IELTS Reading Timer
IELTS Reading is 60 minutes for 40 questions across three passages, and the passages get harder as you go. The most common way to lose marks is spending too long on the easy first passage and arriving at the hardest one with ten minutes left.
The timer's buttons are the three passages, with a budget of 18, 20 and 22 minutes. When the alarm plays, the timer moves on to the next passage, and so should you.
A 60 minute budget for three passages
| Part | Time | Questions | Time per question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passage 1 | 18 min | 13 | 83 s |
| Passage 2 | 20 min | 13 | 1 min 32 s |
| Passage 3 | 22 min | 14 | 1 min 34 s |
Timings follow the official structure published by IELTS, test format, checked in October 2026. Test makers change formats, so check the official page before test day.
Why the budget grows
Passage 1 is usually the most factual and the shortest to process. Passage 3 is the longest and most argumentative, often with opinion-based questions that take more rereading. Giving each passage more time than the last puts your minutes where the difficulty is. The question counts vary by test, so the totals above are typical rather than fixed.
Unlike the listening test, reading has no extra time to transfer answers on the paper test. Write answers on the answer sheet as you go, or keep two minutes of passage 3's budget for transferring.
When the alarm goes and you are not done
- Guess every remaining answer for that passage. There is no penalty for wrong answers.
- Move on anyway. Two minutes stolen from passage 3 costs more marks than they save on passage 1.
- Note which question type made you slow (True/False/Not Given, matching headings) and drill that type next session.
The other papers: the IELTS writing timer and the IELTS speaking timer.
Frequently asked questions
How long is IELTS Reading?
60 minutes for 40 questions in three sections, in both Academic and General Training.
How long should I spend on each IELTS reading passage?
A common split is about 18 minutes on passage 1, 20 on passage 2 and 22 on passage 3, because the passages get harder.
Is there extra time to transfer answers in IELTS Reading?
No. Unlike Listening, Reading has no transfer time, so write answers on the answer sheet as you go.
Related
- exam timer every practice timer.
- IELTS writing timer 20 and 40 minutes.
- IELTS speaking timer 1 minute prep, 2 minutes talk.
- 20 minute timer for a single passage.