How to Manage Time During the NAVLE

Why Time Management Matters More Than You Think

The NAVLE isn’t just about knowledge — it’s a six-hour endurance event. You’re managing 360 questions, divided into 6 sections of 60, each lasting 65 minutes. That’s barely a minute per question, including review time.

Even high-performing students miss easy points because of fatigue or poor pacing. Managing your energy, not just your time, is what separates the calm from the panicked.

Your Pacing Mindset: Marathon, Not Sprint

Treat each section like a mini-shift in the clinic — steady, focused, no rush. You’re not aiming to be fast; you’re aiming to maintain accuracy at speed.

Most students start too strong (and burn out by block four). Instead, aim for consistency. Each section should feel nearly identical in rhythm and effort.

The Ideal Timing Breakdown (Per Question and Section)

You have 65 minutes for 60 questions, or roughly 65 seconds per question. Here’s how to use that time wisely:

• First pass (45–50 min): Answer everything you know quickly and confidently. Skip hard or multi-step questions immediately.

• Second pass (10–12 min): Return to flagged questions. Eliminate options, apply clinical logic, and choose the most defensible answer.

• Final buffer (3–5 min): Quick review of flagged guesses and ensure all questions are filled (no blanks!).

Use the built-in timer — don’t ignore it. Divide the block mentally into 15-question checkpoints (every ~16 minutes).

Handling Fatigue: Between Sections

Fatigue hits harder than difficulty. Use your breaks strategically:

• After 2 sections: Take your first real break. Hydrate, stretch, snack lightly (protein + carbs).

• Mid-exam (after section 3–4): A 10–15 min reset is worth more than 10 rushed guesses later.

• Avoid caffeine spikes — a slow-release snack or water works better to keep focus stable.

• Don’t check your phone or social media; it breaks concentration rhythm.

Smart Navigation Tips During Each Section

• Use the mark-and-skip strategy liberally — unanswered questions waste time only if you never return to them.

• Don’t reread long stems twice in a row. Read once carefully, extract signalment and task, and move on.

• Long case-style stems usually anchor 2–3 questions. Get the key pattern once, and it’ll help with follow-ups.

• If two answers feel equally plausible, pick one and flag it. Don’t spiral — every minute counts.

What to Do When You Fall Behind

If you hit question 30 with less than 30 minutes left, don’t panic. Adjust immediately:

1) Speed up decisions: Go with your best first impression on the next 10–15 questions.

2) Trust pattern recall: You’ve trained for this — your brain recognizes key phrases faster than you think.

3) Skip the long math or epidemiology questions until the end of the block; they drain time.

4) Finish all bubbles — unanswered = guaranteed wrong.

End-of-Exam Mental Game

By block five, your focus dips. Expect it — it’s normal. Don’t interpret fatigue as failure.

Reset your attention before the last section. Breathe, stretch, and remind yourself: this is the final push.

Many candidates perform their best in the last block because the adrenaline returns. Use that momentum.

Pro Tip: Simulate Test Conditions Early

Practice pacing before exam day. Use full-length mocks or timed 60-question sets. Don’t just study content — study tempo.

If you can maintain accuracy through hour 5 of a mock exam, the real thing won’t surprise you.

Even small habits — like taking notes on scratch paper or clicking ‘Next’ rhythmically — help build timing muscle memory.

Final Section-by-Section Snapshot

Sections 1–2: Stay calm, don’t rush. Build confidence and rhythm.

Sections 3–4: Expect fatigue; take a real break here. Pace matters more than perfection.

Sections 5–6: Simplify decisions. Rely on practiced logic and pattern recognition — not overthinking.

Remember, finishing strong with clear-headed reasoning beats racing through with regret.

Bottom Line

Time management isn’t just a test-day tactic — it’s a clinical skill. Pacing your reasoning, protecting your focus, and staying composed under pressure mirror real practice.

Treat the NAVLE like a long shift: plan your energy, trust your training, and finish with the same clarity you started with.