How to Measure Your Reading Speed
The reasons for measuring reading speed vary by person. Some need to know to work on reading faster; some are merely curious. Whatever the motivation, measuring reading speed can be done by anyone, virtually anywhere. The average reading speed is between 200 and 250 words-per-minute (wpm), although people trained in speed reading can attain speeds of 500 to 1,000 wpm. By testing reading speed, people can get a sense of how much time they need to complete their day's reading, and whether or not they wish to try to improve their speed.
Instructions
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Preparation
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1
Find a book that you have not read before and open to the middle of it.
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2
Count the number of words contained in three to five lines and then divide this number by the amount of lines you used. For instance, if you counted 29 words over three lines, then divide 29 by three to get a words-per-line number of 9.66. Round down to an even number if necessary.
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3
Count the number of lines on three to five pages, then divide this number by the amount of pages you used. If you counted 104 lines in three pages, then you would divide 104 by three for a words-per-page number of 34.66. Be sure to round down.
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4
Multiply the words-per-page number by the words-per-line number. For instance, a book with an average words-per-page number of nine and a words-per-line number of 34 would have an average of 306 words per page.
Instructions
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5
Place the book and the timer in front of you. Set the timer for five minutes.
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6
Activate the timer and begin reading. Try to read at your normal speed, and remember that you need to have some comprehension of what you are reading. Stop reading as soon as the timer sounds, and take note of where you stopped on the final page.
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7
Count the number of pages you read and multiply this number by your average words-per-page number. For the last, unfinished page, count the number of lines you read and multiply this number by the average number of words-per-line. Add the two numbers together to get the number of total words you read.
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8
Divide your total number of words by the number of minutes, five, and the resulting number is you words-per-minute speed.
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9
Test yourself for comprehension. Try to recall five main points about what you have just read. If you can't, your true reading speed may be slower. Test again and try reading for comprehension, even if that brings down your reading speed.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Remember that faster reading does not necessarily mean better comprehension. When testing your reading speed, don't rush. Relax and try to understand what you are reading.
References
- Photo Credit read #3 image by Adam Borkowski from Fotolia.com
