What’s the best way to manage time during the SAT Reading section without rushing or running out of time?

Question

Many students struggle to finish all four SAT Reading passages in time. This post provides strategic advice for pacing, prioritization, and efficient reading.

Answer 1

Start by skimming the questions first to know what to look for, then read actively—focus on main ideas and key details instead of every word. If one passage feels harder, don’t get stuck; mark it and move on so you have time for the others. Save a few minutes at the end to double-check tricky questions. Practicing with a timer before test day is the key to getting comfortable with this rhythm so you don’t feel rushed or run out of time.The best way to manage time on the SAT Reading section is to go in with a clear pacing plan. You have 65 minutes for 4 passages (about 13 minutes each), so set small checkpoints to stay on track.

Answer 2

I agree with the expert advice already given on this topic. I would add: If you get "stuck" on a question (that is, if it takes more than 1 minute of your time, and you still have no idea how to solve it), immediately move on to the following question. I've seen many students spend 3-4 minutes on a question, wasting time that could be spent solving other questions. Usually, they don't find the right answer to that hard question, and end up short on time for other questions that they could have gotten right. Instead, come back to that hard question at the end, if you still have time. Remember, you have about 1 min 10 sec for each SAT Reading question on average.

Answer 3

📘 SAT Reading and Writing Section Timing

1. Total Time: 64 minutes
2. Number of Questions: 54 questions
3. Time per Question: Approximately 1 minute and 11 seconds(SAT Suite of Assessments, College Board Blog)

Each section is divided into two equal-length modules:(College Board Blog)

1. Module 1: 32 minutes
2. Module 2: 32 minutes(SAT Suite of Assessments)

This structure allows students to move freely within each module, but once a module ends, they cannot return to it.

⏱️ Time Management Strategy

Given the official timing, here’s a refined approach to managing your time effectively during the Reading and Writing section:

1. Initial Skim (1–2 minutes): Quickly scan the passage to grasp the main idea and structure.(SAT Suite of Assessments)
2. Question Review (30 seconds): Read the question stem before reading the passage to understand what information to focus on.
3. Targeted Reading (1 minute): Read the relevant part of the passage that answers the question.
4. Answer Selection (30–45 seconds): Choose the best answer, eliminating obviously incorrect options.
5. Flag Difficult Questions: If a question is challenging, mark it and move on; return to it if time permits.

By practicing with official materials and adhering to this strategy, you can improve your pacing and accuracy on the SAT Reading and Writing section.

Answer 4

Updated for the Digital SAT (DSAT)

How to Master DSAT Reading and Writing

The Digital SAT is built around short passages with one question each. That means success isn’t about racing through long texts anymore, it’s about precision.

I coach students to:

1. Classify the passage instantly (argument, data-based, or literary).
2. Target the clue without over-annotating.
3. Keep a rhythm of ~45 seconds per question, sustaining accuracy across the module.

We train in Bluebook (the College Board’s official platform), so students build confidence with the exact format they’ll see on test day. My strategies help them think sharper under pressure and raise scores without wasted effort.