Time management in the reading exam
In the Lezen section, time is most candidates' biggest opponent. When should you read the text, and when the question? We suggest a practical time plan.
kanaal Teachers' Desk2 min read
In the reading exam, the texts are short but the questions require attention. Rather than giving every text the same amount of time, staying flexible depending on the question earns you more points.
Read the question first
Look at the question before reading the whole text. If it asks for a date, a price or a time, you don't need to read the text from start to finish; you can find that information by scanning.
Tables and notices
In texts with tables, read the column headings first. Most questions ask you to combine two pieces of information, for example "on Tuesday" and "in the afternoon".
Sample time plan
| Stage | Time | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| First pass | 25 min | Answer the easy questions, flag the hard ones |
| Second pass | 8 min | Go back to the flagged questions |
| Check | 2 min | Make sure you haven't left any question blank |
Time yourself with a Lezen practice examSee how long you spent on each question on the results page.
Start practicingTags: Lezen · reading · strategy
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