Most speed readers are using some type of skimming method, even if their overall reading comprehension is high. Prediction plays a large part. For instance, I can read most fictional books at roughly 850 to 900 words per minute and still remember the plot afterwards; I cannot do that if I am learning something—particularly if it involves new, technical vocabulary—through text. My actual ability to process words doesn't vary, only my ability to accurately predict what's next to "fill in" the story based on general text shape.or skim!