In the last of his introductory blog posts giving speed reading tips, Alex our Speed Reading Coach, explains how to measure your reading speed and what the results mean. Over to you, Alex...
Time to read this email:
Slow reader:.........5 minutes 8 seconds
Average reader:..2 minutes 34 seconds
Fast reader:.........1 minute 36 seconds
Speed reader:.....................48 seconds
Today I am going to show you something very interesting. I will teach you how to measure your reading speed so you can see the amazing improvement every time you learn a new speed reading tip! You will understand where you are now and can take this opportunity to start learning how to speed read today!
So to get started you will need to get a book to read and a timer to time yourself for exactly one minute (most mobile phones have one). Making a note of where you start, read for one minute. If you prefer, ask a friend to measure the time for you.
At the end of the minute, note where you finish - you can always mark the text with a pencil. Now count the words you've just read. The number of words you read translates into words per minute (WPM) so for example if you read 240 words your reading speed is actually 240 words per minute or 240 WPM.
Below is a guide to show you where you are now.
If your reading speed is
below 150 WPM you're a slow reader
between 150 to 250 WPM you're an average reader
between 250 to 400 WPM you're a fast reader.
Reading between 400 to 1000 WPM or above and you are a speed reader.
It's important to keep records of your development, so jot down your reading speed and also rate your comprehension level from 1 to 10.
If your comprehension was
poor: give yourself a 3 or 4
good: give yourself a 5 or 6
excellent: give yourself a 7 or 8
outstanding: give yourself 9 or 10
Did you know that by reading slowly your mind can get bored? It can drift away from the text and you forget what you've just been reading. You have to skip back and read it again to have good comprehension.
Lets say you're reading a book that mentions the word "travelling". If you read slowly your mind can stop concentrating on the text and you start thinking about travelling - maybe your last holiday or perhaps you'll imagine a place that you want to go....the sunshine, sandy beaches, the parties, the people you will meet...it goes on and on and on.
The mind works with associations. The actual words in the text trigger you to think about other things. So if the mind processes information very fast and you don't give it something interesting to pay attention to it will drift away and think about something else.
The brain loves speed. As you learn to go faster you'll start using your mind's eye to create the images described in the text. Your imagination will be activated, you'll become more motivated and it is then that memory is created. It's not the words in the text but the ideas that you create in your mind that you will remember.
Now tell me, are you more focused when you drive a car at 10 miles an hour or at 100 miles an hour? Of course, it's at 100 miles an hour. You can see the landscape but you are very focused on the road.
Another example of the brain working at speed would be playing a video game. The game has many levels and the higher you get, the faster your brain has to think and the more exciting it gets.
