Free tools / Reading speed test
Reading speed test
Read a short article with a clock running, then answer 3 questions about it. You get your words per minute and how many questions you got right.
Passage: The last lighthouse keepers, 286 words
- Press the button below. The passage appears and a clock starts.
- Read it the way you normally would, not faster.
- Press the button under the passage when you finish. The clock stops.
- Answer 3 questions about it without looking back.
Want to read more each day?
The reading timer opens a PDF or text file from your computer with a clock beside the page, so you can set a daily reading goal in minutes and keep it. It is free and needs no account.
Open the reading timerHow your score is worked out
Your reading speed is the number of words in the passage divided by the minutes you spent reading it. The clock starts when the passage appears and stops when you press the button under it.
Your comprehension is the share of the 3 questions you answered correctly, with the passage hidden. Every answer is stated in the passage, so the questions check that you read it, not what you already knew.
Speed without understanding is skimming. When you are signed in, your best result only counts tests where you got at least 2 of the 3 questions right.
Questions
What is a normal reading speed?
A review of nearly 200 studies found that adults reading non-fiction in English silently average 238 words per minute, and your result is compared with that. Most adults fall somewhere between 175 and 300. Harder material is slower for everyone. A faster number only means something if your comprehension stays high.
Should I read faster than usual for the test?
No. Read the way you normally would. The point is to measure how you read, and rushing usually costs you questions.
Can I take the test more than once?
Yes. There are 3 passages; press "Take the test with another passage" after each one. A passage you have already read will give you a faster, less honest result, so start with ones you have not seen.
Are my results saved?
If you are signed in to MugUp, yes: every result is saved and the page shows your best result and your last 10. If you are not signed in, you still see your result, but it is not kept anywhere.
How do I read more each day?
Reading a little every day does more than reading fast. The MugUp reading timer lets you set a daily goal in minutes and read a PDF or text file with a clock beside the page. It is free and works without an account.