| The average reading speed of a child in primary | | | | comprehension level of about 75% or more. This |
| school is around 200 words per minute (wpm). By | | | | is an excellent level of comprehension and |
| the time we reach adulthood, it hasn't improved | | | | probably more than adequate for any of your |
| very much, as, on average, most adults read at a | | | | required purposes. Compare this to the average |
| rate of about 200 - 250 wpm. While | | | | reading rate of adults (200 - 250 wpm), where |
| comprehension at this rate is considered | | | | their comprehension level is only half or slightly |
| reasonable, at 250 wpm it will be difficult to read | | | | more of the material they have read. |
| large amounts of information in a short period of | | | | 800 - 1000 wpm would be an outstanding |
| time. | | | | achievement. In order to have reached this level, |
| Certain individuals claim to read at speeds of 10 | | | | an individual may have invested in an excellent |
| 000 wpm or even 25 000 wpm and say they are | | | | speed reading course and practiced speed drills. |
| still able to understand all they have read. Even | | | | Believe it or not, comprehension at this level is |
| though rates like this may be achieved by these | | | | also outstanding, reaching levels of 100% or very |
| exceptional individuals, a speed of 1000 - 1200 | | | | close to 100%. |
| wpm is the rate at which contestants read at the | | | | Results of 100 - 200 wpm is considered a basic |
| World Championship speed reading competitions. | | | | reading rate. In adult terms this is a below |
| Therefore, if your average reading speed comes | | | | average speed, but for children between the ages |
| anywhere near this rate, you can consider | | | | of 6 and 12, it may be considered as average. |
| yourself doing fantastically well. Do not feel that | | | | Only low levels of comprehension are achieved at |
| you need to reach championship levels in order to | | | | this rate. An adult who reads at this pace will be |
| achieve your learning and reading goals. It is up to | | | | amazed at what some of the simple techniques |
| each and every individual to decide how far to | | | | will do for his reading speed. Reading at any pace |
| push the speed limits! | | | | below 100 wpm will probably be read by someone |
| For a person interested in increasing his abilities, a | | | | who is still learning to read or perhaps by |
| goal of 500 - 800 wpm is an excellent target. At | | | | someone who is reading in a second or third |
| this rate it is possible to get through large | | | | language. At this rate comprehension will be |
| quantities of work in a short time and maintain a | | | | difficult. |