450 wpm test
Can you read 450 words a minute?
450 words a minute is 3 times the 150-wpm baseline, the pace of speech. It is the pace of a trained reader on familiar material. This test shows you 272 words at exactly that speed in 36 seconds, then checks what you kept.
Read 272 words at 450 words a minute
One word at a time, about 36 seconds. Keep your eyes on the red letter. Four questions follow.
450 words a minute.
| Book | At your speed |
|---|---|
| The Great Gatsby | |
| 1984 | |
| The Hobbit | |
| Pride and Prejudice | |
| War and Peace | |
| The King James Bible |
What 450 words a minute feels like
Fast enough that losing focus for a second costs you a sentence.
How long books take at 450 wpm
| Book | At the 150 baseline | At 450 wpm |
|---|---|---|
| The Great Gatsby | 5.2 hours | 1.7 hours |
| 1984 | 9.9 hours | 3.3 hours |
| The Hobbit | 10.6 hours | 3.5 hours |
| Pride and Prejudice | 13.6 hours | 4.5 hours |
| War and Peace | 65.2 hours | 21.7 hours |
| The King James Bible | 87.0 hours | 29.0 hours |
Questions
Is 450 words a minute fast?
450 words a minute is 3 times the 150-wpm baseline, the pace of speech. It is the pace of a trained reader on familiar material.
How long does it take to read a book at 450 wpm?
At 450 words a minute, The Great Gatsby (about 47,000 words) takes 1.7 hours and 1984 (about 89,000 words) takes 3.3 hours. At the 150-wpm baseline they take 5.2 hours and 9.9 hours.
Can I learn to read at 450 words a minute?
Yes, with training. Raise your pace 25 words a minute at a time and keep a quiz on every read, so the speed you reach is one you understand at.