What is the correct sequence of events recommended in the sq4r method for reading?

2019 Teachers Helping Teachers (THT) conference in Kyrgyzstan, Sept., 2019.
SQ4R is a reading comprehension method named for its steps: survey, question, read, record, recite, and review. The first version of the method was introduced by American education philosopher Francis P. Robinson in his 1946 book Effective Study, and has been expanded upon, altered, and adapted for different purposes by other scholars and practitioners over the years. The strategy is particularly effective for L1 students who have difficulty learning when reading, and for L2 learners in CBI (Content Based Instruction) or CLIL (Content and Integrated Language Learning) settings. This presentation explained the steps of SQ4R and the method’s benefits and drawbacks. Participants were challenged to try the method themselves. They were encouraged to reflect on how SQ4R relates to the way they currently teach reading, and how they could teach the system to their own students.

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Sq4r Method

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More help: Studying

What is SQ4R?

• SQ4R is a method of reading and studying textbooks. It’s an acronym for: Survey, Question, Read, Respond, Record, and Review.
• When using this method, complete all the steps initially, then choose which are most effective for you and your courses.
• The SQ4R method may seem time consuming at first, but it's an effective method for reading, understanding, and remembering information from your textbooks.

What are the benefits of using SQ4R?

• It’s an active learning strategy that can be adapted to suit an individual’s study preferences.
• It provides a strategy to retain a lot of factual detail, reducing the amount of information that has to be relearned for exams.
• It prompts the creation of study material to be used when preparing for exams.
• It helps to identify errors or areas of confusion.

Step 1: Survey the textbook and chapters

• Read the preface and introduction to the text, and browse through the table of contents and the index.  This will describe the main topics and the basic organizational structure of the book.
• Read the introduction and conclusion in each chapter and subsection.
• Scan the titles and subtitles. Study the pictures, charts, or graphs.
• Read the summary and any chapter questions.

Step 2: Start with a question

• Take the section title, subtitle, or the first sentence of each paragraph and turn it into a question.
• For example: “Functions of the spinal cord” becomes “What are the functions of the spinal cord?”

Step 3: Read actively

• Read carefully and actively by creating a “dialogue” with the text.
• Try to find the answer to the question you created, and ask questions as you read.
• Be careful not to skim the text looking for the answer, as you might miss other important information.

Step 4: Respond to your question

• Close the textbook and answer the question you created in your own words.
• If you can’t answer the question, reread the section until you can.
• If, after a few tries, you still can’t answer the question, go on to the next few sections and see if things become clearer.
• If that doesn’t help, you may need to change your question. Try making it broader or narrower.
• If changing your question doesn't help, get some assistance. Your instructor or TA are good places to start, or contact Learning Services.

Step 5: Record your notes

• Once you understand the material and can summarize it in your own words make a record of it.
• Common methods are highlighting and/or marking the text, or taking notes, or some combination of both.
• Whichever methods you choose, it's critical to read and understand the material first, and then go back and record.
• See below for the pros and cons of notetaking and highlighting.
• See our resources for help with note taking.

Step 6: Review your notes

• Do a thorough review of lecture and text notes weekly, and briefly before each class.
• Make weekly review periods effective by starting from the beginning of the course in each review session. Though the volume of review material increases as the semester progresses, the amount of time needed to review older material decreases. After you've reviewed the first week's material a few times, it will take only minutes to skim over it and recall the key points.

How can I learn more about reading textbooks?

For more strategies and ideas on reading textbooks, visit:

• Reading from Queen's University

What are the steps the SQ4R reading system?

What is the first step to the SQ4R system?

What are the six steps of SQ4R write four intention statements about improving your reading?

What is the survey part of SQ4R?