what are the factors that determine the rate at which a soulute dissolves

Answer 1

particle size, absence of stiring, temperature, http://www.thesciencedesk.com/pdffiles/FactorsAffectingDissolving.pdf

Answer 2

This lists the three factors and discusses them.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/7466189/Factors-Affecting-Rate-of-Solutions