250 wpm test
Can you read 250 words a minute?
250 words a minute is 1.1 times the adult average of 238. It is 1.7 times the pace of speech, and the pace of the average adult reading non-fiction. This test shows you 272 words at exactly that speed in 65 seconds, then checks what you kept.
Read 272 words at 250 words a minute
One word at a time, about 65 seconds. Keep your eyes on the red letter. Four questions follow.
250 words a minute.
| Book | At your speed |
|---|---|
| The Great Gatsby | |
| 1984 | |
| The Hobbit | |
| Pride and Prejudice | |
| War and Peace | |
| The King James Bible |
What 250 words a minute feels like
This is normal reading. If it feels comfortable, 238 words a minute is where most adults sit.
How long books take at 250 wpm
| Book | At 238 wpm | At 250 wpm |
|---|---|---|
| The Great Gatsby | 3.3 hours | 3.1 hours |
| 1984 | 6.2 hours | 5.9 hours |
| The Hobbit | 6.7 hours | 6.3 hours |
| Pride and Prejudice | 8.5 hours | 8.1 hours |
| War and Peace | 41.1 hours | 39.1 hours |
| The King James Bible | 54.8 hours | 52.2 hours |
Questions
Is 250 words a minute fast?
250 words a minute is 1.1 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 the average adult reading non-fiction.
How long does it take to read a book at 250 wpm?
At 250 words a minute, The Great Gatsby (about 47,000 words) takes 3.1 hours and 1984 (about 89,000 words) takes 5.9 hours. At the average 238, they take 3.3 hours and 6.2 hours.
Can I learn to read at 250 words a minute?
Yes, most adults can with a little practice. Take the test above, and if the answers hold, move up a step.