Connecticut Foundations of Reading Test (FORT) Practice 2025 - Free FORT Practice Questions and Study Guide

Metacognition refers to the awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes. In the context of reading, it entails reflecting on how you comprehend the material, evaluating your understanding, and adjusting your strategies as needed. This self-regulation allows readers to become more effective in determining whether they are grasping the content and in identifying areas where they might need to focus more attention.

In contrast, comprehension is simply the ability to understand the text itself, while active reading involves engaging with the text through strategies like note-taking and summarizing, thereby facilitating understanding but not specifically focusing on the thought processes behind that understanding. Critical thinking, although related, emphasizes the evaluation and questioning of information rather than the self-awareness of one's cognitive processes. Therefore, metacognition is the most precise term for the act of thinking about one's thinking while reading.