Leave room for slides, questions and pauses
Your slot includes more than the words on the page.
Make a time ledger
For a five-minute talk, you might reserve 20 seconds for a demonstration and 10 seconds for transitions. Enter 30 additional seconds. At 130 WPM the remaining 270 seconds allow 585 words.
Distinguish holds from natural delivery
A measured speaking rate already reflects normal pauses. Reserve additional seconds for events outside that ordinary reading: changing equipment, waiting for a response or showing a clip.
Use pause for interruptions only
During a realistic rehearsal, leave the timer running while you breathe, think and transition. The Pause control is for interruptions that should not count toward the rehearsal, such as answering the door.