IELTS Reading time management: how to finish in 60 minutes
Give each of the three sections about 20 minutes, and never spend more than a minute or two on one question. The texts get harder, so finishing the first two sections quickly leaves time for the third.
A timing plan
| Section | Time | Check at |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17-18 minutes | 18 minutes gone |
| 2 | 19-20 minutes | 38 minutes gone |
| 3 | 20-22 minutes | 60 minutes |
Keep an eye on the clock at these points. If you are behind, guess the hardest remaining question in that section and move on.
Skim, then scan
- Skim first (about two minutes): read the title, the first sentence of each paragraph and any headings to learn what the text is about and where things are.
- Scan for each question: look for names, numbers, dates and key words, then read that part of the text carefully.
You don't need to understand every word of the passage to answer the questions.
Which questions first
- Questions that follow the text order (completion, True/False/Not Given) are quickest: answer them as you move through the text.
- Matching headings needs the whole paragraph, so some people do it after the other questions on that text, when they know it better.
- Matching information (which paragraph contains...) is often slow: leave it until last within the section.
Stop losing time
- Don't reread the whole passage for one answer.
- Don't leave any answer blank: a wrong answer costs nothing.
- On the computer test there is no extra time at the end, so type your answers as you go.
Practise with a timer: BandLevel's Reading tests run on a 60-minute clock like the real exam.