Outside Reading: The Key To A Good Application

First steps

• Plan what you are going to read for your subject

• Use the lists your teachers have provided. Check out our Reading Rooms in our Free Online Resources

• For personalised, subject-specific reading recommendations, come in and see one of our consultants for a Private Consultation. They will build upon what you have already read, taking into account your interests, and direct you away from the more commonly read texts.

• Call us for a few suggestions to get you started on +44 (0)207 499 2394

Next steps

The next step is figuring out how to find the time to read the books on your list:

• Blogs and articles are a good start – it will take you a maximum of 30 minutes to read the longest article, so you feel you get more for your time.  

• For longer texts, find time in your week – just an hour or so – that you can dedicate to your reading.

• Free periods at school are a great time to do this. Regardless of how much time you spend reading, make sure this time is sacred and uninterrupted.

• Keep a book with you at all times – you’d be surprised how much a difference a few minutes here and there can make.

Final steps

Having made the effort to read around your subject, the next step is to ensure you retain all of your new knowledge:

• Use an index card or a postcard as a bookmark and note down interesting passages and ideas on it as you come to them

• When you finish a book, write a 15 minute summary of it and include your thoughts

• When you’ve finished your summary – write the names of three other texts and how they could link and form interesting comparisons to get you thinking across different topics