200 wpm test
Can you read 200 words a minute?
200 words a minute is 0.8 times the adult average of 238. It is 1.3 times the pace of speech, and the pace of a careful reader, or anyone reading dense or technical material. This test shows you 272 words at exactly that speed in 82 seconds, then checks what you kept.
Read 272 words at 200 words a minute
One word at a time, about 82 seconds. Keep your eyes on the red letter. Four questions follow.
200 words a minute.
| Book | At your speed |
|---|---|
| The Great Gatsby | |
| 1984 | |
| The Hobbit | |
| Pride and Prejudice | |
| War and Peace | |
| The King James Bible |
What 200 words a minute feels like
Slower than conversation. You will hear every word in your head, and that inner voice is setting your pace.
How long books take at 200 wpm
| Book | At 238 wpm | At 200 wpm |
|---|---|---|
| The Great Gatsby | 3.3 hours | 3.9 hours |
| 1984 | 6.2 hours | 7.4 hours |
| The Hobbit | 6.7 hours | 7.9 hours |
| Pride and Prejudice | 8.5 hours | 10.2 hours |
| War and Peace | 41.1 hours | 48.9 hours |
| The King James Bible | 54.8 hours | 65.3 hours |
Questions
Is 200 words a minute fast?
200 words a minute is 0.8 times the adult average of 238 for non-fiction (Brysbaert (2019), a review of 190 studies, Journal of Memory and Language). It is the pace of a careful reader, or anyone reading dense or technical material.
How long does it take to read a book at 200 wpm?
At 200 words a minute, The Great Gatsby (about 47,000 words) takes 3.9 hours and 1984 (about 89,000 words) takes 7.4 hours. At the average 238, they take 3.3 hours and 6.2 hours.
Can I learn to read at 200 words a minute?
Yes, most adults can with a little practice. Take the test above, and if the answers hold, move up a step.