IELTS GT Reading Time Management: Finish 40 Questions in 60 Minutes

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IELTS GT Reading Time Management: Complete Guide to Finishing All 40 Questions in 60 Minutes

Preparing for the IELTS General Training (GT) Reading test can feel challenging, especially when time seems to run faster than your reading speed. Many test-takers in Canada struggle to finish all 40 questions in just 60 minutes, leading to avoidable mistakes and missed scores. The key to success isn’t only understanding the passages — it’s learning how to manage your time effectively.

In this detailed guide, we’ll explore practical and proven time management strategies for the GT Reading section, along with recommended resources like top-rated IELTS GT Reading Practice Book 1, IELTS GT Reading Practice Book 2, and IELTS GT Reading Practice Tests with Explanations — all highly rated on Amazon Canada and trusted by students across the country.

Understanding the IELTS GT Reading Format

Before we jump into strategies, it’s vital to understand what you’re dealing with. The IELTS GT Reading test has three sections that progressively increase in difficulty:

  • Section 1: Two or three short factual texts (related to everyday life, notices, advertisements, schedules).

  • Section 2: Two work-related passages (related to job descriptions, workplace communication, or policies).

  • Section 3: One long, complex text (often extracted from magazines or newspapers).

You have 60 minutes to answer 40 questions, with no extra time for transferring answers. That means you must complete reading, locating answers, and marking them all within that hour.

The 20-20-20 Rule: A Balanced Time Strategy

The most effective way to divide your time is the 20-20-20 rule:

  • Section 1: 20 minutes

  • Section 2: 20 minutes

  • Section 3: 20 minutes

While Section 1 is easier, it’s easy to spend extra time here thinking it’s “safe ground.” Don’t! Keep your answers crisp and move on quickly. Section 3 demands more focus and should have enough time left for careful reading.

Try simulating this structure using the IELTS GT Reading Practice Book 1 — it includes 15 complete practice tests based on latest IELTS trends and a rich vocabulary section. By training under timed conditions, you’ll get a realistic sense of how to distribute your minutes effectively.

Skim and Scan — Don’t Read Every Word

One of the biggest time-wasting mistakes is trying to read every word of the passage. Remember: the IELTS test is not evaluating your ability to enjoy reading; it’s testing your ability to locate and interpret information quickly.

  • Skimming helps you understand the main idea. Move your eyes quickly across headings, subheadings, and first sentences of paragraphs.

  • Scanning helps you find specific information like names, dates, or numbers.

Practicing these skills with the IELTS GT Reading Practice Book 2 is highly effective. This book also has 15 timed practice tests reflecting current IELTS trends and a dedicated vocabulary list that helps improve word recognition speed — a crucial skill when seconds count.

For deeper reading strategy breakdowns, you can also refer to your previously written blogs:

Both of these guides perfectly complement today’s topic, especially if you’re looking to improve accuracy while keeping speed high.

Tip 1: Don’t Get Stuck on One Question

If you spend more than a minute or two on a single question, move on. Every question carries equal marks, so it’s smarter to answer what you can confidently and come back to the tricky ones later.

Many top scorers practice this with the IELTS GT Reading Practice Tests with Explanations — it offers 20 latest tests along with solved answers and step-by-step explanations for every question type. By reviewing how each answer was found, you’ll understand the logic behind time-efficient reading.

Tip 2: Transfer Answers as You Go

Unlike Listening, you don’t get extra time at the end to transfer your answers to the answer sheet. So, always mark answers directly while reading. This saves several minutes that can be crucial for reviewing doubtful questions later.

Tip 3: Identify Question Types Early

Each IELTS GT Reading question type (True/False/Not Given, Matching Headings, Multiple Choice, etc.) requires a slightly different approach. If you spend the first few seconds understanding the pattern, you’ll save much more time later.

For example, in “Matching Headings” questions, read the list of headings before reading the passage — it sets your brain to identify key themes faster.

If you need a complete breakdown of these question types, along with strategies and solved examples, you’ll find them inside the IELTS GT Reading Practice Tests with Explanations — it’s one of the most comprehensive guides available for Canadian learners preparing for IELTS GT Reading.

Tip 4: Use Keywords to Locate Answers

Underline or circle keywords in both the question and passage — names, dates, numbers, or unique terms. These visual cues help you return quickly to the relevant section when cross-checking.

With consistent practice from IELTS GT Reading Practice Book 2, your ability to visually map text improves — meaning you’ll instinctively know where certain information is likely to appear.

Tip 5: Build Vocabulary for Faster Understanding

A large vocabulary helps you comprehend quicker, reducing the need to re-read sentences. The books mentioned above provide not only practice tests but also topic-wise vocabulary lists that directly reflect words used in the IELTS GT Reading test.

Canadian test takers often encounter reading topics on housing, employment, transportation, and immigration — areas where word familiarity can save precious seconds.

If you’re serious about improving your speed and comprehension, use the vocabulary sections of both IELTS GT Reading Practice Book 1 and IELTS GT Reading Practice Book 2 as daily revision tools.

Tip 6: Review Mistakes and Analyze Patterns

Finishing quickly is useless if your answers are wrong. The best way to balance speed and accuracy is to analyze your mistakes after every test.
Ask yourself:

  • Did I misread the question?

  • Did I waste time on irrelevant parts?

  • Was my skimming too quick?

The IELTS GT Reading Practice Tests with Explanations provides model answers and detailed explanations, helping you identify where and why you went wrong. Over time, this self-analysis reduces repetitive errors and improves timing naturally.

Practice Under Real Conditions

No time-management advice will work unless you simulate real exam conditions. Create an exam-like environment — 60 minutes, no interruptions, one section at a time.

Doing so with the 15-test sets from IELTS GT Reading Practice Book 1 and IELTS GT Reading Practice Book 2 ensures your progress is measurable and consistent. By the time you attempt the advanced Practice Tests with Explanations, you’ll notice a sharp rise in both confidence and timing accuracy.



Final Thoughts

Effective time management in IELTS GT Reading is not about reading faster — it’s about reading smarter. When you know which questions to tackle first, when to move on, and how to use skimming, scanning, and keyword recognition strategically, completing all 40 questions in 60 minutes becomes achievable.

For Canadian IELTS candidates aiming for a band 8 or higher, consistency is key. Combine daily reading practice, smart timing, and high-quality resources — such as IELTS GT Reading Practice Book 1, IELTS GT Reading Practice Book 2, and IELTS GT Reading Practice Tests with Explanations — with the strategies detailed in your earlier blogs Crack IELTS Reading with Powerful Techniques and Decoding IELTS General Training Reading.

Stay disciplined, trust the process, and practice under time limits — and soon, you’ll be finishing your GT Reading test with time to spare and higher accuracy.

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