Is there any way we could hide the timer on the reading section? My eyes keep wandering off to the corner of the screen to see how much time I have left when reading a passage...
Well, there's a point to have the timer on the screen. You need to know how much time you have left. Reading passages can suck up a lot of time, so it is helpful to know how you're doing.
I think you should also practice only with the timer. You'll be better off that way when it comes to the real deal.