Reading Speed Test

What is a good reading speed?

The best evidence comes from a 2019 review of 190 studies with more than 18,000 participants. It found that adults read English non-fiction silently at an average of 238 words per minute, and that most people fall between 175 and 300 (Brysbaert, 2019). Fiction reads a little faster, at about 260, because its words tend to be shorter.

Those numbers are lower than many figures you'll see online. A good reading speed is one where you still understand what you read, which is why this test asks questions as well as timing you.

How this test works

The test has two rounds. In round 1 you read a short passage of about 340 words at your normal pace. The timer starts when you click Start and stops when you click Done, and it pauses if you switch to another tab. Your speed is the number of words in the passage divided by the minutes you took.

Then you answer 3 multiple-choice questions about specific details in the passage. If you get fewer than 2 right, the result is marked as low comprehension. Results over 1,000 words per minute aren't counted, because at that speed people are skimming rather than reading.

In round 2, a new passage plays one word at a time (RSVP) at 1.5 times your round 1 speed, followed by 3 more questions. At the end you see both rounds side by side: speed and comprehension for normal reading and for word-by-word reading. You can skip round 2 if you only want your speed.

How to read faster without losing comprehension

• Cut re-reading. Going back over sentences you've already read is one of the biggest drains on speed. Keep moving and trust that context fills gaps.
• Remove distractions. Notifications and open tabs break your focus, and every restart costs time.
• Preview first. Skim headings and the first lines of sections so you know where the text is going.
• Match speed to the text. Read easy material quickly and slow down for dense or important sections.

Expect steady improvement, not miracles. Claims of reading thousands of words per minute with full understanding don't hold up.

What is RSVP?

RSVP, or rapid serial visual presentation, shows text one word at a time in a fixed spot. Your eyes don't have to move along lines or jump to the next one, so some people find they can keep a faster pace. The trade-off is that you can't glance back at a word you missed, and comprehension can drop at high speeds. That's why this test checks your understanding in both rounds.

See how RSVP reading works.

Frequently asked questions

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