Timed Drill
Practice working under time pressure to build speed and confidence for test day.
Learn
The best way to get comfortable with timed tests is to practice under timed conditions. Just like athletes train for races, you can train your brain to work efficiently under pressure!
Why Timed Practice?
Practicing with a timer helps your brain get used to working quickly. The more you practice, the more natural it feels to pace yourself on test day.
Start Small
Begin with short drills (5-10 questions) and gradually work up to longer sessions. Building stamina takes time!
Track Your Progress
Keep track of how many questions you answer correctly and how long it takes. You'll see improvement over time!
The 4-Step Timed Drill Method
- Set Your Timer - Know exactly how much time you have before you start.
- Work Steadily - Don't rush on easy questions, don't linger on hard ones.
- Mark and Move - If stuck for more than 1 minute, mark your best guess and continue.
- Review if Time Allows - Use any remaining time to check marked questions.
Before You Start a Timed Drill
- Find a quiet place with no distractions
- Have scratch paper ready if needed
- Make sure you can see the timer easily
- Take a deep breath and focus
- Remember: it's practice, so mistakes help you learn!
Examples
Let's look at how to approach a timed drill strategically.
Example: 5-Minute Drill with 5 Questions
In this drill, you have 1 minute per question on average. Here's how to think about it:
Quick Questions (30 sec)
Recall and vocabulary questions should take less than your average. Save that time for harder ones!
Average Questions (1 min)
Most questions should take about 1 minute. Stay aware of this benchmark.
Hard Questions (1.5 min max)
Even hard questions shouldn't take more than 1.5 minutes. If stuck, guess and move on.
Checking the Clock
Here's when to glance at your timer during a 5-question, 5-minute drill:
- After Question 2: About 2 minutes should have passed
- After Question 4: You should have about 1 minute left
- Final 30 seconds: Make sure all questions have an answer!
Practice
Choose a drill length and test your skills! Each drill has 8 mixed questions covering reading and math concepts.
Select Your Drill
Warm-Up
Challenge
Speed Test
Drill Complete!
Check Your Understanding
After completing a timed drill, ask yourself these questions:
Did I Finish?
If not, you may need to work on speed. Practice identifying question types to answer faster.
Did I Rush?
If you finished with lots of time but got many wrong, slow down a bit. Accuracy matters!
What Tripped Me Up?
Note which question types took longest. Focus your practice on those areas.
Improvement Goals
- Week 1: Complete 5-minute drills with at least 5/8 correct
- Week 2: Complete 4-minute drills with at least 5/8 correct
- Week 3: Complete 3-minute drills with at least 5/8 correct
- Week 4: Complete any drill with at least 6/8 correct
Next Steps
Set Timer
Know your time before starting
Work Steady
Not too fast, not too slow
Mark & Move
Don't get stuck on hard questions
Review
Check answers if time allows
Key Takeaways
- Timed practice builds speed and confidence
- Start with longer times and work toward shorter ones
- Check the clock at regular intervals
- Never leave questions blank - always guess!
- Track your progress to see improvement
Great job practicing under time pressure! Next, you'll learn how to review your mistakes effectively to keep improving.