Reading Speed Test
Read a short passage at your normal pace, hit done, then answer a couple of questions. This free reading speed test times your reading and reports your speed in words per minute, and it only counts the run if you actually understood what you read. Nothing is uploaded and there is no sign-up.
Test your reading speed in words per minute, with comprehension kept honest. You read a short passage at your natural pace, then answer a few questions about it, so a fast time only counts if you took the meaning in. It gives you a words-per-minute figure you can compare with the average adult reading speed of around 200 to 250 wpm. Use it to check where you stand or to see whether a speed-reading technique actually helps.
- No sign-up, ever
- 100% free
- Nothing uploaded
- Works offline after first load
- Scores stay on your device
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Read at your normal pace, then hit Done.
How to use it
- 1
Start reading
A passage appears and the timer starts quietly. Read it once at your usual pace, the way you normally would.
- 2
Hit done
The moment you finish, press done to stop the timer. No skimming ahead, the questions will catch it.
- 3
Answer and score
A few quick questions check what you took in. You get your speed in words per minute, and the run counts if you understood enough.
When it comes in handy
Check your reading speed
See how your words-per-minute compares with the typical adult pace, on a passage you actually had to understand.
Test speed-reading claims
Try a technique, then measure whether your speed rose without your comprehension falling.
Read on any device
The passage sits at a comfortable width and size, so it reads cleanly on a phone or a laptop.
Instant & 100% private — nothing is uploaded
Every game runs right here in your browser, and your best scores are kept on your own device. Nothing is sent to a server, so there is no sign-up and no account. Load the page once and it keeps working even if you go offline.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the average reading speed?
- Most adults read prose at around 200 to 250 words per minute with good comprehension. Skilled readers reach 300 or more. Much beyond that usually means skimming, where you cover ground faster but take in less, which is why this test checks comprehension.
- Why do I have to answer questions?
- Speed on its own is easy to fake by skimming. The questions make sure you actually read the passage, so your words-per-minute reflects real reading rather than eyes sliding down the page.
- Can I improve my reading speed?
- A bit. Reading in small groups of words rather than one at a time, and not silently sounding out every word, both help. But there is a ceiling, and pushing past it trades understanding for speed.
- How is words per minute worked out?
- The passage has a known word count. The test divides that by how long you took, scaled to a minute. So a 150-word passage read in 40 seconds works out to about 225 words per minute.
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