IELTS Reading time management: how to finish in 60 minutes
IELTS Academic Reading gives you 60 minutes for three passages and 40 questions, with no extra time to transfer answers. Aim for about 20 minutes per passage, and never spend more than a couple of minutes stuck on one question — guess, mark it, and move on.
A pacing plan
- •Roughly 20 minutes per passage; the third is usually hardest, so protect time for it.
- •Do not read the whole passage first; go to the questions and scan for the answers.
- •Transfer answers as you go — there is no extra transfer time in Reading.
- •Leave no blanks: there is no negative marking, so always guess.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I spend on each Reading passage?
About 20 minutes each. Because the third passage is typically the most difficult, avoid overspending on the first two.
Is there transfer time in IELTS Reading?
No. Unlike Listening, Reading has no extra time to copy answers, so write them onto the answer sheet as you work.
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