Section-wise Time Management in Mock Tests

Good time management is a plan you test, not a feeling you have. Treat each mock as an experiment on your time budget.

Step 1: set a starting budget

Divide the total time among sections, weighting by marks and your comfort. For example, in a 60-minute paper with four sections, start with 15 minutes each, then adjust.

Step 2: record actual time

During the mock, note the clock time when you finish each section. After the test, compare it with the budget. Overspending in one section is the most common pattern.

Step 3: link time to marks

For each section calculate marks per minute. A section where you earn few marks per minute may need a lower budget or a different approach. A section with high marks per minute deserves more.

Step 4: adjust one thing at a time

Change a single variable per mock, such as moving five minutes from one section to another, so you can see its effect.

Hard limits

Set a hard stop per question, such as 90 seconds, and move on when you reach it. For sectional timer exams, practise stopping at the bell, which is covered in the banking strategy guide. See also how to pick questions to skip and improving speed and accuracy.