Press Start, read the little stories at your usual pace, then press Done. You will see your reading speed in words a minute.
How the test works
- Pick a set of stories. There are four sets, beside the heading. Each is six little stories on one subject.
- Press Start. The stories appear and the clock starts. No clock is shown while you read.
- Read at your usual pace. Aloud or in your head, whichever you want to measure.
- Press Done. The page shows your words a minute, and how long the reading took.
The four sets
| Set | Little stories | Words in all |
|---|---|---|
| Animals | 6 | 153 |
| Racing | 6 | 147 |
| Weather | 6 | 147 |
| Friends | 6 | 143 |
They are the little stories from the story lessons in Bumpy Keys, the typing game we make. Each is two to four short sentences in everyday words, written for young readers. An adult can use them too. For a fair comparison, use a set you have not read before.
How reading speed is worked out
Words a minute is the number of words read, divided by the minutes it took. The Animals set has 153 words. Read it in 60 seconds and your speed is 153 words a minute. Read it in 45 seconds and it is 204.
What the number does not tell you
The test times reading. It asks no questions about the stories, so it does not measure how much was understood. Reading aloud and reading in your head give different numbers, and one set is a small sample: try two or three.
We give no target speed for any age or grade. Schools measure reading in their own ways, and a teacher is the person to ask about a child's reading.
Reading speed and typing speed
Both are counted in words a minute, and they are very different numbers. To measure typing, use the typing speed test, or the typing test for kids. The same little stories are typed, not read, in paragraph typing practice.
Questions
How is reading speed measured?
In words a minute: the number of words read, divided by the minutes it took.
How long does the test take?
As long as it takes you to read six little stories, about 150 words in all. At 75 words a minute that is two minutes; at 150 it is one.
Does it test understanding?
No. It only times the reading. It asks no questions about the stories.
What is a good reading speed?
We give no target. Reading speed depends on the text, on whether you read aloud, and on the reader. Compare your own numbers over time.
Is anything saved?
No. The time is worked out in your browser. Nothing is saved or sent.