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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 470 · 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 Diya say in 1 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  3. 3.✂️ Ananya’s competition speech must fit in 3 minutes. Ananya speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 310 words. How many words must be cut?
  4. 4.⏱️ Tara’s science fair talk has 240 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  5. 5.🎙️ In a practice run, Saanvi said 400 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  6. 6.⏱️ Kabir’s assembly talk has 660 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  7. 7.🎙️ In a practice run, Nisha said 600 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  8. 8.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to speak faster (b) to fit the time limit (c) to skip the ending (d) to tire yourself
  9. 9.✂️ Arjun’s competition speech must fit in 2 minutes. Arjun speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 370 words. How many words must be cut?
  10. 10.⏱️ Tara speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute science fair talk?
  11. 11.⏱️ Rohan’s assembly talk has 420 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  12. 12.⏱️ Aarav reads a 450-word science fair talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  13. 13.✂️ Rohan’s science fair talk must fit in 3 minutes. Rohan speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 420 words. How many words must be cut?
  14. 14.⏱️ Meera speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute welcome speech?
  15. 15.🎙️ In a practice run, Arjun said 200 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  16. 16.⏱️ How many words can Diya say in 1 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  17. 17.🎙️ In a practice run, Ishaan said 300 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  18. 18.⏱️ Diya speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute debate speech?
  19. 19.⏱️ Ishaan reads a 360-word competition speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  20. 20.⏱️ Tara’s debate speech has 280 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  21. 21.✂️ 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
  22. 22.⏸️ 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
  23. 23.⏱️ Rohan reads a 180-word competition speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  24. 24.✂️ Saanvi’s class presentation must fit in 2 minutes. Saanvi speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 250 words. How many words must be cut?
  25. 25.⏱️ Diya reads a 60-word welcome speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  26. 26.✂️ Ananya’s assembly talk must fit in 1 minute. Ananya speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 190 words. How many words must be cut?
  27. 27.⏱️ How many words can Tara say in 3 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  28. 28.⏱️ Aarav speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute debate speech?
  29. 29.⏱️ Arjun reads a 240-word science fair talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  30. 30.⏱️ How many words can Ishaan say in 2 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  31. 31.🎙️ In a practice run, Aarav said 300 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  32. 32.⏱️ Rohan’s assembly talk has 200 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  33. 33.⏱️ Rohan reads a 300-word competition speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  34. 34.✂️ Tara’s competition speech must fit in 3 minutes. Tara speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 480 words. How many words must be cut?
  35. 35.⏱️ Tara reads a 240-word class presentation at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  36. 36.✂️ Rohan’s assembly talk must fit in 4 minutes. Rohan speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 620 words. How many words must be cut?
  37. 37.⏱️ Tara speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute competition speech?
  38. 38.⏱️ Rohan’s welcome speech has 280 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  39. 39.🎙️ In a practice run, Saanvi said 450 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  40. 40.⏱️ Arjun’s assembly talk has 900 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?

Answer key

  1. 120–150 words a minute
  2. 180
  3. 10
  4. 2
  5. 100
  6. 6
  7. 150
  8. to fit the time limit
  9. 70
  10. 650
  11. 3
  12. 180
  13. 60
  14. 260
  15. 100
  16. 210
  17. 150
  18. 220
  19. 180
  20. 2
  21. cut the weakest part
  22. a little under the limit
  23. 90
  24. 10
  25. 30
  26. 60
  27. 350
  28. 560
  29. 120
  30. 350
  31. 150
  32. 2
  33. 150
  34. 30
  35. 120
  36. 60
  37. 100
  38. 2
  39. 150
  40. 6

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