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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 980 · 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.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to fit the time limit (b) to speak faster (c) to tire yourself (d) to skip the ending
  2. 2.⏱️ Tara reads a 50-word assembly talk at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  3. 3.✂️ Diya’s debate speech must fit in 2 minutes. Diya speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 240 words. How many words must be cut?
  4. 4.⏱️ Ananya speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute debate speech?
  5. 5.✂️ Kabir’s science fair talk must fit in 4 minutes. Kabir speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 410 words. How many words must be cut?
  6. 6.🐢 Which is a comfortable speaking pace for most speeches? (a) 120–150 words a minute (b) 300–400 words a minute (c) 20–30 words a minute
  7. 7.⏱️ How many words can Meera say in 3 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  8. 8.⏱️ Saanvi reads a 300-word competition speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  9. 9.⏱️ Saanvi reads a 60-word science fair talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  10. 10.⏸️ Pauses and audience laughter take time too. So your speech should be… (a) far over the limit (b) a little under the limit (c) exactly at the limit
  11. 11.🎙️ In a practice run, Vihaan said 550 words in 5 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  12. 12.⏱️ Aarav speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute science fair talk?
  13. 13.⏱️ Ishaan’s assembly talk has 550 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  14. 14.⏱️ How many words can Tara say in 3 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  15. 15.⏱️ Tara’s assembly talk has 780 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  16. 16.⏱️ Nisha speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute competition speech?
  17. 17.✂️ Rohan’s science fair talk must fit in 2 minutes. Rohan speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 260 words. How many words must be cut?
  18. 18.🎙️ In a practice run, Aarav said 360 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  19. 19.⏱️ Arjun’s competition speech has 400 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  20. 20.🎙️ In a practice run, Tara said 360 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  21. 21.⏱️ Kabir reads a 300-word debate speech at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  22. 22.⏱️ Kabir’s assembly talk has 650 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  23. 23.🎙️ In a practice run, Arjun said 360 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  24. 24.⏱️ Nisha speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute welcome speech?
  25. 25.⏱️ How many words can Meera say in 3 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  26. 26.⏱️ Saanvi speaks at 140 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute debate speech?
  27. 27.✂️ Ishaan’s class presentation must fit in 3 minutes. Ishaan speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 370 words. How many words must be cut?
  28. 28.⏱️ How many words can Nisha say in 1 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  29. 29.🎙️ In a practice run, Ananya said 600 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  30. 30.🎙️ In a practice run, Tara said 300 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  31. 31.⏱️ Vihaan’s debate speech has 300 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  32. 32.🎙️ In a practice run, Saanvi said 480 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  33. 33.✂️ Tara’s science fair talk must fit in 3 minutes. Tara speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 530 words. How many words must be cut?
  34. 34.⏱️ Aarav reads a 250-word class presentation at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  35. 35.🎙️ In a practice run, Arjun said 330 words in 3 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  36. 36.⏱️ Kabir reads a 150-word assembly talk at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  37. 37.✂️ Arjun’s class presentation must fit in 3 minutes. Arjun speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 380 words. How many words must be cut?
  38. 38.✂️ Ishaan’s science fair talk must fit in 4 minutes. Ishaan speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 540 words. How many words must be cut?
  39. 39.⏱️ Saanvi speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute welcome speech?
  40. 40.⏱️ Tara’s assembly talk has 300 words. At 100 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?

Answer key

  1. to fit the time limit
  2. 30
  3. 40
  4. 440
  5. 10
  6. 120–150 words a minute
  7. 420
  8. 150
  9. 30
  10. a little under the limit
  11. 110
  12. 240
  13. 5
  14. 420
  15. 6
  16. 650
  17. 40
  18. 120
  19. 4
  20. 120
  21. 150
  22. 5
  23. 120
  24. 300
  25. 350
  26. 560
  27. 40
  28. 150
  29. 150
  30. 150
  31. 3
  32. 120
  33. 80
  34. 150
  35. 110
  36. 60
  37. 50
  38. 60
  39. 300
  40. 3

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