Free reading speed testHow fast do you read?
Read a short story at your normal pace, answer three questions and get your reading speed in words per minute (WPM), adjusted for comprehension.
About 1 minute · The timer starts when you press the button
What is a good reading speed?
The largest review to date (Brysbaert, 2019: 190 studies, more than 18,000 readers) puts the average adult reading speed in English at:
| Silent reading, non-fiction | 238 wpm |
|---|---|
| Silent reading, fiction | 260 wpm |
| Reading aloud | 183 wpm |
Speeds vary by language: in languages with longer words, such as German or Finnish, the same reader covers fewer words per minute. Compare yourself with readers of your own language and, above all, with your own previous results.
How this test works
The story is about 280 words long. We measure the time between pressing start and pressing “I’ve finished” and divide the number of words by the minutes it took you. That is your raw reading speed.
Speed means little without understanding, so we ask three questions about the story. Your effective speed is your raw speed multiplied by the share of correct answers: 300 wpm with 2 of 3 right is an effective 200 wpm.
The test runs entirely in your browser. We don’t store your answers or your result.
How to read faster without losing comprehension
- Read more. Vocabulary and familiarity with a topic are the biggest factors in reading speed, and both grow with practice.
- Reduce distractions. Much of the time we lose while reading goes on drifting attention and re-reading lines we didn’t take in.
- Try RSVP reading. Showing one word at a time in a fixed spot removes the eye jumps between words and lines. It works best at moderate speeds: well above 300–400 wpm, comprehension drops for everyone.
How to read faster without losing comprehension →Average reading speed by age and language →How long does it take to read a book? →What is RSVP reading? →Does speed reading work? →
Reading speed questions
The short answers, with sources.
What is the average reading speed?
For adults reading silently in English, about 238 words per minute for non-fiction and 260 for fiction, according to a 2019 review of 190 studies by Marc Brysbaert. Reading aloud averages 183 wpm.
How is words per minute (WPM) calculated?
Divide the number of words you read by the time it took, in minutes. A 280-word text read in 70 seconds is 280 ÷ 1.17 ≈ 240 wpm.
Is 300 words per minute good?
Yes. 300 wpm with good comprehension is above the adult average, typical of people who read a lot.
Can you really read 1,000 words per minute?
Not with real understanding. Studies on speed reading consistently find that comprehension falls sharply at very high speeds; claims of 1,000+ wpm usually describe skimming.
Does reading speed matter more than comprehension?
No. What counts is how much you understand per minute, which is why this test reports an effective speed adjusted by your answers.
How can I practise reading faster?
Read every day, cut distractions, and try reading one word at a time with RSVP at a pace slightly above your usual one. Leo, our app for iPhone and iPad, lets you do it with your own EPUB and PDF books.
Another question? Write to us at adrianromero@ireadwithleo.com
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