Introduction: Master the Art of "Find it Fast"

Welcome to one of the most important chapters for your TOEIC Reading score! In Part 7, you are often racing against the clock. You have 54 questions to answer, and many of them ask for very specific information like a person's name, a specific day, or a price. Scanning is the secret weapon that helps you find these answers in seconds without reading every single word.

Think of scanning like looking for a specific brand of cereal in a supermarket. You don't look at every box of crackers or juice; your eyes "jump" across the shelves until you see the right logo. Today, we will learn how to make your eyes "jump" to the right Names, Dates, and Numbers to boost your score.

What is Scanning?

Scanning is a fast-reading technique where you look for specific information rather than trying to understand the whole story. In the TOEIC exam, this is vital because you do not get extra marks for reading the whole passage—you only get marks for choosing the correct answer (A, B, C, or D).

Timing Reality: You have roughly 75 minutes for the entire Reading section. If you spend too long reading every word of a long email, you won't finish the last 10 questions. Scanning helps you save those precious minutes.

1. Scanning for Names

Names are usually the easiest things to find because they start with Capital Letters. This includes people, companies, and cities.

How to do it:

1. Look at the question: "Who is responsible for the marketing report?"
2. Identify the keyword: Marketing Report.
3. Move your eyes quickly over the text looking only for words starting with a Capital Letter near the words "marketing" or "report."

Common TOEIC Trap: Multiple Names

The test will often mention two or three people to confuse you. Always check what each person is doing.

Weak Approach (Choosing the first name you see):
"The question asks about the manager. I see the name 'John Smith' at the top, so it must be him." (Result: Often wrong! John might be the person receiving the email, not the manager.)

Improved Approach (Checking the context):
"The question asks for the manager. I see 'John Smith' is the recipient, but 'Ms. Arisaka' is signed as 'Regional Manager' at the bottom. The answer is Ms. Arisaka."

2. Scanning for Dates and Times

Dates and times are essential for questions about deadlines, meetings, or schedules. TOEIC examiners love to use synonyms for dates.

Watch out for these formats:

• Standard: July 15th, 15 July, 07/15
• Relative: Next Monday, the following day, a week from tomorrow, by the end of the month.

Useful Vocabulary for Dates:

• Deadline / Due date: The latest time something must be done.
• Postpone / Put off: To move a date to a later time.
• Prior to: Before.
• Tentative: Not certain (the date might change).

Example Task:

Text: "The conference was originally on May 5th, but it has been moved to two days later."
Question: When will the conference take place?
Correct Answer: May 7th.

3. Scanning for Numbers and Prices

Numbers stand out because they look different from letters. Look for symbols like $, %, #, or points (.).

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Step-by-Step for Number Questions:
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1. Identify the Unit: Is the question asking for a price (money), a percentage (%), or a quantity (how many)?
\n2. Find the Anchor Word: If the question asks for the price of "shipping," scan the text for the word "shipping" or "delivery" and look at the number next to it.

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The "Total Price" Distractor:
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TOEIC often lists several prices in an invoice.
\n• Subtotal: $100.00
• Shipping: $10.00
\n• Total: $110.00
If the question asks for the shipping fee, do not pick $110.00!

Summary Checklist for Scanning

• Don't Read, Search: Keep the specific name, date, or number in your mind like a "search term" in Google.
• Look for Capital Letters: These lead you to people and places quickly.
• Use your finger: Sometimes using your finger (or a pen) to trace the lines helps your eyes stay focused on finding the specific detail.
• Check the context: Once you find the number or name, read the sentence immediately before and after it to make sure it matches the question.

Key Takeaway

Scanning is about being a "detective." You are looking for "clues" (Names, Dates, Numbers) to solve the "case" (the question). You earn marks by being accurate and fast. Don't worry if you don't understand every word in the paragraph; if you found the correct date for the meeting, you've earned the point!

Quick Review: To find a person's name quickly, what should you look for? (Answer: Capital letters). To find a discount, what symbol should you look for? (Answer: the % sign).