The Two-Pass Approach

One of the most powerful time management techniques for Section A is the two-pass approach: a first pass where you answer every question you are confident about, and a second pass where you return to the questions you found difficult. This strategy maximises your marks by ensuring you never lose easy points while agonising over hard ones.

---

Why a Two-Pass Strategy Works

The LNAT interface allows you to flag questions for review and navigate between questions freely. This means you are not locked into answering questions in order. The two-pass approach exploits this feature.

The Problem with a Single Pass

If you work through the test linearly — question 1, then question 2, then question 3, and so on — you will inevitably encounter questions that absorb a disproportionate amount of time. A single difficult question can cost you 3–4 minutes, which is time you could have used to answer two or three easier questions elsewhere.

The Trap: Spending 4 minutes on one hard question and getting it wrong costs you the same as missing four easy questions. But if you had moved on, you might have answered all four of those easy questions correctly.

The Two-Pass Solution

Pass	Purpose	Time Allocation	Question Approach
First pass	Secure all "confident" marks	~65–70 minutes	Answer if confident within 90 seconds; flag and move on if not
Second pass	Tackle flagged questions with remaining time	~15–20 minutes	Return to flagged questions with fresh eyes
Final sweep	Ensure no blanks	~5 minutes	Guess on any remaining unanswered questions

---

First Pass: How It Works

During the first pass, you work through the test from beginning to end. For each passage and its questions:

1. Read the passage using your preferred reading strategy (skim, read questions, targeted re-read)
2. Attempt every question — but with a strict internal time limit
3. If you are confident in your answer within 60–90 seconds, select it and move on
4. If you are not confident after 90 seconds, do one of the following:
   • Select your best guess (so the question is not blank if you run out of time)
   • Flag the question for review
   • Move on immediately

The 90-Second Rule

The 90-second rule is the heart of the first pass. Here is why it works:

Time Spent on One Question	Likely Outcome
0–60 seconds	If you know it, you know it. High accuracy.
60–90 seconds	Reasonable deliberation. Good accuracy.
90–120 seconds	Diminishing returns. You are probably stuck.
120+ seconds	Very unlikely to improve your answer. Opportunity cost is high.

After 90 seconds, the probability that additional time will lead to a correct answer drops sharply. The time is almost always better spent elsewhere.

What to Do When You Flag a Question

When you flag a question during the first pass:

1. Select your best guess before moving on. This is crucial — if you run out of time, you want every question to have an answer, even if it is a guess.
2. Make a quick mental note (or jot on scratch paper) about what made the question difficult: "confusing wording", "two options seem right", "could not find the answer in the passage".
3. Move on without dwelling. The first pass is about momentum. Do not let a flagged question break your rhythm.

---

Second Pass: How It Works

Once you have completed the first pass through all 12 passages, check the clock. You should ideally have 15–20 minutes remaining. Now return to your flagged questions.

Why Flagged Questions Are Easier the Second Time

There are several reasons why you may find flagged questions easier on your second attempt:

1. Fresh perspective. After working through other passages, you return with a clearer mind. The answer may seem obvious now.
2. Reduced anxiety. You have already secured marks on the confident questions. The pressure is lower.
3. Subconscious processing. Your brain has been working on the problem in the background while you answered other questions.
4. Pattern recognition. After seeing 12 passages and 42 questions, you may have noticed patterns in how questions are structured that help you interpret the flagged ones.