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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/45776
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

In my experience, it depends on what is being read.

Personally, I often skim large parts of technical material. I am often reading for something specific and I skim until I find it. I often then stop completely. So, for non-fiction material I would say skimming is fairly common and for material that is at least partially meant to be a reference skimming should be expected and the document is most useful when written with that in mind using lots of clear headings and typographical methods (such as bolding) to highlight the most important sections.

However, I suspect you are largely talking about fiction. While I know others approach things differently, I almost never skim fiction. If fiction is engrossing, then I want to read it in detail. If fiction is not engrossing, then I will not read it at all. Fiction should be written so that the reader wants to read all of it and ideally so that the reader wishes there had been more.

I know some beta readers in particular will skim, but I do not do this as a beta reader and try to politely ask my beta readers not to. I try to give very detailed feedback which means I pay more attention when I'm a beta reader, not less.

Original score: 6