IELTS Academic Reading gives you 60 minutes for 40 questions across three passages. That is 90 seconds per question — including reading time. Most candidates run out of time on passage 3. The fix is a strict time allocation and a skip-and-return rule.
Examples
Weak
AvoidSpending 28 minutes on passage 1 because it was interesting, leaving 16 minutes for passages 2 and 3 combined.
Stronger
BetterAllocating 17 minutes to passage 1, 20 minutes to passage 2, 23 minutes to passage 3 — because difficulty increases — and using the remaining 60 seconds to fill any blanks.
Passage 3 is the hardest and worth the same marks as passages 1 and 2. Over-investing in earlier passages is the most common structural mistake in IELTS Reading.
How It Works
Time allocation
- Passage 1: 17 minutes (easiest, fewest marks to leave behind).
- Passage 2: 20 minutes (mid-difficulty).
- Passage 3: 23 minutes (hardest — needs most time).
- Move on when time is up, even with questions unanswered.
The skip-and-return rule
- If a question takes more than 90 seconds: mark it, skip it, continue.
- Return only if you have time left after completing all other questions in that passage.
- Never leave a blank — guess if needed (no penalty for wrong answers).
Within each passage
Quick rules
- Wear a watch or keep the on-screen timer visible.
- Note your start time for each passage before reading.
- Questions are often in passage order — use this to navigate quickly.
Common Mistakes
Equal time per passage
AvoidSpending 20 minutes on each passage regardless of difficulty.
BetterGiving passage 3 the most time (23 min) because it is the hardest and worth the same marks.
Fix: Allocate inversely to ease: easiest passage gets least time because you can score faster there.
Re-reading the full passage for each question
AvoidReading the entire passage again when you cannot find the answer.
BetterUsing the question's keywords to scan for the relevant paragraph only.
Fix: Questions give you search terms. Use them to locate the right paragraph rather than rereading everything.
Practice Lab
Self-mark each task. Retry until every answer is correct.
Score: 0/3
1. Quick pick
You have 4 minutes left and 6 questions remaining in passage 3. What is the best strategy?
2. Build it
Put the sentence in the correct order.
Tap a chunk to move it between the bank and answer area.
3. Sort it
Sort each item into the correct category.
Move to the next passage when your allocated time ends, even with questions unanswered.
Stay on passage 1 until every question is answered before moving on.
Guess any blank question rather than leaving it empty.
Re-read the entire passage when you cannot find an answer to one question.
Why It Matters
Time management is the single most controllable variable in IELTS Reading. Candidates with strong English who run out of time score Band 6.5; the same candidates with a strict time plan score Band 7.5. The allocation (17/20/23) and skip-and-return rule eliminate the most common structural failure: sacrificing passage 3 marks for passage 1 certainty.
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