IELTS Reading: Time Management Secrets

With 40 questions and only 60 minutes, time management is the biggest challenge in IELTS Reading. Here's how to stay on track.

The Golden Rule: 20-20-20

Divide your time equally:

• Passage 1: 20 minutes (easiest)
• Passage 2: 20 minutes (medium)
• Passage 3: 20 minutes (hardest)

If you finish Passage 1 early, bank the extra time for Passage 3.

Reading Techniques

Skimming (2-3 minutes per passage)

• Read the title and any subtitles.
• Read the first sentence of each paragraph.
• Get a general idea of the passage structure.

Scanning (for specific answers)

• Look for keywords from the question in the passage.
• Numbers, names, and capitalized words are easy to find.
• Synonyms are your biggest challenge — the passage rarely uses the exact same words as the question.

Question Type Strategies

True/False/Not Given

• True: The passage says the same thing.
• False: The passage says the opposite.
• Not Given: The passage doesn't mention it at all.

Matching Headings

• Read the headings first, then skim each paragraph.
• Eliminate headings as you match them.

Fill in the Blanks

• Check the word limit carefully.
• The answers usually appear in order in the passage.

Common Time-Wasters

1. Reading every word — You don't need to understand everything.
2. Spending too long on one question — Skip it and come back.
3. Not transferring answers — Unlike Listening, there's no extra time.
4. Second-guessing yourself — Trust your first instinct.

Practice Plan

• Do one full reading test per week under timed conditions.
• Review every wrong answer to understand why you got it wrong.
• Build your reading speed with English newspapers and magazines.

Speed and accuracy improve together with consistent practice.