← Timing a speech (words per minute) lesson New set →

Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 156 · 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) 300–400 words a minute (b) 20–30 words a minute (c) 120–150 words a minute
  2. 2.⏱️ How many words can Kabir say in 2 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  3. 3.⏱️ Kabir’s science fair talk has 600 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  4. 4.⏱️ Tara’s competition speech has 550 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  5. 5.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) speak super fast (b) skip the ending (c) ignore the limit (d) cut the weakest part
  6. 6.⏸️ Pauses and audience laughter take time too. So your speech should be… (a) a little under the limit (b) far over the limit (c) exactly at the limit
  7. 7.⏱️ Saanvi reads a 150-word competition speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  8. 8.⏱️ Kabir speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute assembly talk?
  9. 9.✂️ Tara’s debate speech must fit in 3 minutes. Tara speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 430 words. How many words must be cut?
  10. 10.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute science fair talk?
  11. 11.⏱️ Nisha speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute competition speech?
  12. 12.🎙️ In a practice run, Ishaan said 240 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  13. 13.🎙️ In a practice run, Arjun said 400 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  14. 14.⏱️ How many words can Saanvi say in 1 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  15. 15.⏱️ Kabir reads a 100-word debate speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  16. 16.⏱️ Tara reads a 375-word assembly talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  17. 17.⏱️ Meera reads a 250-word assembly talk at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  18. 18.✂️ Meera’s debate speech must fit in 1 minute. Meera speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 130 words. How many words must be cut?
  19. 19.⏱️ Ishaan speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute debate speech?
  20. 20.🎙️ In a practice run, Ishaan said 260 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  21. 21.⏱️ Diya speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute debate speech?
  22. 22.⏱️ Diya’s assembly talk has 600 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  23. 23.✂️ Tara’s science fair talk must fit in 1 minute. Tara speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 140 words. How many words must be cut?
  24. 24.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to fit the time limit (b) to tire yourself (c) to skip the ending (d) to speak faster
  25. 25.✂️ Kabir’s welcome speech must fit in 4 minutes. Kabir speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 570 words. How many words must be cut?
  26. 26.🎙️ In a practice run, Saanvi said 400 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  27. 27.✂️ Kabir’s welcome speech must fit in 1 minute. Kabir speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 220 words. How many words must be cut?
  28. 28.⏱️ Ishaan reads a 240-word competition speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  29. 29.🎙️ In a practice run, Aarav said 390 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  30. 30.⏱️ How many words can Kabir say in 1 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  31. 31.⏱️ How many words can Arjun say in 2 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  32. 32.⏱️ Saanvi reads a 375-word science fair talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  33. 33.⏱️ Arjun’s debate speech has 900 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  34. 34.🎙️ In a practice run, Ishaan said 700 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  35. 35.⏱️ Rohan’s assembly talk has 500 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  36. 36.⏱️ Diya speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute welcome speech?
  37. 37.✂️ Diya’s science fair talk must fit in 2 minutes. Diya speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 240 words. How many words must be cut?
  38. 38.⏱️ Vihaan reads a 120-word assembly talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  39. 39.🎙️ In a practice run, Nisha said 480 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  40. 40.⏱️ Nisha speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute competition speech?

Answer key

  1. 120–150 words a minute
  2. 300
  3. 5
  4. 5
  5. cut the weakest part
  6. a little under the limit
  7. 90
  8. 120
  9. 40
  10. 220
  11. 500
  12. 120
  13. 100
  14. 210
  15. 60
  16. 150
  17. 150
  18. 10
  19. 700
  20. 130
  21. 360
  22. 5
  23. 40
  24. to fit the time limit
  25. 50
  26. 100
  27. 70
  28. 120
  29. 130
  30. 150
  31. 350
  32. 150
  33. 6
  34. 140
  35. 5
  36. 550
  37. 20
  38. 60
  39. 120
  40. 480

Free public speaking lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/public-speaking-for-kids