Before Day 7: Set your tools

• Timing sheet with the 17-20-23 split and a 2-minute reserve per passage.
• Error log with five columns: Question ID, Type, Error reason, Proof phrase, Fix action.
• Answer keys with rationales that show a short proof phrase and why distractors fail.
• Confidence codes to mark each answer: H high, M medium, L low.
• Drill bank of 10 to 15 short tasks grouped by type: headings, True False Not Given, matching names, sentence completion.

Keep everything in one folder. The goal is zero decision making during the week.

Day 7: Baseline mock and first numbers

Objective: capture a clean baseline under exam timing.

1. Run a full Reading mock with the 17-20-23 split. No pausing.
2. Mark immediately using the key. For each wrong item, copy a proof phrase that justifies the correct answer.
3. Tag error reasons precisely: locate issue, inference gap, distractor trap, vocabulary, time pressure.
4. Log four metrics:
   • Locate time average
   • Low-confidence count (L)
   • Accuracy by type
   • Distractor resilience count

Targets: do not chase a score today. Your job is to diagnose patterns and pick two error types for repair.

Common pitfalls to note today

• Matching a keyword without checking paragraph function
• Reading options before reading the relevant lines
• Spending more than 60 seconds stuck on one item

Day 6: Autopsy and fix plan

Objective: turn errors into actions.

1. Sort the log by type. Choose the worst two categories.
2. Write one fix action per category. Examples:
   • Headings: read first and last lines, name the function in 5 words such as contrast or result, then pick.
   • T F NG: track polarity and quantifiers like all, most, a minority.
   • Matching names: build a quick table of who did what before answering.
3. Run two short drills from your bank, 10 to 12 items total.
4. Proof-phrase copy: for every reviewed item, write the 3 to 7 words that anchor the answer.

Targets: finish with a written mini playbook for the two weak types. Keep it to six bullet points or fewer.

Day 5: One-minute locate and distractor lab

Objective: speed up locating while hardening against traps.

1. One-minute locate: pick 10 items across passages. For each, find the paragraph with the evidence within 60 seconds. Do not answer, only locate. Mark pass or fail and record the time.
2. Distractor lab: collect three wrong options that fooled you yesterday. Write the tiny break detail: scope too wide, time reference off, negative vs positive, cause vs correlation.
3. Micro set rehearsal: 8 to 10 completion items to practice precision on word forms and hyphenation.

Targets: reduce average locate time by 10 to 15 seconds compared to Day 7. Cut repeated distractor errors of the same kind.

Day 4: Mixed rehearsal with confidence sweep

Objective: simulate switching between types while protecting momentum.

1. Run a 30-minute mixed set that samples headings, T F NG, matching names, and completion. Keep the 60-second move-on rule.
2. Confidence sweep: at minute 28, revisit only L-tagged items. Change answers only if you can add a new proof phrase.
3. Short reflection: write two sentences on what protected your focus and what disrupted it.

Targets: fewer than 6 L-tagged answers in the mixed set. At least 80 percent of changed answers must be supported by a new proof phrase.

Day 3: Second full mock to confirm fixes

Objective: prove improvement under full conditions.

1. Run full mock B with the same environment and timing split.
2. Mark and compare to Day 7 using the same four metrics.
3. Escalate or recycle
   • If locate time is under 40 seconds and L count is halved, move to maintenance drills.
   • If one type still lags, schedule that type again on Day 2.

Targets: improvement in at least three of the four metrics. If total correct rises but L count stays high, your accuracy is fragile. Fix that before test day.

Day 2: Light consolidation and routine lock

Objective: solidify habits and remove noise.

1. Five-minute routine script: write step-by-step actions for the section. Include how you preview, when you mark confidence, and how you spend the final 2 minutes.
2. Two short drills only for the weakest type. Stop while still fresh.
3. Vocabulary signals pass: scan your notes for logical connectors such as however, consequently, despite and quantifiers such as several, many, a minority. These often decide T F NG and completion precision.
4. Environment rehearsal: sit for 20 minutes in the same posture and lighting you will use on exam day. Practice page turning and bubbling or digital selection rhythm.

Targets: finish with a calm, repeatable sequence you can recite without notes.

Day 1: Taper, micro-review, sleep

Objective: protect energy and keep your reading brain sharp without stress.

1. Micro set of 6 to 8 items in your weakest type. Treat it as a warm up, not a test.
2. Proof-phrase flashcards: review 10 items where the phrase was especially instructive.
3. Bag check: ID, pens or pencils, watch if allowed, water, snack plan for breaks.
4. Sleep routine: cut screens early, review your routine script once, then stop.

Targets: arrive on test day with a clear head, no last-minute panic drilling.

Exact techniques to keep

• 17-20-23 split with a 2-minute reserve inside each block.
• Locate then read deeply. Find the paragraph before investing attention.
• Proof first, answer second. If you cannot point to a line, you are guessing.
• Confidence codes H M L on the page. Use them to guide the final sweep.
• Move-on rule at 60 seconds. Guess by elimination, mark L, and protect the next items.

Two mini examples that show how to think

Example 1: True, False, Not Given
Statement: The museum opens at 8 a.m. on weekdays.
Text: The museum opens at 9 a.m. from Monday to Friday.
Reasoning: The statement contradicts opening time.
Answer: False.
Proof phrase: “opens at 9 a.m. from Monday to Friday.”

Example 2: Matching headings
Paragraph D outlines a method, reports a surprising result, then states a limitation. Two headings feel close: New method and Unexpected outcome.
Reasoning: The central function is method description that leads to a result, but the paragraph’s key message is the limitation that constrains the result.
Answer: Heading that signals limits or constraints.
Proof phrase: “however, this approach cannot be applied when…”

Write this logic briefly in your log to prevent the same trap later.

Mini case: Rafi’s exam-week run

Day 7 score was 26 correct with average locate time 55 seconds and 12 L tags. He identified headings and T F NG as weak types. On Day 6 he wrote two fix actions: function labeling for headings and quantifier tracking for T F NG. After one-minute locate and a distractor lab on Day 5, his locate time fell to 41 seconds. On Day 3 he scored 34 correct with 5 L tags and only two distractor mistakes. Day 2 routine lock reduced stress, and Day 1 taper kept him fresh. The improvement came from proof-first reading, not from reading faster.

Troubleshooting guide

• I always overrun on Passage 3. Push the move-on rule harder in Passage 2 so you start Passage 3 with a clean buffer.
• Headings keep beating me. Read first and last lines, name the paragraph function in 5 words, then compare functions to headings. Do not match keywords.
• I change correct answers during the sweep. Only switch if you can write a new proof phrase. If not, trust the first choice.
• I panic when options look similar. Search for the smallest mismatch: time, scope, polarity, cause versus correlation. One tiny break usually exists.
• Vocabulary gaps block me. Ignore rare words unless they are part of the logic signal. Focus on connectors and quantifiers.

Quick checklist for each practice block

Do

• Set the timer for the exact block.
• Mark confidence immediately after answering.
• Copy proof phrases during review.
• Update the error log with one fix action.

Avoid

• Heavy annotation that hides the one line that matters.
• Answering from outside knowledge.
• Spending more than 60 seconds stuck on one item.
• Skipping the final 2-minute confidence sweep.

Glossary

• Proof phrase: the small chunk of text that justifies an answer.
• Locate time: average seconds to find the right paragraph before deep reading.
• Distractor: a tempting wrong option that repeats keywords but flips meaning or scope.
• Polarity: positive vs negative wording that can reverse truth value.
• Function reading: identifying what a paragraph does, such as contrast, cause, or limitation.

Your action plan now

1. Assemble the tools and print the timing sheet and error log.
2. Start Day 7 today with a clean mock and honest numbers.
3. Follow each day’s objective and target without adding extra work.
4. On Day 3 compare metrics, not feelings, and adjust only the weakest type.
5. Taper on Day 1 and trust your routine.

Use this kit to remove randomness from Reading. When every answer points to a line, every change is backed by a proof phrase, and every day has a single objective, your score becomes predictable. That is how you arrive on exam day ready to convert calm focus into marks.