A poor reader has a wpm rate of 100-110 words. An average reader has a wpm rate of 200-240 wpm. A good reader has a wpm rate of 300-400 wpm. An excellent reader has a wpm rate of 700-1000 wpm. Keep in mind ESL readers may struggle to maintain more than 200-300 wpm when reading a text that is not in their native tongue. Many educators argue that ESL readers should try to maintain a slower reading rate to ensure they can comprehend the text.
Many linguistic experts argue that it’s important to improve your vocabulary and broaden your exposure to many different types of texts, in addition to improving your reading speed. This will ensure your reading comprehension rate stays at the same level or improves along with your reading speed.
Count the number of words in five lines of the practice text. Divide this number of words by five and you will have the average number of words per line in the text. For example: 70 words/5 lines = 14 words per line. Count the number of text lines on five pages of the text and divide this number by five to determine the average number of lines per page. Then, multiply the average number of lines per page by the average number of words per line and you will get the average number of words per page. For example: 195 lines/5 pages = 39 lines per page. 39 lines per page x 14 words per line = 546 words per page. Once you have the average words per line and words per page, time yourself reading the text for one minute. Try to read as fast as possible, but also make sure you understand the idea or point in each sentence. After one minute, stop reading and count how many lines you read in one minute. Multiply the number of lines you read by the average words per line to determine your words per minute rate. For example: You managed to read 26 lines in one minute. 26 x 14 words per line = 364 words per minute. Your wpm rate is 364 words per minute, which means you are considered a good reader.
Set the timer for 60 seconds and try to read as much of the text as possible. Stop the timer at 60 seconds. Start the timer at 60 seconds again and read again from the beginning of the text. Try to read more material during this 60-second period than you did in the first reading period. Repeat this exercise a third and a fourth time. Try to read more of the text during each exercise until you read more of the text during the fourth time.
Begin with a 100-word paragraph. Set the timer to two minutes. Try to read the paragraph four times during the two minutes. Aim for a reading speed of at least 200 words per minute. Once you are able to read the paragraph four times in two minutes, move on to reading a 200-word paragraph eight times in four minutes. As you continue to do this reading drill, your reading speed should improve.
Hold the pen in your dominant hand, with the cap on. Hold it under your hand, flat against the page. Set the timer for one minute. Use the pen to underline each line of text as you read. Keep your eye fixed above the tip of the pen. The pen will act as a useful marker on the page and will help you maintain a consistent reading speed. At the end of one minute, calculate your wpm based on the number of lines you read. Note if your reading rate improves with the use of the pen.
Limit your reading habits so it involves only your eyes and your brain, rather than actual speech. Vocalization will slow your reading down and cause you to try to do two things at once, rather than focus on the text. Poetry and plays are texts that are meant to be performed, so it can be difficult not to vocalize as you read these texts. In fact, vocalizing while you read these texts can help you understand them better. You may find speaking the dialogue in a play or a line of poetry can enhance your understanding. However, it will likely slow down your reading rate.
Start by reading the title of the text, such as the chapter title. Read all the headings and subheadings. Look over any marked, italicized or bolded text. Look at any pictures or illustrations, as well as any charts or graphs. Read the first sentence of every paragraph, particularly the first sentence of the first and last paragraphs of the text. After you have previewed the text, ask yourself: What is the main idea of the text? What is the author’s purpose for writing the text? What is the style of the writing: formal, informal, medical, legal? You should be able to answer these basic questions if you preview the text properly.
Keep in mind excessive chunking can limit or reduce your comprehension of the text. Try to use the statement of purpose given to you by your teacher to guide you as you chunk the text.
Take the heading or title of a chapter and turn it into a question. For example, if a heading of a section in the text is “The Causes of Global Warming”, you can switch it into a question, such as: “What are the causes of global warming?” You will then approach the text with a goal, and will be looking for the key answers to this question in the text. Your reading will now be goal-oriented, allowing you to possibly read faster and not lose your reading comprehension ability.
Keep in mind legal material and medical material are not meant to be read quickly, so it can be difficult to maintain a high reading rate when you practice with these types of texts. Take your time with these types of texts and work on improving your reading rate slowly, over time.
