How to take the typing test
- Choose a length. One minute is the most common test; 15 and 30 seconds measure a burst, 2 minutes your steady speed.
- Click or tap the box and start typing the first word. The timer starts with your first key.
- Press space after each word. Letters turn dark when they are right and red when they are wrong. You can fix a mistake with Backspace until you press space.
- When the time is up you get your speed, accuracy and the keys you missed most. Press Enter or Esc to go again with new words.
What the results mean
| Result | What it measures |
|---|---|
| Typing speed (WPM) | Characters in correctly typed words, plus the spaces after them, divided by five per minute. This is the number to compare. |
| Raw speed | Every key you pressed, right or wrong, counted the same way. A big gap between raw and typing speed means mistakes are costing you. |
| Accuracy | The share of key presses that were right. Fixing a mistake doesn’t undo it. |
| Keys you missed most | The letters you should have typed when you made a mistake. The same few letters every time point to a finger habit worth practicing. |
| Possible double-typing keys | Keys that sent a second press within 35 milliseconds of being released, which no one types that fast. See the fixes below. |
How to type faster
- Learn the home row. Rest your left fingers on A S D F and your right fingers on J K L ;. Most keyboards have a small bump on F and J so you can find them without looking.
- Keep your eyes on the screen. Looking down at the keys is the biggest brake on speed. Go slower at first if you need to.
- Aim for accuracy, then speed. A steady rhythm with few mistakes beats rushing and fixing errors.
- Practice little and often. A few one-minute tests a day improve speed more reliably than one long session a week.
- Sit comfortably. Keep your wrists straight and relaxed, with the keyboard at about elbow height.
When the keyboard is the problem
Sometimes slow or messy typing isn’t you. Watch for these signs:
- Letters appear twice (“thhe”) even though you pressed once: key chatter, often from dirt or a worn switch. The test flags these keys. Blow compressed air under the key, and confirm which keys do it with the keyboard test.
- Letters go missing when you type fast: the key may need more pressure than it should, or the keyboard may not register several keys at once. The keyboard test shows how many keys work together.
- Letters arrive late or in bursts on a wireless keyboard: replace the batteries, move the receiver closer, or plug the keyboard in with a cable.
- Keys repeat when held for a moment: check the repeat delay in your keyboard settings (Windows: Control Panel › Keyboard; macOS: System Settings › Keyboard).
Testing other ways your hands meet the computer? Try the spacebar counter or the CPS test.
Is this test private?
Yes. What you type is checked by your browser on your device and is never uploaded. Only your best score for each length is saved, in this browser.
Frequently asked questions
How is typing speed (WPM) calculated?
Typing tests count a “word” as five characters, including spaces, so long and short words even out. Your speed is the number of characters in words you typed correctly, divided by five, divided by the minutes the test lasted. Raw speed counts every key you pressed, right or wrong, so it is always the same or higher.
What is a good typing speed?
A large 2018 study by Aalto University, in which about 168,000 volunteers took an online typing test, measured an average of about 52 WPM. Results vary with the text and the test length, so compare your scores on the same test. Accuracy matters as much as speed: correcting mistakes costs more time than typing a little slower.
Why does my score change so much between tests?
Short tests swing more: one hard word or a slow start makes a big difference in 15 seconds, much less in 2 minutes. The words are picked at random each time, and some combinations are easier to type than others. Take the 1-minute test a few times and look at your typical score, not the best or worst one.
Why does the test say my keyboard may be double-typing?
Each time you press a key, the test checks how long it has been since the same key was released. If it is less than 35 milliseconds, faster than a person can type, one press probably registered twice. That is called key chatter and usually comes from dirt or a worn switch. Use the keyboard test to confirm which keys do it.
Can I take the typing test on a phone or tablet?
Yes. Tap the box with the words to open the on-screen keyboard and start typing. Turning off autocorrect gives a fairer score. Phone keyboards don’t report individual key presses the way a physical keyboard does, so the double-typing check works only with a physical keyboard.
Is what I type saved or sent anywhere?
No. Your typing is checked on your device as you go and is never uploaded. Only your best score for each test length is saved, in this browser, so you can try to beat it.