Instructions on How to Get Started

To get the most accurate results, follow these steps:

1. Start the stopwatch by clicking the play button before you begin speaking.

2. Read the excerpt aloud at the same pace you’d use for a presentation. Reading silently will give you your silent reading speed—not your speaking speed. And that’s not what we’re measuring here!

3. Deliver the excerpt in full, then stop the stopwatch when you finish.

4. In the next section, move the slider to match the exact number of seconds it took you to complete the excerpt.

5. (Optional, but appreciated!) Complete the MS Form at the bottom of this page to add your data to the study. Your results remain anonymous, and your participation helps expand the research!

“Designing a presentation means making countless decisions, and the first is how much content to include. We’ve got a simple formula to help. Start by determining your speaking speed in words per minute. Once you have that number, use our formula to calculate how many pages you’ll need for your allotted time. Here’s a quick reference: a standard page with 12-point font and single spacing contains about 500 words. With this in mind, just plug in the numbers, and you’ll have a clear estimate of how many pages to prepare—ensuring your presentation fits perfectly within your time limit.”