Section 9
Pacing & Time Control (Minute-by-Minute Plans)
## The rules of the clock (so you use time, not lose time)
- **Each part has its own timer.** Time **does not carry over**. Use the full time in the current part.
- **Forward only.** When a part ends, it **locks**—you can’t return. Spend wisely **inside** the part you’re in.
- **Answer everything.** There is **no penalty** for wrong answers. A blank is the only guaranteed loss.
- **Two-pass always wins.** Pass 1 = fast, obvious items. Pass 2 = targeted returns for the few that need thought.
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## Default pacing blueprint (11 / 9 / 10 / 13 minutes)
This plan mirrors the test’s flow and leaves breathing room for the trickiest items. Use it unless you already know you’re a much slower/faster reader.
### Part 1 — Reading Correspondence (11 items → ~11 minutes)
- **0:00–1:00** Build the **Who → Why → Tone** map. Underline constraints (times, amounts, only/except/at least).
- **1:00–4:00** Do the **fact-first** questions (prove from the message).
- **4:00–9:30** Complete **reply drop-downs** using Meaning → Tone → Strength → Grammar.
- **9:30–11:00** Handle any **inference/attitude** items and do a **final sweep** (no blanks).
**Checkpoints:**
At **5:30**, you should be on or past **Q6**. At **9:30**, all blanks should be filled.
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### Part 2 — Apply a Diagram (8 items → ~9 minutes)
- **0:00–0:30** Title → **Legend & Footnotes** (units, exceptions).
- **0:30–4:30** Answer **single-constraint** items (one clear cell/row/segment).
- **4:30–8:00** Answer **multi-constraint** items (build a constraint string like `≥3 lanes, after 7 pm, weekdays`).
- **8:00–9:00** Finish **reply drop-downs** and sweep for **footnote gotchas**.
**Checkpoints:**
At **4:30**, you should be on **Q4**. If not, skip any puzzle and bank the easy ones.
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### Part 3 — Reading for Information (9 items → ~10 minutes)
- **0:00–1:15** Make a **Paragraph GPS**: label A–D with one-word topics.
- **1:15–5:15** Do the **direct matches** (pick the likely paragraph, verify wording).
- **5:15–9:00** Tackle the **trickier paraphrases/inferences**.
- **9:00–10:00** Confirm any **Not stated (E)** choices with a quick global sweep.
**Checkpoints:**
At **5:00**, aim for **Q5** done. At **9:00**, everything should be answered once.
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### Part 4 — Reading for Viewpoints (10 items → ~13 minutes)
- **0:00–1:00** Build an **Opinions Map** (Author + other voices → stance + reason). Mark hedges/boosters.
- **1:00–7:30** First pass: **Agree/Disagree, Purpose, Best Title** (structure/stance items).
- **7:30–11:30** Second pass: **Inference & tone** + **comment drop-downs** (Meaning → Speaker → Strength → Grammar).
- **11:30–13:00** Final sweep: absolute-wording check, no blanks, comment reads smoothly.
**Checkpoints:**
At **7:30**, have **6–7** items locked. Aim to start the comment by **9:30**.
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## Per-question time budgets (so you know what “too long” means)
- **Specific Information (S):** **45–60 s** (you should touch the exact line/cell).
- **General Meaning (G):** **45–75 s** (title/main purpose/overall stance).
- **Inference (I):** **60–90 s** (one small step; if you need two, you’re off track).
- **Drop-down blanks:** **20–30 s** per blank (read the full sentence with each option).
- **“Not stated” decisions:** **30–50 s** after a quick global sweep.
If you cross these limits, **flag it and move on**. You’ll return with fresh eyes.
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## Green-yellow-red checkpoints (live on the timer)
- **Green:** You’re roughly halfway through the items by the **halfway point** of the part. Keep pace.
- **Yellow:** You’re 1–2 items behind at halfway. **Skip** any inference puzzle and bank the next two easy items.
- **Red:** You’re 3+ items behind with ≤3 minutes left. Trigger the **Rescue Plan** below immediately.
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## The Rescue Plan (when the timer is not your friend)
1) **Answer the freebies:** Anything with numbers/names/clear anchors gets answered **now**.
2) **Eliminate aggressively:** For the rest, reject **two** choices fast (scope error, extreme wording, stance mismatch). Choose the survivor.
3) **Fill all blanks:** Never leave drop-downs empty—insert the most **neutral** option if unsure.
4) **Last 20 seconds:** Hit the unclicked items with best guesses; don’t re-read the passage—read the **options**, spot the obvious over-claims, and pick the most moderate fit.
This plan trades a few 50/50s for **zero blanks** and more total points.
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## Alternative pacing templates (pick the one that fits your brain)
### A) “Steady Reader” (reads a bit slower)
- **Part 1:** 11:30
- **Part 2:** 9:30
- **Part 3:** 10:30
- **Part 4:** 14:00
**Adjustment:** Cut **dwell time** on inference; bank all Specific Information items first.
### B) “Accuracy-First” (you value clean choices over speed)
- **Part 1:** 12:00
- **Part 2:** 9:00
- **Part 3:** 10:00
- **Part 4:** 14:00
**Adjustment:** In every part, do a **mini-sweep** 60–90 s before the end to catch tone/strength mismatches.
### C) “Fast Scanner” (you read quickly but misclick under pressure)
- **Part 1:** 10:00
- **Part 2:** 8:00
- **Part 3:** 9:00
- **Part 4:** 13:00
**Adjustment:** Add a **30–45 s** end-of-part audit: look only for **extreme** words you might have missed (always, never, only, must).
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## Two-pass mechanics (how to move without getting stuck)
- **Pass 1:** Answer anything you can **prove** with one quick check (anchors, titles, obvious stance). Mark the rest.
- **Pass 2:** Return to **marked** items only. For inference, read the line **plus** its context; for drop-downs, read the **whole sentence** with the option inserted.
**Marking discipline:** If you try more than **90 seconds** on a single item, you’re spending two questions’ worth of time on one. **Mark and go.**
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## Time traps to spot instantly (and ignore for now)
- **Part 1:** Drop-down pairs that both sound polite—solve the fact items first.
- **Part 2:** Footnote jungles—bank the clean cells/rows, then come back.
- **Part 3:** “Not stated” that **feels** true—save it for a global sweep at the end.
- **Part 4:** Tone labels that sound dramatic—park them; finish structure questions first.
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## Breathing room tactics (to prevent panic)
- **Micro-reset (5 seconds):** Hands off mouse, inhale, exhale, read the **stem only**, then the **first content line** that matters.
- **Anchor chant:** Names, numbers, only/except/at least—say them in your head before scanning.
- **Strength check:** If the passage says **may**, your option can’t say **will**. That single rule erases many traps.
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## Practice timers that hardwire pace
- **30-minute two-part drill:** Do **Part 2** then **Part 3** back-to-back using 9 + 10 minutes. Focus on constraint strings and the Not-stated filter.
- **13-minute inference sprint:** Do a Part 4-style set with a **hard stop** at 13:00. Track how many you solved in Pass 1 vs Pass 2.
- **60-second anchor hunt:** On any timetable, give yourself **60 seconds** to prove or disprove a constraint string (e.g., `≥3 lanes, after 7 pm, weekdays`).
- **Tone swap drill (5 minutes):** Rewrite three sentences at different strengths (may/should/must). Your ear will start catching mismatches faster in real items.
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## Personalizing your plan (so it sticks)
- **Log your split times** per part for three practice tests. If a part is **+90 seconds** consistently, shift 30–60 seconds **from** your easiest part **to** that one.
- **Tag your misses by cause** (rushed, misread strength, missed footnote, wrong speaker). Fix the top two causes first.
- **Set one checkpoint per part** (e.g., “at 5:00 in Part 3 I’m at Q5”). If you’re behind, **skip** the next inference and bank two specifics to catch up.
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## Quick reference (pin this beside your screen on practice days)
- **P1 11m:** Map 1m → Facts 3m → Drops 5.5m → Sweep 1.5m
- **P2 9m:** Legend 0.5m → Straight 4m → Multi 3m → Drops/Sweep 1.5m
- **P3 10m:** GPS 1.25m → Direct 4m → Tricky 3.75m → Sweep 1m
- **P4 13m:** Map 1m → Structure 6.5m → Inference/Comment 4m → Sweep 1.5m
When in doubt: **bank points now, finesse later**. The timer rewards momentum.