SRS TestΒ Calculator
- for the SRS Reading Comprehension Test
Your Reading Speed:
β WPMInstructions:
The SRS Reading & Comprehension Tests are tests you find in books, courses and coaching modules within the Speed Reading Simplified Course Library. The format of the tests are always the same, a PDF or text presented for download or on screen, with a comprehension quiz within the same lesson module on the topic.
How Fast Did You Read?
To find out how fast you read in the test you need to find the number beside the name of the test -Β Example:Β William Shakespeare (2045)Β - means that there are 2045 words in that test. Use this number, having your timing from the test written down, in minutes and seconds - andΒ enter these numbers in the calculator above to see your WPM for that test.
Still haven't read the text?
If you still haven't read the text, you need to head to the SRS Stopwatch and time how long it takes you to read the text from start to finish and you can use this simple timer or stopwatch to help you - www.SRSTips.com/timerΒ
Reading Speed Benchmarks
You've just calculated your WPM for a full test text β so what does that number actually mean? After 21 years of testing readers of every kind, from students to bank directors, I can tell you the honest ranges. Find your result in the table below. Not where you wish it was β where it is. That number is your starting line, and a starting line is the most useful thing a reader can own.
| Reading Speed | Reader Profile |
|---|---|
| Under 150 WPM | Significantly below average β common with heavy subvocalisation. |
| 150β250 WPM | Average adult reading speed. |
| 250β350 WPM | Above average β typical for regular readers and graduates. |
| 350β500 WPM | Proficient β common after structured practice. |
| 500β700 WPM | Advanced β typical of executives after coaching. |
| 700 WPM+ | Expert β achievable with sustained training and technique refinement. |
Note: These benchmarks assume comfortable comprehension. Speed without retention is not the goal.
And remember β any single test is a snapshot, not a verdict. How well you slept, the time of day, how tired you are: all of it moves the number. Test your speed, note it, and move on to the next repetition. The trend across days is what matters, never the single result. This is exactly why the SRS Reading & Comprehension Tests run throughout the books, courses and coaching modules rather than once at the start β one test tells you where you stood on one day; a series of tests tells you where you're going.
If your result landed below where you want it, that's not a verdict on you as a reader β it's a measurement of a habit, and habits can be retrained. The ranges above 350 WPM aren't reserved for naturally gifted readers; they're the normal outcome of structured practice. That's where the work starts, and it's simpler than most people expect.
Have you tried this yet?
You now know your WPM speed in your test:Β The SRS Reading Skills Assessment & Diagnostic Test - tells you what to do with it β and whether speed is even the right thing to focus on first.
Not sure where your reading is right now? Five minutes, twelve questions. The diagnostic tells you exactly where you stand β and what to do next.
Already know your reading profile?Β
Jump straight to the path that fits you.
Free β Start Here
- β All Free SRS Reading Tools, Tests & Exercises β SRSTips.com
- β Free β 60-Second SRS Speed Reading Exercise
Ready to Go Further?
- β Speed Reading Simplified for Beginners β "Best if you want to understand the full methodology before you commit to anything" β $3.97 on Amazon
- β SRS Starter Kit β "Best if you want to start building the habit today, at your own pace" β $47
- β 1:1 Private Coaching β "Best if you've tried before and stalled, or if you need results within a specific timeframe"
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I calculate my reading speed in words per minute?
A: You only need two things: the total word count of the text you read, and how long it took you from start to finish, in minutes and seconds. Enter them in the calculator above and it returns your exact WPM for that reading. There is no arithmetic for you to do and nothing to round or estimate β you give it the word count and the time, and it gives you the number.
Q: Where do I find the word count for an SRS reading test?
A: Every SRS Reading & Comprehension Test carries its word count in the test name itself. William Shakespeare (2,045) means the text is exactly 2,045 words. Put that number in the Total Words field, add the time you noted when you read the test, and the calculator does the rest. No counting, no estimating β with the SRS tests the number is always given to you.
Q: Can I use this calculator with my own book, article, or text?
A: Yes. It works for any text where you can establish the word count. Paste a passage into Word or any editor and use the word count function, time yourself reading it from start to finish, and enter both numbers. The SRS test naming system simply removes that first step for students working inside the course library β but the calculator itself is happy with any reading you can measure, whether that is a single passage or a full twenty-page chapter.
Q: What if I haven't read and timed the text yet?
A: Then timing comes first. Head to the SRS Stopwatch, start it the moment you begin reading, and stop it the instant you finish the final word. Write down the minutes and seconds, then come back here and enter them with the word count. The stopwatch and this calculator are built as a pair β one captures the time, the other converts it into your speed.
Q: How is this calculator different from a reading speed test?
A: A reading speed test hands you a fixed text and measures you against it. The SRS Reading & Comprehension Tests live inside the books, courses, and coaching modules of the Speed Reading Simplified Course Library, always in the same format β a text on screen or as a PDF, paired with a comprehension quiz in the same lesson. This calculator is the companion tool: it takes the result of any of those tests, or any timed reading of your own, and turns it into your WPM figure.
Q: Does the calculator measure my comprehension as well?
A: No β and that separation is deliberate. The calculator measures pure execution speed: words over time, nothing else. Comprehension is measured inside the test module itself, where every SRS test pairs the reading with a quiz on what you just read. A WPM number with no comprehension check beside it is only half a result, which is exactly why the two always travel together in the SRS format. Speed is only worth having if you kept what you read.
Q: What is the average reading speed?
A: The average adult reads at 150β250 words per minute. Regular readers and graduates typically land between 250 and 350, while readers below 150 are usually held back by heavy subvocalisation β silently pronouncing every word as they go. These benchmarks all assume comfortable comprehension; a number reached without retention does not really count, and was never the goal.
Q: What is a good reading speed in words per minute?
A: Anything above 350 WPM with solid comprehension is proficient β the level structured practice tends to produce. 500β700 is advanced, the range executives reach after coaching, and 700-plus is expert territory, built through sustained training and refinement of technique. But treat any single result as a snapshot, not a verdict: how well you slept, the time of day, and how tired you are all move the number. Test yourself, note it, and move on β the trend across days is what tells the real story, never the single reading.
Still not sure where to start?
$47Β ONLINE COURSE:
The Definitive Guide to Your First 10 Days in Speed Reading
Ten days, one exercise, a novel you already know. I take you through a pencil-paced reading drill in four or five short sessions a day β with a baseline test at the start and a re-test at the end, so you can measure the change yourself rather than take my word for it.
LIVE - 3rd Ed. Revised and Updated:
Speed Reading Simplified for beginners - Amazon.com
How You Can Double Your Reading Speed With an 8 Minute Exercise! - Along with 7 Bad Reading Habits & 7 Common Misconceptions People Have About Reading! Plus, a New Chapter on How AI Can Help You Improve Your Reading Habits, and a 14-day Exercise Plan.
1:1 ONLINE PRIVATE COACHING:
Your #1 Speed Reading Coach!
I have a very simple goal during each session! - To give you simple & easy to replicate steps to improve your reading skills and help you not only enjoy your reading a lot more - but to give you all the tools you need to achieve the result you want in your demanding studies or workplace!
