How to Split 60 Minutes in IELTS Reading
Quick answer: A good starting plan for IELTS Academic Reading is about 17 minutes for Passage 1, 20 for Passage 2 and 23 for Passage 3, since later passages often take longer. For General Training, try 15, 20 and 25 minutes. Within each section, skim for two to three minutes, answer the questions, and keep a minute to check. Never leave a blank.
Last updated: 29 October 2026
Why is time management so important in IELTS Reading?
You have 60 minutes for 40 questions in both Academic and General Training. The ielts.org Academic Reading format page lists no separate transfer time for Reading, so the hour must cover reading, answering and checking. That is an average of 90 seconds per question, including reading time.
Running out of time is often not about slow reading. It usually happens when you spend too long on a few hard questions. A plan stops that from happening.
Academic Reading: a 60-minute plan
The three Academic passages have a total length of 2,150 to 2,750 words, according to ielts.org. Many candidates find the later passages harder, so a plan that gives them more time works well.
| Clock time | Section | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 0:00 to 0:17 | Passage 1 (17 min) | 2 min skim, 14 min questions, 1 min check |
| 0:17 to 0:37 | Passage 2 (20 min) | 2 to 3 min skim, 16 min questions, 1 min check |
| 0:37 to 1:00 | Passage 3 (23 min) | 3 min skim, 18 min questions, 2 min final check of blanks |
If you find Passage 1 as hard as the others, a simple 20, 20, 20 split is fine. The important thing is to decide your checkpoints before the test and stick to them.
General Training Reading: a 60-minute plan
The ielts.org General Training Reading format page describes Section 1 as short everyday texts, Section 2 as two work-related texts and Section 3 as one long general-interest text. That suggests giving the most time to Section 3.
| Clock time | Section | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 0:00 to 0:15 | Section 1 (15 min) | Scan short texts quickly for details such as times and prices |
| 0:15 to 0:35 | Section 2 (20 min) | Skim both work texts, then answer |
| 0:35 to 1:00 | Section 3 (25 min) | 3 min skim, then questions, 2 min final check |
General Training needs more correct answers for the same band as Academic, so accuracy in the early sections matters. Do not rush them, but do not let them eat into Section 3 time.
How long should I spend on one question?
Use a simple rule: if you have spent about 90 seconds on a question and still cannot decide, choose your best answer, mark it, and move on. Come back only if you have time at the end.
Each correct answer is worth one mark, whether it is easy or hard. Three easy answers you reach in time are worth more than one hard answer you finally solve.
Which question types take the most time?
| Question type | Typical speed | Time-saving tip |
|---|---|---|
| Sentence or summary completion | Fast | Scan for key words. Sentence completion follows passage order; summary completion may not. |
| Multiple choice | Medium | ielts.org says the questions follow the order of the text. Use that to locate answers. |
| True False Not Given | Medium to slow | If you cannot find the information after a careful search, choose NOT GIVEN and move on. |
| Matching headings | Slow | Read the first and last sentences of each paragraph first. |
| Matching information to paragraphs | Slow | Do it after other questions on the same passage, when you know the text better. |
See our guides to True False Not Given, summary completion and matching headings for detailed methods.
Worked example: recovering from a slow start
Situation: You check the clock at minute 22 and you are still on question 11 of Passage 1 (13 questions).
What to do: You are 5 minutes behind. Give questions 11 to 13 your quickest best answers in the next 2 minutes. Start Passage 2 at minute 24 and give it 17 minutes instead of 20. You then start Passage 3 at minute 41 with 19 minutes left, so keep your final check very short.
Why: Losing a few minutes is normal. What hurts your score is losing a whole passage's worth of easy marks at the end.
Tips for the computer-delivered test
- You type answers straight into the boxes, so there is no transfer step. Your hour is all reading and answering time.
- Keep an eye on the timer on the screen at your planned checkpoints, not every minute.
- Use any highlighting or note tools offered in the test to mark answers you want to revisit.
- Before time ends, scroll through and make sure no answer box is empty.
A practice drill to build speed
- Week 1: do one passage at a time with no time limit. Note how long each passage really takes.
- Week 2: do single passages with a strict 20-minute limit.
- Week 3: do full 60-minute tests with your checkpoints written at the top of your notes.
- After each test, check which questions took longest and whether they were worth the time.
Practise now: Practise your timing on a full 60-minute test: Academic Reading Test 1, Test 2, Test 3, Test 4, or General Training Reading Test 1 to Test 4.
Frequently asked questions
How should I split 60 minutes in IELTS Academic Reading?
A common plan is about 17 minutes for Passage 1, 20 for Passage 2 and 23 for Passage 3. An even 20, 20, 20 split also works if all three feel similar in difficulty to you.
Is there extra time at the end of IELTS Reading?
No. ielts.org lists 60 minutes for Reading with no separate transfer time, so plan your checking inside the hour.
How long should I spend on each question?
On average you have about 90 seconds per question including reading time. If a question takes longer than that, give your best answer and move on.
Should I do the questions in order?
Usually yes, because many question types follow the order of the passage. You can leave a slow task such as matching information until after the other questions on that passage.
What if I run out of time in IELTS Reading?
Write a best guess for every remaining question. A blank cannot earn a mark, so guessing is always better than leaving a gap.
Is time management different for General Training?
The total time is the same, but the sections are different. Section 3 is one long text, so many candidates give it the most time, around 25 minutes.