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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 105 · 40 questions
TalentJR

Speaker's tip (Words = rate × minutes): Words = words per minute × minutes. Minutes = words ÷ words per minute. Words per minute = words ÷ minutes. Half a minute = half the rate: at 120 words a minute, 2 and a half minutes = 240 + 60 = 300 words. Seconds = words × 60 ÷ rate. Too long? Words to cut = words written − (rate × minutes). Stay a little under the limit for pauses and applause.

NameDateTime takenScore ___ / 40
  1. 1.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute assembly talk?
  2. 2.🐢 Which is a comfortable speaking pace for most speeches? (a) 20–30 words a minute (b) 120–150 words a minute (c) 300–400 words a minute
  3. 3.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to speak faster (b) to skip the ending (c) to fit the time limit (d) to tire yourself
  4. 4.⏱️ How many words can Saanvi say in 1 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  5. 5.⏸️ Pauses and audience laughter take time too. So your speech should be… (a) exactly at the limit (b) far over the limit (c) a little under the limit
  6. 6.⏱️ Meera reads a 450-word class presentation at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  7. 7.⏱️ How many words can Saanvi say in 3 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  8. 8.✂️ Saanvi’s assembly talk must fit in 3 minutes. Saanvi speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 400 words. How many words must be cut?
  9. 9.⏱️ How many words can Vihaan say in 3 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  10. 10.⏱️ Ananya speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute assembly talk?
  11. 11.⏱️ Diya reads a 150-word assembly talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  12. 12.✂️ Vihaan’s class presentation must fit in 3 minutes. Vihaan speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 460 words. How many words must be cut?
  13. 13.⏱️ Arjun’s debate speech has 500 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  14. 14.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) speak super fast (b) skip the ending (c) cut the weakest part (d) ignore the limit
  15. 15.⏱️ Ishaan’s class presentation has 450 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  16. 16.🎙️ In a practice run, Meera said 220 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  17. 17.✂️ Kabir’s class presentation must fit in 4 minutes. Kabir speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 570 words. How many words must be cut?
  18. 18.⏱️ How many words can Kabir say in 3 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  19. 19.⏱️ Diya speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute competition speech?
  20. 20.✂️ Vihaan’s class presentation must fit in 2 minutes. Vihaan speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 270 words. How many words must be cut?
  21. 21.🎙️ In a practice run, Nisha said 400 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  22. 22.⏱️ Kabir reads a 150-word welcome speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  23. 23.⏱️ Vihaan reads a 100-word welcome speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  24. 24.⏱️ Aarav speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute assembly talk?
  25. 25.⏱️ Kabir reads a 225-word welcome speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  26. 26.⏱️ How many words can Nisha say in 1 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  27. 27.⏱️ Rohan reads a 100-word competition speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  28. 28.⏱️ Nisha’s competition speech has 550 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  29. 29.🎙️ In a practice run, Rohan said 600 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  30. 30.⏱️ Saanvi speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute science fair talk?
  31. 31.⏱️ How many words can Kabir say in 1 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  32. 32.⏱️ Tara’s competition speech has 300 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  33. 33.✂️ Rohan’s class presentation must fit in 1 minute. Rohan speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 140 words. How many words must be cut?
  34. 34.🎙️ In a practice run, Aarav said 220 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  35. 35.⏱️ Ishaan reads a 300-word class presentation at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  36. 36.⏱️ How many words can Kabir say in 3 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  37. 37.⏱️ How many words can Nisha say in 1 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  38. 38.⏱️ Kabir reads a 225-word assembly talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  39. 39.⏱️ Meera reads a 50-word assembly talk at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  40. 40.✂️ Kabir’s assembly talk must fit in 1 minute. Kabir speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 160 words. How many words must be cut?

Answer key

  1. 700
  2. 120–150 words a minute
  3. to fit the time limit
  4. 210
  5. a little under the limit
  6. 180
  7. 420
  8. 10
  9. 420
  10. 240
  11. 60
  12. 10
  13. 5
  14. cut the weakest part
  15. 3
  16. 110
  17. 10
  18. 490
  19. 110
  20. 50
  21. 100
  22. 90
  23. 60
  24. 150
  25. 90
  26. 180
  27. 60
  28. 5
  29. 150
  30. 550
  31. 150
  32. 3
  33. 40
  34. 110
  35. 180
  36. 350
  37. 150
  38. 90
  39. 30
  40. 10

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