Reading Speed Test

Measure your words-per-minute reading speed with timed passages and optional comprehension questions.

Reading Speed Test tool

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Example

Input: Medium passage of 357 words read in exactly 1 minute

Result: Reading Speed 357 WPM (Reading Level: Fast Reader)

Words per minute = 357 words / 1 minute = 357 WPM.

Reading Speed Bands Used in This Test

Words per minuteResult
Below 150Slow Reader
150 to 249Average Reader
250 to 399Fast Reader
400 and aboveSpeed Reader
  1. Choose a difficulty level, then click Start Reading to reveal the passage and start the timer, and read at your normal pace.
  2. Read the entire passage carefully from start to finish without skimming.
  3. Click the finish button as soon as you complete the last word of the passage.
  4. Answer the optional comprehension questions to verify your understanding of the text.
  5. Review your reading speed in words per minute along with your time taken, reading level, and comprehension score.

How Fast Do You Read?

Your reading speed is the number of words you read per minute (WPM). This test times you on a passage of known length. Read a 357 word passage in one minute and your speed is 357 WPM.

Pick a level first. Easy passages run from about 280 to 300 words, medium from about 325 to 370, and hard from about 365 to 455. Harder passages use denser language, so most people read them more slowly. Press Start Reading and the passage appears as the clock starts. Read at your normal pace, then press Done Reading. Speed means little if you did not take the text in. That is why the test asks three multiple-choice questions after each passage, unless you turn them off. You get a comprehension score and can review each answer. A good result is a steady speed with most answers right. If you race through and miss questions, you were skimming, not reading.

The tool puts your speed in one of four bands: Slow Reader below 150 WPM, Average Reader from 150 to 249, Fast Reader from 250 to 399, and Speed Reader from 400 up. For reference, a 2019 review of 190 studies by Marc Brysbaert put average silent reading of English non-fiction at about 238 WPM. Test on a few passages and take the average for a fairer picture. To check how hard your own writing is to read, try the Readability Score Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

For adults reading non-fiction silently, about 200 to 260 WPM is typical. This test calls 150 to 249 WPM average, 250 to 399 fast and 400 or more a speed reader. Speed only counts if you understand the text, so look at your comprehension score too.
Count the words on a page, or count one line and multiply by the number of lines. Time yourself reading it, then divide the words by the minutes. For example, 300 words in 1 minute 15 seconds is 300 / 1.25 = 240 WPM.
Research does not back big speed reading claims. At very high speeds, people skim and understanding drops sharply. You can often read faster by cutting down on going back over lines and by reading more often. Gains tend to be modest, not several times faster.

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