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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 40 · 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.⏱️ Arjun’s competition speech has 500 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  2. 2.⏱️ Tara’s class presentation has 720 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  3. 3.⏱️ Saanvi’s class presentation has 660 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  4. 4.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) cut the weakest part (b) skip the ending (c) ignore the limit (d) speak super fast
  5. 5.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute class presentation?
  6. 6.⏱️ Rohan’s class presentation has 450 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  7. 7.⏱️ Meera’s competition speech has 660 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  8. 8.✂️ Diya’s competition speech must fit in 1 minute. Diya speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 150 words. How many words must be cut?
  9. 9.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to tire yourself (b) to skip the ending (c) to fit the time limit (d) to speak faster
  10. 10.⏱️ Meera reads a 50-word assembly talk at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  11. 11.⏱️ How many words can Vihaan say in 2 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  12. 12.⏱️ Meera reads a 150-word debate speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  13. 13.🎙️ In a practice run, Aarav said 440 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  14. 14.🎙️ In a practice run, Nisha said 420 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  15. 15.⏱️ Kabir speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute class presentation?
  16. 16.⏱️ Kabir’s class presentation has 450 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  17. 17.🎙️ In a practice run, Tara said 220 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  18. 18.⏱️ Ishaan’s assembly talk has 840 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  19. 19.⏱️ How many words can Arjun say in 1 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  20. 20.⏱️ Nisha speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute debate speech?
  21. 21.✂️ Rohan’s science fair talk must fit in 1 minute. Rohan speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 210 words. How many words must be cut?
  22. 22.🐢 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
  23. 23.⏱️ Rohan speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute science fair talk?
  24. 24.⏸️ Pauses and audience laughter take time too. So your speech should be… (a) far over the limit (b) a little under the limit (c) exactly at the limit
  25. 25.⏱️ Meera’s welcome speech has 900 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  26. 26.✂️ Arjun’s science fair talk must fit in 4 minutes. Arjun speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 480 words. How many words must be cut?
  27. 27.🎙️ In a practice run, Diya said 390 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  28. 28.🎙️ In a practice run, Kabir said 500 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  29. 29.⏱️ How many words can Aarav say in 2 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  30. 30.⏱️ Aarav’s debate speech has 840 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  31. 31.⏱️ Saanvi speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute debate speech?
  32. 32.⏱️ Diya’s class presentation has 240 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  33. 33.⏱️ Meera speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute competition speech?
  34. 34.✂️ Meera’s class presentation must fit in 4 minutes. Meera speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 620 words. How many words must be cut?
  35. 35.⏱️ Tara speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute debate speech?
  36. 36.⏱️ How many words can Tara say in 3 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  37. 37.⏱️ Ananya speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute science fair talk?
  38. 38.⏱️ Arjun speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute debate speech?
  39. 39.✂️ Ishaan’s debate speech must fit in 1 minute. Ishaan speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 200 words. How many words must be cut?
  40. 40.⏱️ How many words can Ishaan say in 1 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?

Answer key

  1. 5
  2. 6
  3. 6
  4. cut the weakest part
  5. 220
  6. 3
  7. 6
  8. 50
  9. to fit the time limit
  10. 30
  11. 250
  12. 60
  13. 110
  14. 140
  15. 110
  16. 3
  17. 110
  18. 6
  19. 150
  20. 240
  21. 80
  22. 120–150 words a minute
  23. 390
  24. a little under the limit
  25. 6
  26. 40
  27. 130
  28. 100
  29. 300
  30. 6
  31. 520
  32. 2
  33. 440
  34. 60
  35. 600
  36. 350
  37. 600
  38. 110
  39. 70
  40. 210

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