Shalini from Agra spent 31 minutes on the first passage. She ended up guessing most of the third.

Plan roughly 17, 20 and 23 minutes for the three parts, because later texts tend to feel harder, and move on when a question takes too long. There is no extra time for transferring answers, so your plan has to include entering them.

The Timing Facts

The IELTS Reading test lasts 60 minutes and has 40 questions, and each correct answer receives 1 mark. This is the same for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. Our overview of the IELTS exam pattern covers timings and question counts for all four IELTS skills.

IDP IELTS India says there are no negative marks in Reading, so an unanswered question and a wrong answer both earn nothing.

Here a “part” means one of the three sections of the test. In Academic Reading, each section has one long text; in General Training, Section 1 can have several short ones.

Suggested 60-Minute Pacing Plan

This plan is our advice, not an IELTS rule. It gives the last part the most time and holds back the final minutes for checking.

Part Suggested time Clock time if you start at 0:00
Part 1 Roughly 17 minutes 0:00 to 0:17
Part 2 Roughly 20 minutes 0:17 to 0:37
Part 3 Roughly 23 minutes 0:37 to 1:00
Check and guess The last 3 minutes of Part 3’s time 0:57 to 1:00

If a part takes two minutes longer than planned, adjust the later parts rather than panic. The clock times are checkpoints, not targets you must hit exactly.

Dividing the test into three equal 20-minute blocks sounds sensible, but it often backfires. Passage 1 is usually straightforward, while Passage 3 features dense, discursive arguments. Taking a full 20 minutes on Passage 1 leaves you without the buffer you will need for the final text.

When to Move On From a Stalled Question

Hunting for one answer for several minutes leaves less time for questions you could answer. Try a two-minute rule: if you have not found the evidence after about two minutes, enter your best guess, note the question number and move on.

A simple routine is to read the question, scan once for the evidence, and guess if it is not there. When you come back to a noted question, read it again before you search, because a fresh read can show you what you missed.

If you finish the last part with time to spare, return to the questions you noted. If time runs out, your guess still gives you a chance of earning the mark, so ensure no question remains blank.

Why Reading Every Word First Costs Time

Reading a whole text before you look at the questions uses minutes on details the questions may not test. Read the questions first to pick out keywords, names, dates and topic ideas, then go into the text to find them.

Our guide to skimming and scanning explains the difference between skimming and scanning, with drills for exams. Skim to see what each paragraph is about, then scan for the sentences you need.

Adjusting the Plan to Your Own Pace

Time yourself on one part at a time before you attempt a full test. Note how long you really take for each part and which question types slow you down.

If you regularly finish Part 1 in 14 minutes, you can move the saved time to Part 3. The suggested plan is a starting point, and your own timings should reshape it.

Answering on Screen

In computer-delivered IELTS Reading, you enter your answers on screen as you work, so there is nothing to copy at the end. A typed answer with a spelling mistake loses the mark, so check each one as you go. Our guide to computer-delivered IELTS Reading covers the on-screen tools and how to use them.

Common Traps to Avoid

Incorrect: “I should read the whole passage carefully before looking at the questions.”

Correct: Cambridge University Press & Assessment advises skimming the questions before the text and not re-reading the whole text for each set of questions.

Incorrect: “I should leave difficult questions blank if I am uncertain.”

Correct: A wrong answer costs nothing more than a blank one, so write a guess for every question before time runs out.

Tip

Practise full Reading tests against a timer, and write down the clock time at the end of each part.

Key Takeaways

  • Reading lasts 60 minutes for 40 questions, with no extra time to transfer answers.
  • The 17, 20 and 23 minute plan is advice, not an IELTS rule.
  • After about two minutes on a question, guess, note it and move on.
  • There are no negative marks in Reading, so answer every question.

The bottom line: A hard question and an easy one are each worth one mark, so spend your minutes where they are likely to earn one.