At a natural speaking pace of 130 words per minute, a 10 minute
presentation is approximately 1,300 words. However the exact number
depends on your speaking speed:

Slow pace (110 wpm) → 1,100 words
Medium pace (130 wpm) → 1,300 words
Fast pace (160 wpm) → 1,600 words

Most UK university lecturers recommend writing your script at a medium
pace and then practising to ensure you do not rush. Remember that your
actual speaking time is roughly 85% of your total slot — the remaining
15% accounts for natural pauses, slide transitions and emphasis moments.

For most UK university presentations, writing a full script first is
recommended so you know exactly what you want to say. Once written,
reduce it to short bullet-point cue cards for the actual delivery.
Reading a full script word-for-word rarely scores well with markers
as it reduces eye contact and natural engagement with the audience.

Yes. Speaking too fast makes it hard for your audience and markers to
follow your points. Speaking too slowly can make you run out of content
before your time is up. A medium pace of around 120 to 140 words per
minute is ideal for most academic and professional presentations.

A common rule for UK university presentations is one slide per minute
of speaking time. So a 10 minute presentation would typically have
around 8 to 12 slides. Avoid cramming too much text onto each slide
— your words should be spoken, not read off the screen.

A viva, short for viva voce, is an oral examination where you defend
your dissertation or thesis in front of a panel of academics. It is
common at Masters and PhD level in UK universities. Our calculator
includes a specific viva mode with a suggested structure based on
dissertation chapter breakdowns.

Yes. The calculator includes a Business and Professional Pitch mode
which uses a faster suggested pace and a structure built around
problem, solution, evidence and call to action — the format most
commonly used in professional and business settings.