IELTS Reading: 7 Strategies to Finish Every Section on Time

The IELTS Academic Reading test gives you 60 minutes for three passages and 40 questions. Most test-takers spend too long on the first passage and rush the last one. These seven strategies fix the time problem.

1. Skim the passage in 90 seconds Read only the first sentence of each paragraph. This gives you a mental map so you know where to look.

2. Read the questions before the passage Knowing what you are looking for turns reading into a treasure hunt. Underline the key noun in each question.

3. Use the paragraph headings question as your guide If there is a 'matching headings' task, do it first — it forces you to read each paragraph carefully and builds your map.

4. Spend 20 minutes per passage — set a mental alarm If you hit 20 minutes and are still on passage one, move on. Unanswered questions still get a guess.

5. True/False/Not Given: 'Not Given' means absent, not false The most common mistake is marking 'False' when the passage simply does not mention something. 'Not Given' means the passage is silent on the point.

6. Matching information questions: scan, do not read These questions have the answer spread across the passage. Use keywords to scan — read only the relevant sentence.

7. Never leave a blank There is no negative marking in IELTS. Always guess. Choose B if you have no idea.