The Rescue Principle

Time pressure does not only reduce speed. It reduces decision quality. Your fix is not to rush but to constrain choices. Every drill in this guide does three things:

1. Limits attention to the small action that wins the mark.
2. Forces a move within a strict time cap so momentum does not die.
3. Captures one metric that proves improvement.

Use the drills as short workouts, not only as theory. Set a timer, follow the steps, record the number. Repeat tomorrow.

Global Rules That Run Across Sections

• Block your time instead of watching seconds leak away. Reading 17–20–23 with 2 minutes in reserve inside each block. Listening preview windows 5–7 seconds per cluster. Writing Task 2 outline 3 minutes, draft 7, close and check 2. Speaking long turn map 15 seconds, talk 60–90 seconds.
• Move after 60 seconds if you cannot make a supported choice. Mark the item and return later.
• Proof-first thinking beats vibe answers. If a line in the text or a clear rule does not support the choice, tag it low confidence and move on.
• Confidence tags H M L direct your final sweep. L items get your last minutes, not H items that feel nice to recheck.

Reading Rescue Drills

Reading is the anchor in this guide. Mastering these first improves your attention and proof habits everywhere else.

Drill R1 — 60 Second Locate Ladder

Purpose
Cut the dead time before you even start reasoning.

Set
Choose 12 questions from varied passages and types.

Steps

1. Read the question stem only.
2. Start the timer for 60 seconds.
3. Find the paragraph that contains the proof. Do not answer.
4. Mark Pass if found under 60, Fail if not. Note the second you stopped.

Score
Target 9 of 12 Passes. Average locate time under 40 seconds by week two.

Upgrade
Reduce the cap to 45 seconds after three sessions at target.

Why it works
Most errors begin before analysis. You looked in the wrong place. This drill trains your eyes to jump to names, dates, and unique terms, which speeds every other step.

Drill R2 — RAP Mini Loop (Read, Anchor, Prove)

Purpose
Lock the sequence that stops panic.

Set
Pick one passage and 8 questions mixed across types.

Steps per item

1. Read 3 to 5 lines around where you think the answer lives.
2. Anchor one candidate phrase. Circle 3 to 7 words that seem relevant.
3. Prove the option that matches meaning, not just keywords.

Time budget
80 seconds per item. If the proof is unclear at 60 seconds, mark L, make a best choice, and move.

Score
Two numbers matter: items answered within 80 seconds and items where you can point to your anchor phrase during review. Aim for 7 of 8 supported.

Why it works
RAP makes you show evidence to yourself under time pressure. Your brain trusts facts, not feelings.

Drill R3 — Headings Function Sprint

Purpose
Rescue the most time hungry type.

Set
10 headings from two passages.

Steps

1. Read first and last sentence of the paragraph.
2. Write a 5 word function label such as contrast, cause, method, limitation, result.
3. Shortlist 2 headings that match the function.
4. Pick 1 by finding the phrase that signals the function (however, as a result, the method involves).

Time budget
75 to 90 seconds per paragraph.

Score

• Function label written for every paragraph
• Accuracy 70 percent or higher
• Less than 4 changes during the sweep

Why it works
Function reading beats keyword traps. You match what the paragraph does, not what it mentions.

Drill R4 — Polarity and Quantifier Check for T F NG

Purpose
Stop wasting minutes on false dilemmas.

Set
12 True False Not Given items.

Steps

1. Circle quantifiers and negatives in the statement: all, most, some, none, not, never, seldom.
2. Locate the likely proof lines.
3. Compare polarity and scope exactly.
4. Decide: contradicts is False, matches is True, unsolved is Not Given.

Time budget
60 to 75 seconds per item.

Score

• 9 of 12 correct today
• Fewer than 2 changes during the final sweep
• Zero mistakes caused by ignoring all or most

Why it works
Tiny words change truth value. Seeing them first keeps speed high and errors low.

Drill R5 — Completion Precision Cleanroom

Purpose
Rescue marks lost to simple form errors.

Set
10 sentence or summary completion items.

Steps

1. Before options, decide the word form and number the blank needs.
2. Reject options that break grammar or collocation.
3. After writing the answer, check plural, hyphen, and spelling.

Time budget
50 to 70 seconds per item.

Score

• 8 of 10 correct
• Zero losses to plural or hyphen
• Transfer sheet clean of spelling mistakes

Why it works
Time pressure makes you stop checking endings. This drill moves accuracy checks earlier where they are faster.

Drill R6 — L-only Confidence Sweep

Purpose
Use the final minutes well.

Set
After any set or mock, run a 2 minute L-only pass.

Steps

1. Open your sheet and look only for L tags.
2. Change an answer only if you can add a new proof phrase.
3. If still unsure after 20 seconds, keep the first choice.

Score

• At least one saved mark often
• Less than 1 wrong change on average per test

Why it works
Time pressure tempts you to polish H answers. This drill blocks that habit.

Listening Rescue Drills

Even though this is a Reading guide, short Listening drills build attention to small clues and protect your rhythm. Keep them compact.

Drill L1 — Preview Windows

Purpose
Make the first hearing count.

Set
Two sections of questions.

Steps

1. During the instructions, preview the next cluster.
2. Predict the answer type: number, noun, adjective, direction.
3. Underline modifiers like left of, at least, no later than.

Time budget
5 to 7 seconds per cluster.

Score

• Miss fewer than 3 items due to drift
• Zero losses to ignored modifiers

Drill L2 — Miss and Release

Purpose
Avoid the domino effect after one miss.

Set
Any section with consecutive blanks.

Steps

1. If you miss one, mark a small dash beside it.
2. Say release in your head and return full attention to the audio.
3. Do not attempt in-flight reconstruction until the end.

Score

• No multi item wipeouts after a single miss

Drill L3 — Transfer Scan

Purpose
Clean up careless losses when copying answers.

Set
10 transferred answers.

Steps
Scan for spelling, plural, hyphen, and sensible units like km or kg.

Score

• Zero transfer errors

Writing Rescue Drills

Writing under time pressure rewards structure over style. Use drills that compress decisions.

Drill W1 — 12 Minute Skeleton for Task 2

Purpose
Get words on the page fast with logical shape.

Steps

1. 3 minutes outline: thesis, reason A, reason B, one example each.
2. 7 minutes draft introduction and two body paragraphs.
3. 2 minutes conclusion and checks for topic sentence clarity, referencing, and simple grammar slips.

Score

• 250 to 300 words
• One clear thesis and two topic sentences
• Two precise examples, not generic claims

Drill W2 — Sentence Compression

Purpose
Raise clarity when your brain races.

Set
Take three long sentences from a practice essay.

Steps

1. Remove filler like very, really, in order to.
2. Swap passive for active where natural.
3. Keep one idea per sentence.

Score

• Each sentence below 20 words on average without losing meaning

Drill W3 — 120 Second End Check

Purpose
Save easy marks at the end.

Steps
Scan for four things in order: Task 1 overview or Task 2 thesis visible, paragraphing intact, subject verb agreement, clear referencing words like this approach, these results.

Score

• 2 to 3 simple errors fixed each essay

Speaking Rescue Drills

You need controlled length and organized ideas. Drills here reduce the burn of fast questions.

Drill S1 — 10 Second Map for the Long Turn

Purpose
Stop rambling or freezing.

Steps
Write four bullets: situation, two details, mini example, closing line. Then speak for 60 to 90 seconds.

Score

• Clear opening and a closing line
• 60 to 90 seconds without filler loops

Drill S2 — Answer Arc for Part 1

Purpose
Keep answers natural and complete without dragging.

Steps

1. 2 to 3 short sentences: statement, small detail, micro reason.
2. Add a contrast or example only if asked.

Score

• 15 to 25 seconds per answer
• Fewer than one filler every 20 seconds

Drill S3 — Pause and Pivot

Purpose
Recover when you blank.

Steps

1. Pause one beat and repeat the keyword.
2. Pivot to a related angle with a connector like actually, in my case, or speaking of.
3. Move forward with one example.

Score

• Gap fills under 3 seconds
• Coherence preserved

Daily Rescue Circuits

Turn drills into a short daily plan. Total time 40 to 55 minutes.

• Circuit A — Reading heavy (Mon, Thu)
  R1 Locate Ladder 10 minutes
  R2 RAP Mini Loop 15 minutes
  R4 T F NG Polarity 10 minutes
  R6 L-only Sweep 5 minutes
  L2 Miss and Release 5 minutes
• Circuit B — Mixed skills (Tue, Fri)
  R3 Headings 15 minutes
  L1 Preview Windows 10 minutes
  W1 Skeleton 12 minutes
  S1 Long Turn Map 8 minutes
• Circuit C — Pressure prep (Wed, Sat)
  Run one 35 minute mixed Reading set across types with the 60 second move rule.
  End with an L-only sweep for 2 minutes.
  Quick W3 End Check drill for any paragraph you wrote earlier.

Sunday is review and rest. Scan your logs, not your feelings.

Tracking Sheet and Codes

Keep one page to log outcomes. Columns:

• Date
• Drill code (R1, R2, R3, L1, etc.)
• Items attempted
• Items correct
• Average locate time
• L tags at end
• Notes on errors (locate, function, polarity, scope, time, vocabulary)

Use the same codes for errors across all sections. For example, scope shows up in Reading options and Writing claims. Consistent labels reveal repeat patterns quickly.

Two Mini Cases

Case A — Jamal, time collapse in Passage 3

Problem: He reached Passage 3 with only 14 minutes and guessed the last 6 items.
Fix path: R1 Locate Ladder reduced average locate time from 57 seconds to 36 seconds within five sessions. R6 L-only Sweep recovered 2 marks in each mock.
Result: With the same reading speed, Jamal finished Passage 3 with 4 minutes spare and hit 34 correct. The rescue was locating faster, not reading faster.

Case B — Shabnam, keyword traps in headings

Problem: She matched headings by repeated words and scored 40 percent on headings sets.
Fix path: R3 Function Sprint plus a Writing summary drill that forced visible function. She wrote a 5 word label for each paragraph before looking at options.
Result: Headings accuracy rose to 72 percent. Her final mock improved by 6 marks. The key was function first, keywords second.

Troubleshooting and Edge Cases

• I work the drills but speed does not rise
  You are still answering without proof. Rebuild R2 and require an anchor phrase before choosing. Speed follows certainty.
• My changes during the sweep keep hurting me
  You are switching H answers. Restrict the sweep to L tags and demand a new proof phrase for any change.
• I cannot finish Listening Part 4
  Preview answer types and write only the answer word. If you miss one, release it. Score the transfer, not the chase.
• My Writing collapses under time
  Commit to W1. A short outline beats a half page of scattered sentences. Topic sentences are your rescues.
• Speaking long turn runs out at 40 seconds
  Double the example inside S1. Add a simple cause or result sentence. Practice with a timer until your clock sense is natural.
• Dense academic paragraphs shake me
  Read first, last, and one middle sentence. Name the function, then drill R3. Complex words often hide simple jobs like limitation or method.

Measurable Targets to Hit Before Exam Day

• Reading average locate time 40 seconds or faster
• Headings 70 percent or higher in sets of 10
• T F NG 75 percent or higher with fewer than 2 polarity mistakes per set
• Completion zero losses to plural or hyphen across 10 items
• Listening fewer than 3 drift losses per test
• Writing two topic sentences and an overview or thesis every time
• Speaking long turn at 60 to 90 seconds without filler loops

Write the targets on your timing sheet. Review after each circuit.

Why These Drills Beat Time Pressure

They constrain choice and create momentum. Under stress, the mind seeks comfort in re reading or second guessing. Drills like R1 and R6 prevent that spiral. Function labels in R3 shrink the problem space, polarity checks in R4 attach logic to small words, and the skeleton in W1 makes your first ten minutes decisive. You are not trying to be faster. You are trying to be clearer, earlier. Speed is the by product.

Glossary

• Anchor phrase — a small chunk of text that supports an answer
• Function reading — naming what a paragraph does such as contrast, cause, result, method, limitation
• Polarity — positive or negative wording and quantifiers that flip truth value
• Scope — how wide a claim is, for example all vs many
• Confidence tags — H high, M medium, L low certainty labels used to guide the sweep
• Drift — losing the thread in Listening due to attention pull

One Week Action Plan

Day 1
Circuit A. Log locate time and L tags. Add two lines to a distractor lab where an option looked right but failed.

Day 2
Circuit B. Save your Writing outline and read it like an examiner. Circle topic sentences.

Day 3
Circuit C. After the mixed set, write two sentences on what protected your focus.

Day 4
Circuit A again. Try the Locate Ladder with a 50 second cap.

Day 5
Circuit B. For Speaking, record one long turn and note time and fillers.

Day 6
Circuit C. Add an extra 10 item T F NG mini sprint.

Day 7
Light review. Read your logs, not your fears. Repeat the drills where the metrics lag.

By the end of the week you should see two numbers improve first: locate time and L tag count. When those fall, your final mark rises.

Final Checklist

Do

• Use block timing, the 60 second move, and the L only sweep
• Require an anchor phrase before trusting an answer
• Train function labels for headings and polarity checks for T F NG
• Keep a one page log with the same error codes across all sections
• Run short circuits most days rather than random long sessions

Avoid

• Heavy annotation that hides the one line that matters
• Re reading H answers during the sweep
• Guessing without a locate phase
• Chasing style in Writing before you fix structure
• Letting one missed Listening item destroy the next two

Time pressure does not need to beat you. When a drill gives you a script, the next action is automatic. Put your eyes where the proof lives, make a supported choice within the cap, and move. That is how you rescue marks, even when the seconds are loud.