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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 7 · 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.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) cut the weakest part (b) speak super fast (c) ignore the limit (d) skip the ending
  2. 2.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to fit the time limit (b) to skip the ending (c) to speak faster (d) to tire yourself
  3. 3.⏱️ Aarav reads a 120-word assembly talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  4. 4.✂️ Ishaan’s debate speech must fit in 4 minutes. Ishaan speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 460 words. How many words must be cut?
  5. 5.⏱️ Tara’s welcome speech has 660 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  6. 6.⏱️ Arjun speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute assembly talk?
  7. 7.⏱️ Diya’s competition speech has 360 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  8. 8.⏱️ Kabir’s competition speech has 750 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  9. 9.⏱️ How many words can Ananya say in 2 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  10. 10.✂️ Kabir’s assembly talk must fit in 4 minutes. Kabir speaks at 140 words a minute and has written 590 words. How many words must be cut?
  11. 11.⏱️ Ananya speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute competition speech?
  12. 12.🎙️ In a practice run, Kabir said 220 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  13. 13.⏱️ Saanvi speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute class presentation?
  14. 14.✂️ Ananya’s welcome speech must fit in 1 minute. Ananya speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 170 words. How many words must be cut?
  15. 15.⏱️ Saanvi’s science fair talk has 260 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  16. 16.⏱️ Rohan reads a 360-word competition speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  17. 17.⏱️ Ishaan speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute science fair talk?
  18. 18.⏱️ Kabir’s science fair talk has 420 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  19. 19.⏱️ Aarav’s debate speech has 240 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  20. 20.🎙️ In a practice run, Nisha said 520 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  21. 21.🎙️ In a practice run, Ishaan said 450 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  22. 22.🐢 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
  23. 23.🎙️ In a practice run, Diya said 330 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  24. 24.⏱️ Kabir reads a 120-word science fair talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  25. 25.⏱️ Saanvi speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute class presentation?
  26. 26.⏱️ Saanvi reads a 225-word assembly talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  27. 27.⏱️ Aarav’s debate speech has 300 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  28. 28.⏸️ 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
  29. 29.⏱️ How many words can Arjun say in 2 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  30. 30.⏱️ Arjun speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute assembly talk?
  31. 31.⏱️ How many words can Meera say in 3 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  32. 32.⏱️ Ananya reads a 375-word science fair talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  33. 33.⏱️ How many words can Diya say in 3 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  34. 34.⏱️ Meera speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute science fair talk?
  35. 35.⏱️ Nisha speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute welcome speech?
  36. 36.⏱️ Arjun speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute class presentation?
  37. 37.✂️ Meera’s class presentation must fit in 4 minutes. Meera speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 480 words. How many words must be cut?
  38. 38.⏱️ Arjun reads a 150-word science fair talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  39. 39.✂️ Diya’s assembly talk must fit in 3 minutes. Diya speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 320 words. How many words must be cut?
  40. 40.⏱️ Nisha’s assembly talk has 420 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?

Answer key

  1. cut the weakest part
  2. to fit the time limit
  3. 60
  4. 20
  5. 6
  6. 200
  7. 3
  8. 5
  9. 300
  10. 30
  11. 120
  12. 110
  13. 260
  14. 70
  15. 2
  16. 180
  17. 120
  18. 3
  19. 2
  20. 130
  21. 150
  22. 120–150 words a minute
  23. 110
  24. 60
  25. 220
  26. 90
  27. 2
  28. a little under the limit
  29. 350
  30. 600
  31. 490
  32. 150
  33. 490
  34. 700
  35. 300
  36. 550
  37. 80
  38. 60
  39. 20
  40. 3

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