How to Allocate Your Time Across FAR Testlets

FAR gives you 4 hours (240 minutes) for 5 testlets -- 2 MCQ testlets and 3 TBS testlets. How you allocate that time across testlets matters more than your total study hours. Candidates who run out of time on the final TBS testlet leave points unanswered, and unanswered questions are scored as zero. This guide provides a minute-by-minute allocation strategy, pacing rules for MCQs and TBS, and a triage protocol for when you fall behind.

#Key Points

• FAR has 5 testlets: 2 MCQ (33 questions each) and 3 TBS (2-3 simulations each) within 240 minutes
• Target 40-45 minutes per MCQ testlet and 35-40 minutes per TBS testlet, with a 10-15 minute buffer
• The 90-second rule: if you cannot narrow an MCQ to two choices in 90 seconds, flag it and move on
• Testlet 2 may be harder than Testlet 1 if you performed well -- this is a good sign, not a reason to panic
• Unanswered questions are scored as incorrect; there is no penalty for guessing
• Practice under timed conditions at least 4-6 times before exam day

#What is the testlet structure on FAR?

FAR consists of 5 testlets delivered in a fixed order. You must complete each testlet and submit it before moving to the next. Once submitted, you cannot return to a previous testlet.

Total: 66 MCQs + approximately 7-8 TBS in 240 minutes.

One of the TBS across Testlets 3-5 is a pretest item that does not count toward your score. You will not know which one it is. Treat every simulation as if it is scored.

#How should you allocate time across testlets?

The following allocation balances speed, accuracy, and reserve time. It is based on a 240-minute total exam window.

The 42-minute buffer is not wasted time. It absorbs overruns on difficult TBS, lets you return to flagged MCQs within a testlet before submitting, and prevents the panic that comes from watching the clock hit zero with unanswered questions.

In practice, most candidates use some of the buffer during the TBS phase. Document review simulations in particular can exceed the 15-minute average. Plan for this by finishing the MCQ testlets with time to spare.

#What is the 90-second rule for MCQs?

The 90-second rule is a pacing heuristic: if you have been reading an MCQ for 90 seconds and have not narrowed the answer choices to two options, flag the question and move to the next one.

Why 90 seconds? At 42 minutes for 33 questions, you have approximately 76 seconds per MCQ. The 90-second threshold gives you a slight overage on hard questions while keeping your average pace on track. Spending 3-4 minutes on a single MCQ is the most common cause of time crunches in later testlets.

How to apply it:

1. Read the question stem and all four answer choices. Clock starts.
2. Eliminate any choices you know are wrong.
3. If you have eliminated two or more choices within 90 seconds, select your best answer and move on.
4. If you have not eliminated at least two choices within 90 seconds, flag the question, select your best guess, and move on.
5. If time permits at the end of the testlet, return to flagged questions.

The 90-second rule does not mean every MCQ should take 90 seconds. Many FAR MCQs can be answered in 30-45 seconds -- straightforward recall questions about definitions, standards, or single-step calculations. Those quick answers build a time bank that you can spend on harder questions without falling behind.

#How does adaptive difficulty affect your timing?

FAR's MCQ testlets use an adaptive delivery model. Testlet 1 is medium difficulty for all candidates. If your performance on Testlet 1 exceeds a certain threshold, Testlet 2 is drawn from a harder question pool. If your performance is below that threshold, Testlet 2 remains at medium difficulty.

What this means for timing:

• If Testlet 2 feels harder, it probably is. That is a positive signal -- it means you performed well on Testlet 1.
• Harder questions are weighted more favorably in the scoring algorithm. Getting a few wrong on a hard testlet is not the same as getting a few wrong on a medium testlet.
• Do not adjust your pacing based on perceived difficulty. The 90-second rule and 42-minute budget apply regardless of whether the questions feel easy or hard.
• Spending extra time on hard questions in Testlet 2 because they "feel important" is a common error. The scoring model already accounts for difficulty. Your job is to answer as many questions as correctly as possible within the time budget.

The key takeaway: your timing strategy should be the same for both testlets. The adaptive model is invisible to your pacing plan.

#What is the right TBS pacing strategy?

Task-based simulations require a different approach than MCQs. Each TBS can involve multiple tabs, exhibits, authoritative literature lookups, and multi-step calculations. The time variance between simulations is much higher than between MCQs.

Average time per TBS: 12-20 minutes (depending on complexity).

Here is a step-by-step approach for each TBS testlet:

1. Scan all simulations in the testlet first. Before working on any TBS, click through each one and read the requirement tab (not the full problem, just what is being asked). This takes 1-2 minutes and lets you identify which simulations are simpler.
2. Start with the easiest TBS. Within a testlet, you can navigate between simulations freely. Do the shorter, more straightforward simulation first. This locks in points and builds confidence.
3. Read the requirement before reading the exhibits. Many candidates read every exhibit tab before understanding what the question is asking. Read the requirement first, then pull only the data you need from the exhibits.
4. Set a per-TBS time limit. Budget 15 minutes per standard TBS and 20 minutes for document review simulations. If you hit the limit, enter your best answers for any incomplete cells and move on.
5. Do not leave any cells blank. Partial credit is possible on TBS. An educated guess in a response cell is better than an empty cell.

#What should you do if you are running behind?

If you reach a testlet and realize you are behind your time budget, here is the triage protocol by position:

Behind after Testlet 1 (spent more than 45 minutes):

• You have overrun by 3+ minutes. Tighten the 90-second rule to 60 seconds for Testlet 2. Flag aggressively. You need to finish Testlet 2 in 38-40 minutes to get back on track.

Behind after Testlet 2 (spent more than 90 minutes total on MCQs):

• You have entered the TBS phase with less than 150 minutes remaining. Reduce your per-TBS budget to 12 minutes. Prioritize simulations that look like straightforward journal entries or calculations over document review TBS.

Behind in the final testlet (less than 25 minutes remaining for Testlet 5):

• Triage mode. Scan all remaining TBS. Identify the one that looks simplest and complete it fully. For the remaining TBS, enter any values you can calculate quickly. Fill in all blank cells with reasonable estimates -- partial credit is available on most TBS formats.

The worst outcome is blank responses. A partially completed TBS with some correct values will earn partial credit. A blank TBS earns zero. Time management on FAR is fundamentally about ensuring you attempt every question.

#How do you practice time management before exam day?

Knowing the right time allocation is not the same as executing it under pressure. You need to practice timed sessions repeatedly before the exam.

1. Start with single-testlet timed sets. Set a timer for 42 minutes and complete 33 MCQs. Do this at least 4 times across different topic areas. Track how many questions you complete and your accuracy.

2. Add TBS timed sets. Set a timer for 38 minutes and complete 2-3 TBS. Practice reading the requirement first and triaging by difficulty.

3. Run half-exam simulations. Combine one MCQ testlet (42 min) with one TBS testlet (38 min) in a single sitting. This builds stamina for the transition between question types.

4. Complete at least 2 full-length practice exams under real conditions. Four hours, no pauses beyond the scheduled break, no reference materials. Score yourself honestly. If your pacing is off during practice, adjust before exam day.

5. Review your time log after each practice session. Note which question types consumed the most time. If inventory valuation MCQs consistently take you 2+ minutes, that topic needs more drill work -- the timing problem is a content problem.

6. Practice the flag-and-move habit. In your timed sets, force yourself to flag and skip at least 3 questions per testlet, even if you think you can solve them. Return to them at the end. This builds the discipline to avoid time traps on exam day.

The goal is to make time allocation automatic by exam day. You should not need to think about pacing -- it should be a habit trained through repetition.

#How does time management fit into your overall FAR strategy?

Time allocation is one component of a broader exam strategy. If you are spending too long on MCQs because the content is unfamiliar, the root issue is content preparation, not pacing. If you are running out of time on TBS because you cannot set up journal entries quickly, the root issue is simulation practice volume.

The best time management strategy is one you never have to think about on exam day because you have practiced it enough that it runs automatically. Build the habit in your study sessions, test it under simulated conditions, and trust the plan when you sit down at Prometric.

For strategies on how to structure your overall FAR practice, see FAR Practice Questions Strategy. For a complete exam preparation framework, see How to Pass FAR. And if you have already taken FAR and need a targeted retake approach, start with Why You Failed FAR to diagnose the root cause before adjusting your time management plan.