Managing your time in Reading Comprehension

Sixty minutes for thirty-nine questions: on paper, that leaves a little over a minute and a half per question. In practice, time is not spread evenly, and managing it well can earn you dozens of points.

The trap of the first questions

The first questions are short and easy, but they are worth little: 3 points at A1, 9 points at A2. Many candidates spend too long on them for fear of making a mistake, then find themselves rushed on the questions worth the most.

Set yourself a limit: about 30 seconds per question for the first ten. Read the question, find the information in the document, answer, move on.

A pace for each block

A simple split helps you stay on track:

1. Questions 1 to 10: about 5 minutes in total.
2. Questions 11 to 29: about 1 minute 30 each, so nearly 30 minutes.
3. Questions 30 to 39: up to 2 to 3 minutes each for the argumentative texts.

Keep 5 minutes at the end to go back to the questions you skipped.

Read the question before the document

Starting with the question means knowing what you are looking for: a date, an intention, an opinion. You then read the document with a purpose, instead of reading everything in detail and rereading to find the answer.

Know when to skip a question

A question that blocks you for more than two minutes costs you time for the next ones. Pick a provisional answer, note the question number and move on. A provisional answer is always better than an empty box: there are no negative points.

Practise with the timer

Time management is learned in real conditions. Take full sets with the timer, then look at the time you spent and your results by level: you will quickly see whether you lose time at the start or run out of time at the end.