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Public Speaking Worksheet: Speech Timing

Public speaking lesson 15: Timing a speech (words per minute) · Set 988 · 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.🐢 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
  2. 2.⏱️ Ananya’s assembly talk has 260 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  3. 3.⏱️ Why should you time your speech when you practise? (a) to speak faster (b) to fit the time limit (c) to skip the ending (d) to tire yourself
  4. 4.⏱️ Nisha’s competition speech has 390 words. At 130 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  5. 5.⏱️ How many words can Aarav say in 1 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  6. 6.⏱️ Nisha speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute competition speech?
  7. 7.⏱️ Arjun speaks at 100 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute science fair talk?
  8. 8.⏱️ Meera speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 1-minute competition speech?
  9. 9.⏱️ Ananya’s competition speech has 900 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  10. 10.⏱️ Kabir’s science fair talk has 450 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  11. 11.⏱️ Meera speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute debate speech?
  12. 12.⏱️ Diya’s assembly talk has 360 words. At 120 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  13. 13.✂️ Arjun’s assembly talk must fit in 3 minutes. Arjun speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 370 words. How many words must be cut?
  14. 14.⏱️ Vihaan speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 4-minute competition speech?
  15. 15.⏱️ Arjun reads a 60-word class presentation at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  16. 16.⏱️ Ishaan’s science fair talk has 330 words. At 110 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  17. 17.⏱️ How many words can Ananya say in 1 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  18. 18.✂️ Ishaan’s assembly talk must fit in 1 minute. Ishaan speaks at 150 words a minute and has written 190 words. How many words must be cut?
  19. 19.⏱️ How many words can Rohan say in 1 and a half minutes at 100 words a minute?
  20. 20.⏱️ Rohan speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute science fair talk?
  21. 21.✂️ Your speech is too long for the time limit. What should you do? (a) ignore the limit (b) speak super fast (c) cut the weakest part (d) skip the ending
  22. 22.⏱️ Kabir reads a 100-word class presentation at 100 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  23. 23.⏱️ Diya reads a 375-word debate speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  24. 24.🎙️ In a practice run, Nisha said 480 words in 4 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  25. 25.⏸️ Pauses and audience laughter take time too. So your speech should be… (a) a little under the limit (b) far over the limit (c) exactly at the limit
  26. 26.⏱️ Rohan reads a 150-word debate speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  27. 27.⏱️ Kabir speaks at 150 words a minute. How many words fit in a 5-minute class presentation?
  28. 28.⏱️ Ishaan speaks at 130 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute assembly talk?
  29. 29.⏱️ Nisha speaks at 110 words a minute. How many words fit in a 3-minute class presentation?
  30. 30.⏱️ Vihaan’s competition speech has 750 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?
  31. 31.⏱️ Aarav speaks at 120 words a minute. How many words fit in a 2-minute competition speech?
  32. 32.✂️ Diya’s assembly talk must fit in 2 minutes. Diya speaks at 110 words a minute and has written 270 words. How many words must be cut?
  33. 33.⏱️ How many words can Meera say in 1 and a half minutes at 140 words a minute?
  34. 34.✂️ Nisha’s assembly talk must fit in 3 minutes. Nisha speaks at 120 words a minute and has written 380 words. How many words must be cut?
  35. 35.✂️ Rohan’s assembly talk must fit in 2 minutes. Rohan speaks at 100 words a minute and has written 230 words. How many words must be cut?
  36. 36.🎙️ In a practice run, Nisha said 200 words in 2 minutes. How many words a minute is that?
  37. 37.⏱️ How many words can Kabir say in 3 and a half minutes at 120 words a minute?
  38. 38.⏱️ Arjun reads a 60-word science fair talk at 120 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  39. 39.⏱️ Arjun reads a 450-word debate speech at 150 words a minute. How many seconds does it take?
  40. 40.⏱️ Nisha’s class presentation has 300 words. At 150 words a minute, how many minutes will it take?

Answer key

  1. 120–150 words a minute
  2. 2
  3. to fit the time limit
  4. 3
  5. 210
  6. 650
  7. 300
  8. 150
  9. 6
  10. 3
  11. 330
  12. 3
  13. 10
  14. 520
  15. 30
  16. 3
  17. 150
  18. 40
  19. 150
  20. 600
  21. cut the weakest part
  22. 60
  23. 150
  24. 120
  25. a little under the limit
  26. 60
  27. 750
  28. 260
  29. 330
  30. 5
  31. 240
  32. 50
  33. 210
  34. 20
  35. 30
  36. 100
  37. 420
  38. 30
  39. 180
  40. 2

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