How to use the reading fluency wcpm calculator
- For each passage read aloud, enter the words read, the errors and the seconds taken. Add up to six passages.
- Count every word the reader attempted. Errors are words misread, skipped or added, in the way your teacher or program defines them.
- Read the words correct per minute for each passage and the median across the passages, with the accuracy.
- Optionally enter a goal to see how far the median is above or below it.
Formula
words correct per minute = (words read - errors) x 60 / seconds
accuracy = (words read - errors) / words read x 100
with several passages, use the median of the values
The median is the middle value when the passages are sorted. With an even number of passages it is the average of the two middle ones.
Three passages
A reader reads 112 words with 4 errors in 60 seconds, then 95 words with 2 errors in 60 seconds, then 130 words with 6 errors in 75 seconds. The three rates are 108, 93 and (130 - 6) x 60 / 75 = 99.2 words correct per minute, with accuracies of 96.4, 97.9 and 95.4 percent. The median rate is 99.2 and the median accuracy is 96.4 percent.
A single passage of 100 words with no errors in 50 seconds is 120 words correct per minute. With a goal of 100, that is 20.0 above the goal. Exact fractions were used in the test to confirm each rate, so 496/5 is 99.2 with no rounding.
Why use the median of several passages
A single reading depends on the passage, the reader's mood and the setting. One passage may be easy and another full of hard words. Using three passages and taking the middle one reduces the effect of an odd result. The page lists each passage so you can see the spread.
What the tool does not do
The tool works out arithmetic. It does not compare a score with grade-level norms or label a reader, and it must not be used alone to judge progress. Teachers and reading specialists use more than rate, including accuracy, expression and understanding of what is read. To keep a record of reading practice, print the Reading Log, and to check how hard a text is, use the Readability Score Calculator.
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Assumptions and limits
- The words read are the words attempted in the passage, and the errors are counted by one consistent rule.
- The seconds are the time the reader took to read the passage aloud.
- The errors cannot be more than the words read.
- The median is used to summarize several passages.
- The passages and the goal in the form are examples to replace with your own.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as an error?
Rules differ between programs. Commonly, a misread word, a skipped word or an added word is an error, and a self-corrected word within a few seconds is not. Use the rule from your teacher or program.
Why not just use one minute of reading?
You can. A one-minute reading gives words correct per minute directly. For passages of other lengths, the seconds field scales the result to a minute.
Does the tool say if a score is good?
No. It reports the arithmetic only. Whether a score is on track depends on the reader, the grade and the text, which is a conversation for a teacher.
Why is the accuracy reported as well?
A fast reading with many errors is different from a slower accurate one. Showing both lets you see whether a high rate comes at the cost of accuracy.