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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 8 · 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’s assembly talk must fit in 4 minutes. Ishaan speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 540 words. How many words must be cut?
  2. 2.🐢 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
  3. 3.⏱️ Ananya reads a 100-word class presentation at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  4. 4.⏱️ Ishaan’s competition speech has 650 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  5. 5.✂️ Ishaan’s assembly talk must fit in 3 minutes. Ishaan speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 400 words. How many words must be cut?
  6. 6.⏸️ 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
  7. 7.⏱️ Meera speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute assembly talk?
  8. 8.✂️ Rohan’s competition speech must fit in 2 minutes. Rohan speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 310 words. How many words must be cut?
  9. 9.⏱️ Nisha’s assembly talk has 650 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  10. 10.✂️ Aarav’s class presentation must fit in 1 minute. Aarav speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 190 words. How many words must be cut?
  11. 11.⏱️ Kabir speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute competition speech?
  12. 12.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to speak faster (b) to tire yourself (c) to fit the time limit (d) to skip the ending
  13. 13.🎙️ In a practice run, Aarav said 440 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  14. 14.✂️ Rohan’s science fair talk must fit in 3 minutes. Rohan speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 390 words. How many words must be cut?
  15. 15.⏱️ Diya speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute science fair talk?
  16. 16.⏱️ Rohan reads a 50-word welcome speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  17. 17.✂️ Saanvi’s debate speech must fit in 3 minutes. Saanvi speaks at 130 words a minute and has written 400 words. How many words must be cut?
  18. 18.⏱️ Tara reads a 300-word assembly talk at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  19. 19.🎙️ In a practice run, Kabir said 360 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  20. 20.🎙️ In a practice run, Kabir said 220 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  21. 21.⏱️ Tara speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute assembly talk?
  22. 22.⏱️ Arjun reads a 250-word class presentation at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  23. 23.✂️ Ishaan’s welcome speech must fit in 4 minutes. Ishaan speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 510 words. How many words must be cut?
  24. 24.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) skip the ending (b) cut the weakest part (c) speak super fast (d) ignore the limit
  25. 25.🎙️ In a practice run, Kabir said 650 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  26. 26.⏱️ Diya reads a 150-word debate speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  27. 27.⏱️ Rohan’s class presentation has 220 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  28. 28.⏱️ Diya’s competition speech has 480 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  29. 29.⏱️ Diya’s competition speech has 360 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  30. 30.⏱️ How many words can Kabir say in 3 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  31. 31.✂️ Nisha’s class presentation must fit in 3 minutes. Nisha speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 350 words. How many words must be cut?
  32. 32.⏱️ Nisha speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute assembly talk?
  33. 33.⏱️ How many words can Nisha say in 3 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  34. 34.⏱️ Aarav’s debate speech has 660 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  35. 35.⏱️ Diya reads a 250-word debate speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  36. 36.⏱️ Kabir’s assembly talk has 440 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  37. 37.⏱️ Ananya speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute welcome speech?
  38. 38.⏱️ Tara speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute welcome speech?
  39. 39.⏱️ Diya reads a 100-word competition speech at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  40. 40.⏱️ Ananya reads a 75-word debate speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?

Answer key

  1. 20
  2. 120–150 words a minute
  3. 60
  4. 5
  5. 70
  6. a little under the limit
  7. 260
  8. 50
  9. 5
  10. 40
  11. 450
  12. to fit the time limit
  13. 110
  14. 60
  15. 200
  16. 30
  17. 10
  18. 180
  19. 120
  20. 110
  21. 150
  22. 150
  23. 70
  24. cut the weakest part
  25. 130
  26. 60
  27. 2
  28. 4
  29. 3
  30. 420
  31. 20
  32. 260
  33. 490
  34. 6
  35. 150
  36. 4
  37. 260
  38. 220
  39. 60
  40. 30

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