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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 155 · 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.🐢 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
  2. 2.⏱️ Ananya reads a 300-word assembly talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  3. 3.⏱️ Ananya reads a 300-word class presentation at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  4. 4.⏱️ Diya’s assembly talk has 550 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  5. 5.⏸️ Pauses and audience laughter take time too. So your speech should be… (a) exactly at the limit (b) a little under the limit (c) far over the limit
  6. 6.⏱️ Meera’s science fair talk has 720 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  7. 7.🎙️ In a practice run, Ananya said 750 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  8. 8.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to skip the ending (b) to fit the time limit (c) to speak faster (d) to tire yourself
  9. 9.⏱️ How many words can Arjun say in 1 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  10. 10.✂️ Ananya’s welcome speech must fit in 3 minutes. Ananya speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 340 words. How many words must be cut?
  11. 11.⏱️ Ananya speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute science fair talk?
  12. 12.⏱️ Aarav speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute assembly talk?
  13. 13.🎙️ In a practice run, Rohan said 700 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  14. 14.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) skip the ending (b) cut the weakest part (c) speak super fast (d) ignore the limit
  15. 15.✂️ Nisha’s science fair talk must fit in 2 minutes. Nisha speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 310 words. How many words must be cut?
  16. 16.🎙️ In a practice run, Ishaan said 300 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  17. 17.⏱️ Vihaan reads a 360-word competition speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  18. 18.⏱️ Kabir speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute science fair talk?
  19. 19.⏱️ Meera’s class presentation has 500 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  20. 20.⏱️ How many words can Diya say in 2 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  21. 21.⏱️ Tara speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute class presentation?
  22. 22.⏱️ Kabir reads a 50-word science fair talk at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  23. 23.⏱️ How many words can Kabir say in 2 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  24. 24.⏱️ Tara’s competition speech has 900 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  25. 25.⏱️ Vihaan reads a 75-word competition speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  26. 26.⏱️ Ananya reads a 225-word assembly talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  27. 27.✂️ Nisha’s debate speech must fit in 4 minutes. Nisha speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 450 words. How many words must be cut?
  28. 28.✂️ Arjun’s debate speech must fit in 2 minutes. Arjun speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 350 words. How many words must be cut?
  29. 29.✂️ Rohan’s assembly talk must fit in 4 minutes. Rohan speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 480 words. How many words must be cut?
  30. 30.⏱️ Diya speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute competition speech?
  31. 31.🎙️ In a practice run, Tara said 500 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  32. 32.🎙️ In a practice run, Tara said 300 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  33. 33.⏱️ Saanvi speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute competition speech?
  34. 34.⏱️ Aarav speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute class presentation?
  35. 35.⏱️ Kabir’s class presentation has 750 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  36. 36.⏱️ Nisha’s assembly talk has 660 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  37. 37.⏱️ Ananya reads a 250-word welcome speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  38. 38.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute debate speech?
  39. 39.⏱️ Vihaan’s welcome speech has 200 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  40. 40.⏱️ Arjun reads a 50-word competition speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?

Answer key

  1. 120–150 words a minute
  2. 150
  3. 180
  4. 5
  5. a little under the limit
  6. 6
  7. 150
  8. to fit the time limit
  9. 180
  10. 40
  11. 500
  12. 140
  13. 140
  14. cut the weakest part
  15. 70
  16. 150
  17. 180
  18. 120
  19. 5
  20. 300
  21. 300
  22. 30
  23. 300
  24. 6
  25. 30
  26. 90
  27. 10
  28. 50
  29. 40
  30. 200
  31. 100
  32. 100
  33. 140
  34. 500
  35. 5
  36. 6
  37. 150
  38. 220
  39. 2
  40. 30

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