Understanding how you take in and respond to information can help you identify how much time you need, when you need to work quickly, and when you might need to slow down and use a more careful approach. Processing speed is the rate at which you see, think about and react to information. Everyone processes at a different rate. Some people process more quickly what they see or read than what they hear and vice versa. Others might work quickly but in the process miss important information. Understanding your processing speed with different types of activities is important.

Processing speed matters when you need to listen, think and respond to questions or information during class, in a conversation, or on a test, quiz or homework assignment. At times you might be asked to respond quickly but accurately. In other circumstances, you might have all the time you need.