to really understand what you are being asked and what each answer choice is actually saying.
  • You ignore timing at your peril. While the timer may just seem like a helpful way of pacing yourself, it introduces an extra element of difficulty and challenge.
  • Review all your answers at the end of a quiz using the ‘Review’ feature. It is of critical important that you review all of the answers at the end of the quiz – not just the ones you got incorrect. In reviewing the answers you will, perhaps, learn a different way to think about the questions or answers. This guided practice will upgrade your critical reading skill through expert benchmarking.

Now, let’s move on to the “Golden Rules” you’ll need to follow to do well.
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The Golden Rules

Following these rules will go a long way in helping you do well while working through the quiz.

  • Be as literal and objective as possible when reading.
  • All answer choices are different - try and find what the difference is.
  • There is always evidence to support a correct answer.
  • Don’t look at answer choices as one entity, rather break each choice into smaller pieces and then evaluate.
  • Focus on specific words or phrases in each answer choice and contrast them with the actual text to assess correctness.

Now, let’s go through the kinds of questions you will face in the quiz.
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Question Types

There are five types of questions that appear in the quiz:

These questions focus on specific parts of the text. Sometimes you will be given a specific part of the text to look at:

In the second paragraph, the Doctor mentions that his patient is sick with which disease?

While other times you will need to scan the text to find the information you are looking for:

The Doctor mentions that his patient is sick with which disease?

The key with these types of questions is to scan for, and answer with, exactly the required information – no more, no less.

A few other examples of Narrow questions (taken from actual questions):

  • The author cites what fact as an example to support his claim that "the Roman Empire remains the ideal upon which Western civilization has shaped itself"?
  • Chronologically, what probably occurred first?
  • According to Rainsford, there are:
  • When the narrator states "but that would be asking too much of fate" early on in the passage she implies
  • Why did many challenge the reason Jiankui gave for why the gene surgery was needed?

These questions focus on the entire text and are meant to test your overall understanding of the passage. These questions are usually worded something like:

The main idea of this passage is that...

Or, the question could still focus on the overall passage but want you to look a bit more specifically:

The tone of this passage can best be characterized as...

The key for these types of questions is to look big picture. Don’t get lost in the details or you may be overwhelmed and miss the general idea that is needed to solve the question.

A few other examples of Wide questions (taken from actual questions):

  • Which choice best summarizes the passage?
  • The tone of this passage is best described as
  • The passage can best be described as an account and explanation of a woman’s
  • The author’s attitude toward Jiankui’s work is best described as

Don’t worry about the fancy name. These questions are basically asking you to figure out why an author or speaker chose to do something. These questions usually contain the word "purpose" or "to". Sometimes they can focus on specific parts of the text:

The purpose of the italicized word "in her day" is to

Other times they focus on larger blocks of the text:

The reason the author included the second paragraph within the passage seems to be to...

The key to unlocking these questions is to put yourselves in the shoes of the writer or speaker. Why do you think he/she did that? Most of the time your reason will align perfectly with the correct answer.

A few other examples of Rhetorical Purpose questions (taken from actual questions):

  • The author wrote this passage in order to
  • The purpose of listing the various theories in paragraph 3 is to
  • In the third paragraph, the mention of "the Chinese Vice-Minister of Science and Technology" and "...a group of more than 100 prominent Chinese scientists" is meant to
  • The purpose of the final paragraph of the passage is to

These questions are actually two separate questions. First, you will be asked a standard Narrow question; however, after that, you will need to give the evidence that supports your previous question answer. Parts of the passage will be highlighted to make it easier for you to find the required evidence.

Here is an example of an Evidence question pair:

Q: What does the author highlight as an advantage of this study?
  1. Real-world authenticity
  2. Cost-effectiveness
  3. Profitability
  4. Technical methodology
Q: Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
  1. "Third, it ... a large scale"
  2. "First, it ... home only"
  3. "The results ... 20th quintiles."
  4. "Additionally, 16% ... lowest level."

You can see that the key is both make sure you a) answer the original question correctly and b) make sure that the evidence supports the answer you chose in the original question.

These questions will test your ability to understand what a word most nearly means within the context of a sentence.

Sometimes a very close substitute is all that is needed:

The highlighted word “impact” most nearly means:
  1. Effect
  2. Target
  3. Goal
  4. Process

Other times you will need to look more closely at the context to understand the word’s meaning

The highlighted word "orientation" most nearly means:
  1. Attitude
  2. Belief
  3. Theory
  4. Idea

The key to solving these questions is to try really hard not to look at the answer choices before you have a good idea what the meaning of the word might be.

Are you ready to start the actual quiz?
LET'S DO IT!
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