Time management: the 71-second and 95-second rules
17 March 2026 · 6 min read · Veena, Azzpira
Running out of time is almost never a reading-speed problem. It is a decision-speed problem, and decisions can be trained.
The arithmetic
Reading and Writing: 27 questions in 32 minutes is about 71 seconds each. Math: 22 questions in 35 minutes is about 95 seconds each. Those are averages, not targets. Some questions should take 25 seconds so that others can take three minutes.
Where the time actually goes
Timing students in live sessions, the lost minutes are almost always in the same three places. Re-reading a passage you already understood. Sitting on a question you had already narrowed to two choices. And doing algebra by hand that the calculator would have graphed.
None of those are reading-speed problems. They are all hesitation, and hesitation responds to a rule.
The two-pass rule
- Pass one: answer everything you can confidently answer. If a question is not moving after about 90 seconds, pick your best remaining choice, flag it, and go.
- Pass two: return to flagged questions with the time you saved. You will often see the answer instantly with fresh eyes.
- Always fill in an answer before you flag. If you never come back, you still have a guess on the page.
Checkpoints instead of clock-watching
Glancing at the timer after every question is its own time cost and it raises your stress. Use two checkpoints per module instead. In Reading and Writing, you want to be at question 14 with about 16 minutes left. In Math, question 11 with about 17 minutes left. Check twice, then forget the clock.
Key takeaways
- Averages are 71 seconds per RW question and 95 per Math question.
- Answer, flag, and move after 90 seconds of no progress.
- Never flag without filling in a guess first.
- Use two checkpoints per module instead of constant clock-watching.