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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 705 · 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.⏱️ Nisha reads a 375-word debate speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  2. 2.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to tire yourself (b) to speak faster (c) to skip the ending (d) to fit the time limit
  3. 3.⏱️ Ishaan reads a 120-word competition speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  4. 4.⏱️ Saanvi’s welcome speech has 660 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  5. 5.⏱️ Vihaan’s debate speech has 440 words. At 110 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.⏱️ Diya speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute science fair talk?
  8. 8.🎙️ In a practice run, Diya said 420 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  9. 9.✂️ Saanvi’s science fair talk must fit in 3 minutes. Saanvi speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 380 words. How many words must be cut?
  10. 10.✂️ Arjun’s science fair talk must fit in 1 minute. Arjun speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 160 words. How many words must be cut?
  11. 11.⏱️ Diya’s science fair talk has 480 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  12. 12.⏱️ Vihaan’s debate speech has 450 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  13. 13.🎙️ In a practice run, Meera said 360 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  14. 14.⏱️ Aarav reads a 50-word class presentation at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  15. 15.🎙️ In a practice run, Arjun said 390 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  16. 16.⏱️ Saanvi reads a 75-word welcome speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  17. 17.⏱️ Aarav reads a 150-word debate speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  18. 18.⏱️ How many words can Ishaan say in 2 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  19. 19.⏱️ Ishaan speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute competition speech?
  20. 20.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) cut the weakest part (b) ignore the limit (c) skip the ending (d) speak super fast
  21. 21.⏱️ Tara speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute class presentation?
  22. 22.✂️ Nisha’s competition speech must fit in 4 minutes. Nisha speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 430 words. How many words must be cut?
  23. 23.⏱️ Tara’s class presentation has 330 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  24. 24.✂️ Vihaan’s debate speech must fit in 3 minutes. Vihaan speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 340 words. How many words must be cut?
  25. 25.⏱️ Arjun’s assembly talk has 440 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  26. 26.⏸️ Pauses and audience laughter take time too. So your speech should be… (a) a little under the limit (b) exactly at the limit (c) far over the limit
  27. 27.🎙️ In a practice run, Aarav said 480 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  28. 28.⏱️ Rohan reads a 225-word assembly talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  29. 29.⏱️ Diya reads a 60-word class presentation at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  30. 30.⏱️ How many words can Nisha say in 1 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  31. 31.⏱️ Meera speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute assembly talk?
  32. 32.⏱️ Arjun’s assembly talk has 500 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  33. 33.⏱️ Arjun speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute competition speech?
  34. 34.⏱️ Ishaan’s science fair talk has 440 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  35. 35.⏱️ Aarav’s debate speech has 280 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  36. 36.⏱️ How many words can Meera say in 3 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  37. 37.⏱️ How many words can Aarav say in 2 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  38. 38.✂️ Nisha’s science fair talk must fit in 3 minutes. Nisha speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 410 words. How many words must be cut?
  39. 39.⏱️ Arjun speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute debate speech?
  40. 40.🎙️ In a practice run, Vihaan said 440 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?

Answer key

  1. 150
  2. to fit the time limit
  3. 60
  4. 6
  5. 4
  6. 120–150 words a minute
  7. 260
  8. 140
  9. 20
  10. 60
  11. 4
  12. 3
  13. 120
  14. 30
  15. 130
  16. 30
  17. 60
  18. 350
  19. 440
  20. cut the weakest part
  21. 420
  22. 30
  23. 3
  24. 40
  25. 4
  26. a little under the limit
  27. 120
  28. 90
  29. 30
  30. 210
  31. 750
  32. 5
  33. 150
  34. 4
  35. 2
  36. 420
  37. 300
  38. 20
  39. 120
  40. 110

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