How Long Does It Take to Read 1,200 Words?

5 min 3 sec
at average reading speed (238 wpm)

Average (238 wpm)

5 min 3 sec

Skimming (400 wpm)

3 min

Careful (150 wpm)

8 min

Read Aloud (150 wpm)

8 min

Reading 1,200 words at an average speed of 238 words per minute takes approximately 5 min 3 sec. If you are skimming for key information, it takes about 3 min. For careful study reading, allow 8 min.

Reading Time by Speed

Reading Style	Speed	Time
Skimming / Scanning	400 wpm	3 min
Average reading	238 wpm	5 min 3 sec
Careful / Study reading	150 wpm	8 min
Reading aloud	150 wpm	8 min
Speed reading (trained)	600 wpm	2 min

What Can You Read in This Time?

At 1,200 words, you are looking at the equivalent of:

A long-form blog post or feature article
A university essay or short paper
Approximately 5 single-spaced pages

Tips for Faster Reading

Minimise subvocalisation (saying words in your head) to increase reading speed by 20 to 50 per cent.

Use a pointer (finger or pen) to guide your eyes across each line — this simple technique can boost speed by 25 per cent.

Preview the text first: read headings, first sentences, and bold text to build a mental framework before reading in detail.

External Resources

The Write Life — Practical writing career advice and tools
WikiHow — How-to guides for writing and content creation
Hemingway Editor — Free readability checker and writing clarity tool
ProWritingAid — Writing analysis and style improvement tool

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