What is the average reading speed?
A review of 190 studies by Marc Brysbaert (2019) found that adults reading silently in English, their first language, read about 238 words per minute for non-fiction and 260 words per minute for fiction. Most adults fall between roughly 175 and 300 WPM.
Reading in a second language is usually slower, sometimes much slower, because word recognition is less automatic. Speed rises with vocabulary size and, above all, with the amount you read. A slower speed is not a problem in itself: what matters is that it keeps improving.
| Words per minute | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Under 100 | Reading word by word; the text is probably above your level |
| 100–175 | Careful reading; typical for learners with intermediate texts |
| 175–300 | The range of most adult native readers |
| 300–450 | Fast reading of easy or familiar material |
| 450+ | Skimming; full comprehension becomes unlikely |
Why the test checks comprehension
Speed means little if you do not understand what you read. After each passage you answer four questions. Your effective reading speed is your WPM multiplied by your comprehension score: 200 WPM with 75% comprehension is an effective speed of 150 WPM.
If you score under 75%, read the next passage more slowly. If you score 100% easily, try a harder passage.
How to get an accurate result
- Choose the passage closest to your level: easy (about A2), intermediate (about B1) or advanced (about C1).
- Read at your normal pace, the way you would read an article you are interested in. Do not skim and do not read aloud.
- Press "I've finished" as soon as you reach the end. Do not go back to reread.
- Answer the questions without looking at the text.
How to read faster in English
Courses that promise 1,000 words per minute are not supported by research: studies of speed reading show that going much faster than normal reading means understanding less (Rayner et al., 2016). What does work for language learners is making word recognition automatic.
- Read a lot of easy text. Comfortable books, where you know 98% of the words, let you practice fluency without stopping.
- Grow your vocabulary. Every word you recognize instantly saves time. Check yours with the vocabulary size test.
- Do not stop for every unknown word. Guess from context and move on, or tap the word in a reader that shows meanings instantly.
- Reread familiar texts. Rereading a text you understand trains speed without adding difficulty.
- Measure regularly. Take this test every few weeks with a different passage.
What your speed means for books
A typical novel has about 80,000 words. At 150 WPM it takes about 8 hours 53 minutes of reading; at 238 WPM, about 5 hours 36 minutes; at 300 WPM, about 4 hours 27 minutes. Use the reading time calculator to plan any book or article.
