What is a typing speed test?
A typing speed test measures how quickly and accurately you can type text displayed on screen. It tracks your words per minute (WPM), characters per minute (CPM), and accuracy percentage in real time as you type. This tool provides immediate feedback on each keystroke, showing you exactly where you made errors and how your speed changes throughout the test.
What is WPM and how is it calculated?
WPM stands for words per minute. Since words vary in length, WPM uses a standardized measurement where one "word" equals five characters (including spaces). The formula is:
**WPM = (Total Characters Typed / 5) / Time in Minutes**
For example, if you type 200 characters in one minute, your WPM is 40. This standardization allows fair comparison across different texts and languages.
What is a good typing speed?
- **Below 30 WPM**: Beginner typist, still developing muscle memory - **30 to 50 WPM**: Average typist, comfortable with basic typing tasks - **50 to 70 WPM**: Above average, efficient for most professional work - **70 to 100 WPM**: Fast typist, well above the professional average - **Above 100 WPM**: Expert level, typical of professional transcriptionists and competitive typists
The average office worker types between 38 and 40 WPM. Professional typists and programmers often reach 60 to 80 WPM.
Tips to improve your typing speed
- **Learn proper finger placement**: Use the home row (ASDF for the left hand, JKL; for the right) as your base position. Each finger is responsible for specific keys. - **Focus on accuracy first**: Speed naturally follows accuracy. Slowing down to type correctly builds better muscle memory than rushing and making errors. - **Practice regularly**: Even 10 to 15 minutes of daily practice leads to significant improvement over weeks. - **Avoid looking at the keyboard**: Train yourself to keep your eyes on the screen. This develops touch typing, which is essential for fast, accurate input. - **Use all your fingers**: Many self-taught typists only use a few fingers. Using all ten distributes the work and increases potential speed. - **Take breaks**: Fatigue leads to more errors. Short, focused practice sessions are more effective than long, tiring ones.
What is CPM and how does it differ from WPM?
CPM stands for characters per minute and counts every individual keystroke, including spaces and punctuation. While WPM divides your character count by five to approximate word count, CPM gives you the raw throughput of your typing.
**CPM = Total Characters Typed / Time in Minutes**
CPM is often preferred in contexts where precision matters, such as data entry or transcription, because it does not assume a standard word length.
How to use this tool
1. Select your difficulty level (Easy, Medium, or Hard) to choose the length and complexity of the text 2. Read the displayed passage carefully before you begin 3. Click the text input area and start typing to begin the timer automatically 4. Type the passage exactly as shown, watching the real-time WPM, CPM, and accuracy stats update as you go 5. When you finish the entire passage, view your final results including total time, speed, and error count 6. Click "Try Again" to retype the same text, or "New Text" to get a different passage
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