What is meant by budgeting time per passage in SOL practice?

• A. Spending the same amount of time on every question regardless of passage length
• B. Allocating a set amount of time to each passage to balance overall test duration
• C. Skipping the easiest questions first
• D. Reading all questions before reading the passage

Answer: (B)

Budgeting time per passage means deciding in advance how much total time you’ll spend on each passage and its questions, so your time is spread evenly across all passages. This helps you maintain a steady pace and prevents spending too long on one passage, which could leave you rushed or unable to finish the rest. Since passages vary in length and difficulty, giving each one a set window keeps you on track for the entire section. A practical approach is to estimate the total test time, divide by the number of passages to get a target per-passage time, and then monitor your clock as you work. If you finish early on a passage, you can use the extra time for review or to help with tougher items on later passages; if you’re stuck, move on and return later if time allows. This focus on even pacing across passages is what makes budgeting time per passage a solid strategy.