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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 629 · 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.⏱️ How many words can Ishaan say in 1 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  2. 2.⏱️ Ishaan reads a 50-word class presentation at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  3. 3.✂️ Nisha’s class presentation must fit in 4 minutes. Nisha speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 490 words. How many words must be cut?
  4. 4.⏱️ Meera speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute class presentation?
  5. 5.⏱️ Kabir’s welcome speech has 260 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  6. 6.🐢 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
  7. 7.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to tire yourself (b) to skip the ending (c) to speak faster (d) to fit the time limit
  8. 8.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute competition speech?
  9. 9.⏱️ Nisha reads a 60-word class presentation at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  10. 10.✂️ Diya’s competition speech must fit in 3 minutes. Diya speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 470 words. How many words must be cut?
  11. 11.⏱️ How many words can Rohan say in 1 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  12. 12.⏱️ Aarav reads a 225-word debate speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  13. 13.⏱️ Arjun’s assembly talk has 360 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  14. 14.⏱️ Vihaan reads a 250-word science fair talk at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  15. 15.⏱️ How many words can Kabir say in 3 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  16. 16.🎙️ In a practice run, Meera said 450 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  17. 17.⏱️ How many words can Nisha say in 3 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  18. 18.⏱️ Ishaan’s assembly talk has 220 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  19. 19.⏱️ Aarav reads a 50-word debate speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  20. 20.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) skip the ending (b) speak super fast (c) cut the weakest part (d) ignore the limit
  21. 21.⏱️ How many words can Ishaan say in 3 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  22. 22.⏸️ 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
  23. 23.✂️ Kabir’s competition speech must fit in 1 minute. Kabir speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 130 words. How many words must be cut?
  24. 24.⏱️ Aarav speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute welcome speech?
  25. 25.⏱️ Kabir speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute science fair talk?
  26. 26.⏱️ Kabir reads a 240-word assembly talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  27. 27.⏱️ Diya’s debate speech has 390 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  28. 28.✂️ Meera’s science fair talk must fit in 3 minutes. Meera speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 340 words. How many words must be cut?
  29. 29.✂️ Ishaan’s competition speech must fit in 4 minutes. Ishaan speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 620 words. How many words must be cut?
  30. 30.⏱️ Meera’s assembly talk has 200 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  31. 31.⏱️ Tara’s competition speech has 220 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  32. 32.⏱️ How many words can Ananya say in 2 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  33. 33.⏱️ Ishaan reads a 150-word competition speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  34. 34.⏱️ Diya’s assembly talk has 560 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  35. 35.⏱️ Kabir’s competition speech has 560 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  36. 36.⏱️ Meera speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute welcome speech?
  37. 37.⏱️ How many words can Kabir say in 1 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  38. 38.✂️ Arjun’s debate speech must fit in 2 minutes. Arjun speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 210 words. How many words must be cut?
  39. 39.⏱️ Rohan reads a 360-word debate speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  40. 40.⏱️ Saanvi reads a 180-word assembly talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?

Answer key

  1. 180
  2. 30
  3. 50
  4. 100
  5. 2
  6. 120–150 words a minute
  7. to fit the time limit
  8. 750
  9. 30
  10. 20
  11. 180
  12. 90
  13. 3
  14. 150
  15. 350
  16. 150
  17. 490
  18. 2
  19. 30
  20. cut the weakest part
  21. 420
  22. a little under the limit
  23. 20
  24. 500
  25. 140
  26. 120
  27. 3
  28. 40
  29. 20
  30. 2
  31. 2
  32. 250
  33. 60
  34. 4
  35. 4
  36. 140
  37. 210
  38. 10
  39. 180
  40. 90

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