#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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.