Time management is key to achieving a high score in the IELTS exam. Unfortunately, each section has strict time limits. Once you’ve familiarised yourself with the contents of the exam it’s time to practice completing them within the given time. This often comes as a struggle for many candidates.
In this article, we’ll break down the time you should spend on each section and offer practical tips to help you finish on time without rushing or leaving questions unanswered.
Timings for the test
First things first, let’s take a look at how much time you are allowed for each section.
- Listening: 30 minutes for 40 questions (+ 10 minutes to transfer answers in the paper test)
- Reading: 60 minutes for 3 passages and 40 questions
- Writing: 60 minutes split between two tasks
- Speaking: 11–14 minutes for 3 parts
So, how can you best manage your time? Let’s look at how to do this for each module of the test in turn.
How to Manage your Time in IELTS
Listening (30 minutes + 10 minutes)
In the IELTS Listening test, you’ll listen to four recordings and answer 40 questions. This section requires close attention as you’ll only hear each recording once. Here’s how to manage your time:
Time Management Tips
- Before each recording starts, you’re given some time to read over the questions. It’s important to use this time wisely to familiarise yourself with the questions and know what to listen out for.
- Use this time to predict what kind of information you are going to be listening for
- Stay focused on key information: The test moves quickly, so avoid dwelling on one question. If you miss an answer, don’t panic—move on to the next.
- Use the 10 minutes to transfer answers wisely. Double-check spelling, and grammar, and ensure your answers are clear. You don’t just get scored for the right answer, but also for writing it correctly.
The biggest challenge is staying focused, as you can’t pause or replay the recordings. One moment of distraction can lead to missing a crucial answer.
Reading (60 minutes)
The IELTS Reading section contains 3 long passages with 40 questions in total. You must read quickly, understand the main ideas, and answer in detail—all within 60 minutes.
Time Breakdown Per Section:
- Passage 1: 15–17 minutes
- Passage 2: 20 minutes
- Passage 3: 20–23 minutes
Time Management Tips
- Skim the text first to get the main idea.
- Read over the questions to identify keywords, then go back to the text and scan over it to find key information.
- Allocate time per passage: The passages get harder as you progress, so spend less time on the first passage and more on the last one. Aim for about 1.5 minutes per question.
A common mistake is that many candidates spend too long on difficult passages or questions, leaving no time for easier ones. Keep moving if you’re stuck and come back later if time permits.
Writing (60 minutes)
The IELTS Writing section is split into two tasks. Task 2 is worth more points, so you should spend more time on it.
Time Breakdown Per Section:
- Task 1: 20 minutes (150 words)
- Task 2: 40 minutes (250 words)
Time Management Tips
- Plan both tasks before you just jump straight into writing, spend at least 3–5 minutes planning. Organise your ideas and outline your response to avoid wasting time restructuring halfway through.
- Stick to word limits as there’s no need to write more than what is required. Writing more than necessary wastes time and might lead to lower-quality answers, for example by making more spelling mistakes or going off-topic.
Speaking (11–14 minutes)
The Speaking test consists of 3 parts: an introduction, which is in an interview format, a 1-2 minute monologue, and a discussion.
Time Breakdown Per Section:
- Part 1: 4–5 minutes
- Part 2: 3–4 minutes (includes 1-minute prep time)
- Part 3: 4–5 minutes
Time Management Tips
- Part 2 monologue: Use your 1 minute of prep time wisely. Quickly jot down key points and examples you want to discuss. Don’t write down full sentences or obvious details.
- Avoid long pauses: If you can’t think of an answer, keep speaking. Pauses can hurt your fluency score, so try to fill the time with relevant ideas or advanced fillers.
- Lastly, try to stick to recommended answering times for each section. For your answers in part 1 you can give fairly short responses, 25 – 35 seconds. However, in part 3 your answers need to be a bit longer, aim for a minute.
Many candidates get stuck during the monologue (Part 2). If you run out of ideas, elaborate on your examples or even tell a story related to the topic.
Summing Up
Time management is critical for each section of the IELTS exam. By planning ahead, sticking to allocated time limits, and staying calm under pressure, you can avoid the common pitfall of running out of time.
With these time management tips for IELTS, you’ll be better equipped to answer every question effectively and boost your overall score.
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