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.
This example opens with a 5-minute target and 30 additional seconds reserved. Choose or measure your own pace in the calculator.