How this reading speed test works
Press Start reading and a short story of 298 words appears: an original text written for this site. Read it the way you normally read, silently and without skimming. When you reach the end, press I'm done. If you want to know how fast you type rather than read, try the typing speed test.
The text then disappears and three multiple-choice questions follow, one at a time. Tap an answer or press the keys 1 to 4. The questions check that you followed the story, not that you remembered every detail.
- The clock starts the moment the story appears and stops when you press I'm done.
- The answers to each question are shuffled every time.
- Nothing is uploaded; the timing and the scoring happen in your browser.
How your speed is calculated
Reading speed (WPM) = words in the story ÷ minutes spent reading
For example, if you finish the 298-word story in 1 minute 15 seconds (1.25 minutes), your speed is 298 ÷ 1.25 = 238 words per minute. The result card shows your reading speed, your comprehension (correct answers out of 3), your reading time and the number of words in the text.
Comprehension counts. If you answer fewer than 2 of the 3 questions correctly, the card says so and the result is not saved as a personal best. Racing through a text and catching only fragments is skimming, which is a different skill from reading.
How your speed compares
The comparison band on the result card marks 238 WPM. That figure comes from a 2019 meta-analysis by Marc Brysbaert in the Journal of Memory and Language, which pooled 190 studies with 18,573 participants. It estimated the average silent reading rate of adults in English at 238 words per minute for non-fiction and 260 words per minute for fiction. Our story is light fiction, so a result between those two values is about what you would expect from an average adult reader.
Reading rates vary widely between people and with the purpose of reading: studying a difficult text is much slower than reading for pleasure. Figures in the high hundreds or even thousands of words per minute, often advertised by speed-reading courses, are a different matter. A 2016 review by Keith Rayner and colleagues concluded that such gains come at the cost of comprehension.
What affects your result
- Familiarity with the text. The story is the same each time, so your second read will be faster and your comprehension higher. Your first result is the most honest one.
- Purpose. If you read "for the test", you may slow down to memorise details. Try to read as you would a news article or a book.
- Language. Reading in a second language is usually slower. Compare results in the same language.
- Screen and fonts. A small phone screen means more scrolling, which can slow you down a little. Compare results on the same device. If small text is hard to see, check your eyes first with the eye test.
- Tiredness and time of day. Like most mental tasks, reading is slower when you are tired.
Can you read faster?
Reading speed improves mainly by reading more, which builds vocabulary and makes word recognition automatic. Recognising words you have already seen is a different task, tested in the verbal memory test, and the vocabulary test estimates how many words you know. Some habits help: avoid going back over lines you have already read unless you lost the meaning, and read in a quiet place. Techniques that promise to double or triple your speed without losing comprehension, such as suppressing your inner voice or flashing words one at a time, have not held up well in that review. A faster number with poor understanding is not a better result, which is why this test checks comprehension.
Limits of this test
One short text and three questions give a rough snapshot, not a precise measurement. The test does not assess reading difficulties such as dyslexia. If reading is consistently hard for you or for your child, a teacher, an educational psychologist or another qualified professional can do a proper assessment. This test is a self-check for curiosity and practice, not a diagnosis.
More tests of attention, memory and thinking are on the memory and brain tests page.
Sources
- Brysbaert, M. (2019). How many words do we read per minute? A review and meta-analysis of reading rate. Journal of Memory and Language, 109, 104047.
- Rayner, K., Schotter, E. R., Masson, M. E. J., Potter, M. C., & Treiman, R. (2016). So much to read, so little time: How do we read, and can speed reading help? Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 17(1), 4–34.
Frequently asked questions
How is reading speed measured?
The test divides the number of words in the story (298) by the minutes you spent reading it. The clock starts when the story appears and stops when you press I'm done.
What is the average reading speed for adults?
A 2019 meta-analysis by Marc Brysbaert estimated the average silent reading rate of adults in English at 238 words per minute for non-fiction and 260 words per minute for fiction.
Why are there questions after the text?
To make sure you read rather than skimmed. If you answer fewer than 2 of the 3 questions correctly, the result is shown with a warning and is not saved as a personal best.
Why is my second attempt so much faster?
The story is the same each time, so you already know what happens. Your first attempt is the most realistic measure of your normal reading speed.
Is speed reading real?
You can skim faster than you read, but a 2016 review by Keith Rayner and colleagues concluded that large speed gains come at the cost of comprehension. Reading more is the most reliable way to read faster.
Does this test check for dyslexia?
No. It is a short self-check of reading speed and basic comprehension. If reading is consistently difficult, ask a teacher, an educational psychologist or another qualified professional for a proper assessment.