This free reading speed test times you while you read a short passage of about 300 words, then asks 4 questions about it. You get your reading speed in words per minute (WPM), a comprehension score, an effective reading speed that combines the two, and a comparison with the adult average of 238 WPM.
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Adults reading English silently average about 238 words per minute for non-fiction and 260 words per minute for fiction. Most adults fall between 175 and 300 WPM for non-fiction. These figures come from Brysbaert (2019), a meta-analysis of 190 studies of silent reading with 18,573 participants, and 77 studies of reading aloud with 5,965 participants.
| Kind of reading | Average | Range for most adults |
|---|---|---|
| Silent reading, non-fiction | 238 WPM | 175–300 WPM |
| Silent reading, fiction | 260 WPM | 200–320 WPM |
| Reading aloud | 183 WPM | Not reported |
The averages apply to adults reading in their first language. The same study reports lower rates for children, for older adults and for people reading English as a second language. Speed also depends on the text: longer words and unfamiliar topics slow everyone down, which is why fiction is read faster than non-fiction.
A good reading speed is therefore not simply a high number. It is a speed at which you still understand the text. Reading at 238 WPM and following everything is a better result than racing at 400 WPM and missing half the questions. More background is in average reading speed.
The passages are non-fiction, so the test compares you with the non-fiction figures. The labels below follow the range Brysbaert (2019) gives for most adults. The 700WPM limit is this tool’s own cut-off, roughly three times the average, and not a research finding.
| Measured speed | Label |
|---|---|
| Under 175 WPM | Below the typical adult range |
| 175–300 WPM | Typical adult reading speed |
| Over 300, up to 700 WPM | Faster than most adults |
| Over 700 WPM | Flagged as skimming; not counted as a reading speed |
To get a result you can trust:
The test runs entirely in your browser. There is no account and no email step, and your latest result is kept in your browser so that it can be shown on your next visit.
The honest starting point is that speed and comprehension trade off. The research review by Rayner et al. (2016) found no method that doubles or triples reading speed while keeping full understanding; the main limit is how fast the mind recognises words and builds meaning, not how fast the eyes move. Realistic gains are modest, and they come from practice. See does speed reading work? for the evidence.
Retake this test every week or two with the same care, and judge progress by your effective speed, not by WPM alone.
For adults reading English silently, the average is about 238 words per minute (WPM) for non-fiction and 260 WPM for fiction, and most adults fall between 175 and 300 WPM for non-fiction. These figures come from Brysbaert (2019), a meta-analysis of 190 studies. A good speed is one at which you still understand what you read, so a speed in the typical range with full comprehension is a good result.
Words per minute is the number of words read divided by the reading time in minutes. This test counts the words in the passage, times you from the moment the passage appears until you press the finish button, and divides one by the other. A 300-word passage read in 75 seconds, for example, is 240 WPM.
Effective reading speed is words per minute multiplied by the share of comprehension questions answered correctly. Reading at 300 WPM and getting three of four questions right gives an effective speed of 225 WPM. It is a practical convention for keeping speed honest, not a standardised scientific measure, and with four questions it moves in large steps.
It gives a reasonable estimate, not a precise measurement. Reading speed changes with the difficulty of the text, how familiar the topic is and why you are reading, and one short passage with four questions cannot capture all of that. Take the test two or three times with different passages and look at the middle result. Results above 700 WPM, or with answers no better than guessing, are flagged as skimming and should be ignored.
Only modestly. The research review by Rayner et al. (2016) concludes that speed and comprehension trade off, and that no method has been shown to double or triple reading speed while keeping full understanding. What reliably helps is reading more, building vocabulary and background knowledge, and choosing deliberately when to skim and when to read closely.