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The response window grows with every sentence — never a fixed number
11 seconds for sentence 1, 20 for sentence 7 — the time budget is built around exactly how much harder each one gets. Here's the real progression, and what it means for how you pace yourself.
The real time progression
11 · 11 · 13 · 13 · 14 · 16 · 20 seconds — the window grows steadily across all 7 items, never a flat number.
Sentence 1 vs. sentence 7
Sentence 1: "Please meet your group at the main entrance." — 11 sec
Sentence 7: the closed-rose-garden sentence — 20 sec
Why sentence 7 gets nearly double the time
It's built differently, not just longer — a concession clause plus two joined actions, 3 separate pieces to reconstruct.
Sentence 7 (real item)
"Although the rose garden is closed for renovation this month, you can still show visitors the orchid house and the koi pond on the way back."
3 pieces: concession + 2 joined actions.
Does the extra time mean slow down?
No — it's there to fit in the extra content, not to hesitate. Start the instant the beep sounds, every time.
The budget is bigger because ✓
there's more to say — not because you're meant to think longer first.
The practical takeaway
Expect items 5-7 to feel noticeably harder — that's normal, and the exam already budgets extra time for exactly that. You're not falling behind.
DEB
4 things to know about Listen and Repeat's pacing