Chinese reading speed test

How is reading speed measured in Chinese?

In characters per minute: the Chinese characters in the text, not counting punctuation, divided by the minutes you took. A speed means little without understanding, so the test asks three questions about the story after you read.

What is a good Chinese reading speed?

Learners often read about 100 characters a minute, and native readers several hundred. A speed only means something with understanding: a fast read with one question right is skimming. Take the test at the level you read for fun.

Can I look words up?

Yes. Point at or tap any word for its pinyin and meaning, as you would in a real story. Lookups count in your time, so your speed shows how fluently you read with them.

Where are the texts from?

Every text is a whole story or article from our Library, written for its HSK level. After the test, open it in the Library to read it with audio and save the words you didn’t know.

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