Manage your 60-minute Reading rehearsal
Build a flexible routine for three passages and 40 questions, with useful checkpoints.
Use the whole hour
A full Academic Reading rehearsal has three passages and 40 questions. Practise with the 60-minute timer so that finding evidence, entering answers and checking work compete for the same time. Short exercises develop individual skills; a full rehearsal shows whether you can use them together.
Choose flexible checkpoints
As a practice starting point, aim for roughly 18 minutes on the first passage, 20 on the second and 22 on the third, including checking. These are training suggestions, not exam rules. Adjust them after reviewing your results. A difficult first passage should not consume the whole hour simply because it appears first.
Locate, then understand
Read task instructions and note the answer format before scanning. Distinctive names, dates or ideas can help locate information. When you find a likely section, slow down and read carefully. Scanning locates evidence; it does not replace understanding. Check word limits and whether the task requests a letter, word or number.
Move on with a plan
If rereading the same lines produces no progress, flag the question and continue. Leave a clear point to return to. Avoid switching so often that you repeatedly rebuild your understanding of a paragraph. Use the final part of your passage checkpoint to revisit flags and check answer entry.
Review pace and accuracy together
Separate questions you misunderstood from those you rushed or left unanswered. Note where your pace changed. For the next rehearsal, change one habit: scanning for paragraph purpose, checking word limits immediately, or moving on sooner. Faster completion is useful only if your evidence remains sound.
Check the official IELTS Academic Reading format for current exam information.
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