Mastering Time in TOEIC Reading: Why You Shouldn’t Do Parts 5, 6, and 7 in Order

Smart students don’t follow the test — they follow the score.

Most people take the TOEIC Reading section in the order it’s given:

Part 5 → Part 6 → Part 7

It feels safe. It feels organized. But it’s not the smartest way to finish the test — or to get the score you want.

If you want to master TOEIC Reading, you need to stop following the structure… and start managing the clock.

⏱ The Hidden Problem: You’re Set Up to Run Out of Time

Let’s do the math.

  • TOEIC Reading = 100 questions

  • Total time = 75 minutes

  • That gives you 45 seconds per question on average.

But not all questions take the same time.

  • Part 5 (Incomplete Sentences): 30 short grammar and vocab questions.
    ➤ If you’ve trained well, many can be answered in 15–20 seconds.

  • Part 6 (Text Completion): 16 grammar-in-context questions. Medium pace.

  • Part 7 (Reading Comprehension): 54 questions based on long emails, articles, notices, etc.
    ➤ Requires real reading, scanning, skimming, and inference.

Most students run out of time partway through Part 7 — leaving high-value questions unanswered.

✅ The Smarter Order: Maximize Time Where It Counts

Instead of doing 5 → 6 → 7, flip it:

Recommended Order:

  1. Part 5 first

  2. Then Part 7

  3. Finish with Part 6

🔹 Part 5 First: The Time Gainer

There are 30 questions here. If you do them in 15–20 seconds each, that takes only about 10 minutes.

That’s 12.5 minutes saved (compared to using the full 45 seconds per question).

Those extra minutes are your investment fund — and you’re about to spend them wisely.

🔹 Part 7 Second: Use the Extra Time Where It’s Needed

Part 7 is where students lose the most time — and the most points.

With your extra 10–12 minutes from Part 5, you can now afford to:

  • Spend 45–60 seconds per question

  • Take a breath

  • Read more carefully

  • Avoid panicking halfway through the section

Even better, you can choose your question order within Part 7:

  • Start with detail and vocabulary questions

  • Leave inference and NOT questions for last

🔹 Part 6 Last: Low Risk, Low Pressure

Part 6 only has 16 questions. It feels like a mix of grammar (like Part 5) and context (like Part 7).

If you have time, great — you can finish it calmly.
If not, it’s the easiest section to guess efficiently without losing major points.

🧠 Why This Strategy Improves Your Score

  • You gain time early, when questions are fast

  • You “spend” that time on harder passages that need more attention

  • You avoid the panic of running out of time with 20+ questions left

  • You finish stronger — not rushed

This is how mastery works:
You don’t just study the content.
You learn how to play the system.

💡 Final Tip: Mastery = Points per Minute

All TOEIC questions are worth 1 point.
But not all questions take the same time.
Smart students think in points per minute, not in “finish everything.”

Use the fast parts to buy time.
Use the time where it pays off.
That’s how to master time in the TOEIC Reading section — and that’s how to win.

A black and white photo of a young Japanese student flipping through a TOEIC-style test booklet while watching the clock in a plain exam room. Two other students are also focused on their papers.
✅ Sakura FAQ – Mastering TOEIC Reading Time (English) Q1: Can I answer TOEIC Reading questions in a different order than Part 5 → 6 → 7? A: Yes. You can answer the sections in any order. Many high-scoring students start with Part 5, then move to Part 7, and finish with Part 6 to manage their time better. Q2: Why is it better to start with Part 5? A: Part 5 questions are shorter and faster to answer. If you complete them quickly, you gain extra time to spend on the longer and harder reading passages in Part 7. Q3: Isn’t it risky to leave Part 6 for last? A: Not really. Part 6 has only 16 questions, and it’s easier to guess if you run out of time. It’s better to focus on the bigger scoring section (Part 7) while your brain is fresh. Q4: How much time should I try to save by doing Part 5 quickly? A: If you can answer Part 5 questions in about 20 seconds each, you’ll save about 10–12 minutes total — time you can spend on slower questions in Part 7. Q5: Is it OK to skip questions if I’m running out of time? A: Yes. It’s better to guess or skip hard questions (like NOT/EXCEPT) and focus on the ones you can answer quickly and accurately. All questions are worth 1 point.