Before you solve anything: choose your sets

DILR is a section where what you skip matters as much as what you solve. Spend the first few minutes scanning every set, not reading deeply, to judge which two or three are most likely to open up. The aim is to fully crack a small number of sets rather than half-finish many, because accuracy on a complete set is worth far more than scattered partial work.

Scan all sets first; rank them by how quickly the constraints seem to pin things down.
Prefer sets with many fixed facts and few free variables — they converge fast.
Be wary of sets that stay vague after the first read; they often hide a heavy case-split.
Commit to a set only after the scan, then give it a genuine, uninterrupted attempt.

The universal first move

Whatever the set type, begin by converting the prose into a single clean visual — a grid, a table, a sequence, or a network. Write down only what is certainly true, mark what is forbidden, and leave the uncertain blank. A faithful diagram does most of the reasoning for you and prevents the re-reading that eats time in this section.

Translate every definite statement into the diagram before touching a question.
Record negatives explicitly ("X is not on Tuesday") — they cut cases fast.
Number or letter your entities so you can refer to them without re-reading.

First move by set type

Knowing when to leave

Set a private time budget per set and respect it. If a set has not started to resolve after an honest attempt, stepping away to bank a cleaner set is the disciplined choice. Note where you stopped so you can return if time allows, but do not let a single stubborn set hold the whole section hostage.

Budget a few minutes per set; if it hasn't opened, move on and come back later.
Returning with fresh eyes often reveals the constraint you missed the first time.
Protect the sets you can solve — a banked complete set is worth more than a heroic incomplete one.