I have always been a very fast reader. It is not uncommon for me to be able to finish a book within twenty-four hours of starting it. I stumbled on this test to answer the question: How fast do you read? I thought it would be fun to see exactly how fast I can read.
The test is simple: you read a short passage (which is timed) and then you answer three questions about the passage to determine if you actually understood everything you read.
Results: I can read 500 words per minute, which is 100% faster than the national average.
If I maintained this speed, I could read:
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy in 19 hours and 35 minutes (obviously, I would not be able to read for nineteen hours continuously; therefore, I am even more intimidated to read this book)
Catch-22 Joseph Heller in 5 hours and 49 minutes
1984 by George Orwell in 2 hours and 58 minutes (I have read this one and according to my Kindle, it took a little over three hours, so I feel the results of this test are pretty accurate.)
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand in 10 hours and 23 minutes
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck in 5 hours and 39 minutes
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens in 4 hours and 31 minutes
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee in 3 hours and 18 minutes
Feel free to take the quiz yourself and leave your results in the comments below!
Ooh this was really interesting to read! Just did the test and I got 590 words per minute hmmmmm
ReplyDeleteMelanie, that's awesome! :)
DeleteI just clicked on the link and couldn't see where I could take the test, oh wells! I did something similar when I was younger and found out I beat my sister back then as well! I think the more we read, the faster we get as well. Great results and interesting post!
ReplyDeleteJeann, it actually took me a minute to find it as well. If you click on the link, you will see a picture in the middle of the page that looks like a Kindle. Just click on that it will take you straight to the test! You are probably right that we get faster, the more we read. I read a lot when I was younger, but not nearly as much as now. I think I am faster now for sure.
DeleteHow fun! I retained all I read (all questions right), but am only 2% faster than the average reader -- although my husband was talking as I was doing the test LOL
ReplyDeleteDiane, there should probably be a curve for you. I am pretty sure you would go even faster without any distractions. :) Good job on the test though! i think retaining the information is more important than anything. It does no good to read that quickly if you can't even retain anything you read.
DeleteThat's so cool! I apparently could read War and Peace in 17 hr and 18 minutes. ;)
ReplyDeleteWow, that's great Lois! That is even faster than me. Maybe that can be inspiration to read it. 17 hours doesn't seem so bad, does it? ;)
Delete380 words per minute. Apparently, I would read The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien in 20 hours and 59 minutes. Wow. It took me couple of weeks when I read it as kid years ago LOL
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this, it was fun :)
No problem Lucia. 380 words per minute is impressive. Maybe Lord of the Rings took you a couple of weeks because you weren't reading very much at one time. Or maybe your reading speed increases with age. Yeah. I think that's it. :)
DeleteIt won't let me do it on mobile :( but dang lady that is some fast reading. I know I don't read very fast.
ReplyDeleteThanks Julie! The test is interesting to take I think. Hope you can take the test again on your computer. :)
DeleteWOAH you read so fast! I used to be able to read a book a day in high school, but as I got busier and had less time to read, I've fallen out of practice and my reading speed has slowed :(
ReplyDeleteAccording to the test I read 372 words a minute
Bee, 372 isn't bad! I do think that maybe the more you read, the faster you read. I think I read faster now than I did in high school. :)
Delete412 words per minute apparently! I read faster depending on the book it is. If I'm anxious to finish or if I just want to know what's going to happen next then I read super fast. If it's a book I'm loving and don't want to end or if it's super boring than it takes longer to read. Lovely discussion!
ReplyDeleteRachel, that is pretty fast! I agree with you on that one. Some books it takes me a day and some books take a week. Depends on how exciting they are. :)
DeleteLOL I'm slow! 333 per minute. You do read crazy fast. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anna! I am pretty sure 333 words is still faster than the national average though. :)
DeleteI only read about 300 words per minute, apparently. SIGH. At least it's higher than the national average, haha XD
ReplyDeleteBut wow! You can read terribly fast, and it must be kinda cool to be able to speed through books. It makes the fact that there are more books to be read than time to read them a little less painful when you can read them faster.
Although I must say my reading pace does change for the book I am reading. If I LOVE a book, I finish it a lot quicker than if I don't love a book.
Chiara, thanks so much! 300 words is still pretty fast. Even though I read pretty fast, it doesn't seem to make a dent in my TBR list. For every one I read, I add ten more! Haha
DeleteI haven't done the test but I think I am about average, certainly not slow but not fast either. I think I adjust my pace to the book I am reading - some need slower reading some can just be whizzed through. However I wish I had a magic wand that I could read very very fast and still absorb every book on my TBR!
ReplyDeleteKathryn, I agree with you completely on that one! I can read most things pretty fast, but it did take a while to read Wuthering Heights and Pride and Prejudice. Those books require a bit more effort. Ha.
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