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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 733 · 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.⏱️ Ishaan reads a 120-word debate speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  2. 2.✂️ Saanvi’s competition speech must fit in 2 minutes. Saanvi speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 250 words. How many words must be cut?
  3. 3.🎙️ In a practice run, Nisha said 390 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  4. 4.⏸️ Pauses and audience laughter take time too. So your speech should be… (a) far over the limit (b) exactly at the limit (c) a little under the limit
  5. 5.⏱️ Tara’s science fair talk has 840 words. At 140 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  6. 6.⏱️ How many words can Aarav say in 3 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  7. 7.⏱️ Ishaan reads a 360-word competition speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  8. 8.🐢 Which is a comfortable speaking pace for most speeches? (a) 120–150 words a minute (b) 20–30 words a minute (c) 300–400 words a minute
  9. 9.⏱️ How many words can Tara say in 1 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  10. 10.✂️ 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?
  11. 11.⏱️ Tara speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute assembly talk?
  12. 12.⏱️ Ishaan speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute class presentation?
  13. 13.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to skip the ending (b) to speak faster (c) to tire yourself (d) to fit the time limit
  14. 14.⏱️ Saanvi reads a 250-word competition speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  15. 15.⏱️ Rohan speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute science fair talk?
  16. 16.⏱️ Kabir speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute welcome speech?
  17. 17.⏱️ Ishaan’s welcome speech has 780 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  18. 18.⏱️ Rohan speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute competition speech?
  19. 19.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) cut the weakest part (b) ignore the limit (c) speak super fast (d) skip the ending
  20. 20.⏱️ Meera reads a 225-word science fair talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  21. 21.⏱️ Saanvi speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute science fair talk?
  22. 22.⏱️ Tara reads a 50-word science fair talk at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  23. 23.⏱️ Saanvi reads a 50-word competition speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  24. 24.⏱️ Arjun reads a 50-word debate speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  25. 25.⏱️ Meera speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute assembly talk?
  26. 26.🎙️ In a practice run, Ishaan said 200 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  27. 27.🎙️ In a practice run, Ishaan said 420 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  28. 28.⏱️ How many words can Ishaan say in 2 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  29. 29.⏱️ Ishaan reads a 200-word competition speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  30. 30.⏱️ Saanvi speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute class presentation?
  31. 31.⏱️ How many words can Ishaan say in 2 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  32. 32.⏱️ Aarav’s science fair talk has 450 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  33. 33.⏱️ Tara’s debate speech has 330 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  34. 34.⏱️ Aarav’s competition speech has 240 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  35. 35.🎙️ In a practice run, Aarav said 600 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  36. 36.🎙️ In a practice run, Tara said 560 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  37. 37.✂️ Ishaan’s competition speech must fit in 1 minute. Ishaan speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 140 words. How many words must be cut?
  38. 38.🎙️ In a practice run, Kabir said 330 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  39. 39.⏱️ Diya speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute competition speech?
  40. 40.⏱️ How many words can Meera say in 1 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?

Answer key

  1. 60
  2. 10
  3. 130
  4. a little under the limit
  5. 6
  6. 420
  7. 180
  8. 120–150 words a minute
  9. 180
  10. 30
  11. 220
  12. 300
  13. to fit the time limit
  14. 150
  15. 450
  16. 600
  17. 6
  18. 500
  19. cut the weakest part
  20. 90
  21. 110
  22. 30
  23. 30
  24. 30
  25. 110
  26. 100
  27. 140
  28. 250
  29. 120
  30. 120
  31. 300
  32. 3
  33. 3
  34. 2
  35. 150
  36. 140
  37. 30
  38. 110
  39. 300
  40. 150

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