HANDWRITING REFERENCE
Handwriting speed: measure words per minute
Handwriting speed uses completed words ÷ seconds × 60. Repeat one passage at two paces and check how many words a reader transcribes.
READING DESK
Reference, comparison & reading
Time a passage
Choose a fixed passage and a familiar pen. Start the timer with the first stroke and stop after the last completed word. Record elapsed seconds and the count of completed words.
Calculate your pace
For 30 words written in 90 seconds, 30 ÷ 90 × 60 gives 20 words per minute. This is an example calculation. Use your own word count and time for your result, keeping the writing task the same between attempts.
Practice with a sample
Copy the same short passage at an ordinary pace and then at a comfortable quicker pace. Record the time for each. Ask a reader to transcribe both and compare the words read correctly alongside the two rates.