Knowing exactly what to expect on test day removes unnecessary stress and lets you focus fully on the Reading test itself. Here is a simple checklist of what to prepare and what the day typically looks like.
What to bring. Your original, valid passport or national ID (the same one used during registration) is mandatory — photocopies are not accepted. Bring your test confirmation or admission notice if you have one. Do not bring phones, smartwatches, bags, or notes into the exam room; most centers provide secure storage outside the room.
Arrive early. Most test centers ask candidates to arrive 30-60 minutes before the scheduled start time for check-in, ID verification, and seating. Arriving late can mean losing your seat entirely, since the Listening and Reading sections run on a strict, uninterrupted schedule.
What the Reading section actually looks like. You will receive a question paper and a separate answer sheet (for the paper-based test), or work directly on a computer (for the computer-delivered test). You have exactly 60 minutes for all 3 passages and 40 questions, with no extra transfer time in the computer-delivered version.
No extra time for transferring answers (paper-based test). Unlike the Listening test, the Reading test does not give you a separate transfer period — you must write your final answers directly onto the answer sheet within the 60 minutes, so plan your last few minutes accordingly.
Practicing under realistic conditions helps most. The best way to reduce test-day anxiety is familiarity — practicing with a real 60-minute timer, no interruptions, and no dictionary, exactly like the actual exam. Readlify's Full Mock Test feature is designed to simulate this experience as closely as possible.