Ok, so despite what we have been told, you can't hit level cap (30/60) in one playthrough. Here's my run down...
By the time I reached the bottom of the steps leading the final Saren fight I was level 29 (494729/662100), full Paragon, Insanity. 44 hours played.
I finished every mission and all but one assignment (spacer specific that I forgot about before the lock down event). And yes, I finished EVERY other assignment, I checked each off on https://masseffect.fandom.com/wiki/Assignments as I went.
A little perspective, this is probably my 12th or 13th playthough of this game, I know where most things are and what to look for.
I explored every available planet you can land on, surveyed every planet availabe and found those naughty things hidden in the asteroid rings. I collect everything for the collection assignments beyond what they require. Trust me whan I say I missed nothing, nothing. I made a point to bypass anything locked, never using omni-gel.
This is not a post to rag on the dev's, simply to point out that they are in error in the statement they made. Perhaps something changed or needs to be adjusted, but as it stands, max level will require a second playthrough.
Not that thats a bad thing lol, for me anyway.