Pasta comes in different textures and shapes and so it needs to be cooked or boiled differently. Some like angel hair are very delicate and probably need only a few minutes to cook while shells might take a bit longer. Another thing about pasta you must know is that all kinds of pasta don't go with all kinds of sauces. Some like spaghetti need a smooth carbonara or wine-based consistent sauce while something like farfalle can be paired with a lumpy, not-so-consistent sauce.