Typing speed test
Click the text and start typing. The clock starts on your first key.
How the score is worked out
A “word” in a typing test is five keystrokes, spaces included. Your gross speed is the keystrokes you typed, divided by five, divided by the minutes taken. Your net speed, the number that employers and exams use, takes one word off for every mistake still left in the text when you finish. Accuracy is the share of all your keystrokes that were right the first time, so a mistake you go back and fix still counts against accuracy but not against net speed.
What speed do jobs ask for?
| Level | Net speed | Where it is asked for |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | 25 to 35 wpm | General office work |
| Clerical | 35 to 45 wpm | Clerk and assistant posts; many Indian government typing tests ask for 35 wpm in English |
| Data entry | 8,000 to 10,500 keystrokes an hour | Data entry operator tests, measured in key depressions per hour |
| Professional | 60 to 80 wpm | Transcription, secretarial and support roles |
Requirements change between employers and between exam notices, so read the official notice for the test you are sitting. This page shows both words per minute and keystrokes per hour so you can compare with either.
Getting faster
Accuracy first. Typing at 40 words a minute with 98% accuracy beats 55 with 90%, because every fix costs more time than the mistake saved. Use the keyboard map after each test: the red keys are the ones costing you speed, and the “Drill my weak keys” button builds a practice text out of them. Ten focused minutes a day does more than an hour once a week.
Common questions
Can I turn off backspace? Yes. Some exams do not let you correct mistakes. Switch “Allow backspace” off to practise under that rule.
Is the certificate official? No. It records a self-timed practice result with the date, speed and accuracy. It is useful for tracking your progress or showing a tutor, and it says plainly that it is not a qualification.
Does it work on a phone? Yes, with the on-screen keyboard, though speeds are not comparable with a physical keyboard.