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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 6 · 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.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to fit the time limit (b) to speak faster (c) to skip the ending (d) to tire yourself
  2. 2.⏱️ Meera’s assembly talk has 440 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  3. 3.⏱️ Meera’s class presentation has 700 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  4. 4.✂️ Aarav’s class presentation must fit in 2 minutes. Aarav speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 220 words. How many words must be cut?
  5. 5.🎙️ In a practice run, Tara said 300 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  6. 6.⏱️ How many words can Arjun say in 3 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  7. 7.⏱️ How many words can Kabir say in 1 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  8. 8.⏱️ Kabir speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute class presentation?
  9. 9.✂️ Ananya’s assembly talk must fit in 4 minutes. Ananya speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 610 words. How many words must be cut?
  10. 10.⏸️ 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
  11. 11.⏱️ Arjun speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute class presentation?
  12. 12.✂️ Rohan’s debate speech must fit in 2 minutes. Rohan speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 290 words. How many words must be cut?
  13. 13.✂️ 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
  14. 14.⏱️ Diya’s class presentation has 600 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  15. 15.⏱️ Saanvi speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute assembly talk?
  16. 16.⏱️ How many words can Arjun say in 2 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  17. 17.🎙️ In a practice run, Diya said 400 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  18. 18.✂️ Ishaan’s class presentation must fit in 4 minutes. Ishaan speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 650 words. How many words must be cut?
  19. 19.🎙️ In a practice run, Tara said 240 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  20. 20.🐢 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
  21. 21.🎙️ In a practice run, Tara said 200 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  22. 22.⏱️ Arjun speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute science fair talk?
  23. 23.⏱️ Tara’s assembly talk has 720 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  24. 24.⏱️ Tara reads a 300-word debate speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  25. 25.✂️ Tara’s class presentation must fit in 2 minutes. Tara speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 330 words. How many words must be cut?
  26. 26.✂️ Rohan’s assembly talk must fit in 3 minutes. Rohan speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 530 words. How many words must be cut?
  27. 27.✂️ Meera’s welcome speech must fit in 4 minutes. Meera speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 640 words. How many words must be cut?
  28. 28.🎙️ In a practice run, Ananya said 700 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  29. 29.⏱️ How many words can Ishaan say in 1 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  30. 30.🎙️ In a practice run, Tara said 300 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  31. 31.✂️ Arjun’s science fair talk must fit in 1 minute. Arjun speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 150 words. How many words must be cut?
  32. 32.🎙️ In a practice run, Vihaan said 300 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  33. 33.⏱️ Meera speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute welcome speech?
  34. 34.⏱️ Diya reads a 60-word assembly talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  35. 35.✂️ Ananya’s science fair talk must fit in 1 minute. Ananya speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 170 words. How many words must be cut?
  36. 36.🎙️ In a practice run, Saanvi said 650 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  37. 37.⏱️ Rohan reads a 100-word debate speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  38. 38.✂️ Meera’s class presentation must fit in 2 minutes. Meera speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 210 words. How many words must be cut?
  39. 39.⏱️ Kabir reads a 180-word competition speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  40. 40.⏱️ Ananya’s welcome speech has 450 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?

Answer key

  1. to fit the time limit
  2. 4
  3. 5
  4. 20
  5. 150
  6. 420
  7. 150
  8. 360
  9. 50
  10. a little under the limit
  11. 280
  12. 50
  13. cut the weakest part
  14. 5
  15. 150
  16. 250
  17. 100
  18. 50
  19. 120
  20. 120–150 words a minute
  21. 100
  22. 150
  23. 6
  24. 150
  25. 30
  26. 80
  27. 80
  28. 140
  29. 180
  30. 100
  31. 20
  32. 150
  33. 600
  34. 30
  35. 30
  36. 130
  37. 60
  38. 10
  39. 90
  40. 3

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