Fast reading is experiencing a resurgence in popularity not seen since the 1960’s when President Kennedy popularized this skill. Many speed readers wonder how their speed compares with the reading speed seen in the general population. This article will provide you with the answers you are searching to find.

If you were to measure the reading speed of a large group of people, you would find that most people read about 200 words per minute. This measurement is called the mode. Statisticians define the mode as the most frequently observed measurement in a population. Because the mode reveals the most frequently measured speed, many consider it a better reference point than using the average reading rate. There is another important measuring you can use to determine what is the normal rate of reading. This statistic is called the range.

The range of reading in a large population sample is between 150-400 words per minute. The range reveals more detail about the normal reading rate. Instead of offering a single number as a measurement, like the mode, the range offers more insight into the high and low end of normal. If you measure your initial reading speed, and it lies between 150-400 words per minute, then you would be considered to be reading within the normal range.

The range of reading can be very useful to someone who is learning to speed read. For example, if your reading speed is below 150 words per minute, should you consider learning to speed read? That is a good question, and the answer depends upon a number of factors.

Generally reading below 150 words per minute should not prevent you from learning how to speed read. What is critical is your ability to read. For example, if you are reading 10 words per minute because you don’t know how to read, then speed reading is not going to help you. If this applies to you, then you would need to learn how to read before learning to read faster. However, I think it is safe to assume someone with that difficulty would not be able to read this article either.

Another problem that can cause speed reading is reading in another language. If you don’t speak a language well, then it will prevent you from speed reading in that language. The solution is to become more fluent in the language before learning to speed read. However, it is not unusual for someone to learn to speed reading in a second language in order to increase their reading speed in their native tongue. For example, a German might learn to speed reading in English in order to read faster in German. They still might find speed reading in English difficult, but the skill can transfer to their native language.

As you can now see, knowing a little about the statistics of normal reading can be a big help when you are learning to speed read.