How to Easily Calculate Your Typing Speed and Accuracy

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Take these typing tests and learn how to improve your speed
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If you’re trying to find out how productive you are when you’re working on a computer, then calculating your typing speed is an important stat to keep track of. Typing speed is measured in words per minute, or WPM, and it’s easy to figure out how fast you are on a keyboard. Keep reading, and we’ll walk you through the quickest ways to test your typing speed at home or online, and what you can do to type even faster.

How to Determine Your Typing Speed

Calculate words per minute using the formula (number of characters including spaces and punctuation ÷ 5) / amount of time in minutes . A typing speed of 40 words per minute is average, and anything over 60 WPM is considered proficient.

Section 1 of 4:

How to Calculate Typing Speed in Words per Minute

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  1. You can use a famous quote, a passage from your favorite book, or any random words you want. Make sure the passage has at least 100 words. Keep the passage open on your computer.
  2. Open a text document on your computer, and set a timer for 1 minute on your phone. As soon as you hit start, start typing the words in the passage. Try to type as many words correctly as you can.
    • It’s okay to leave spelling errors, but they will negatively impact your typing speed. Going back and fixing errors also takes more time and reduces your overall speed.
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  3. Divide the number of characters typed by 5 to find your words per minute . Count the number of characters you typed, including spaces and punctuation marks. Divide the total amount by 5 and round down to find your average words per minute. [1]
    • Example : If you typed 250 characters in total in 1 minute, then 250 ÷ 5 = 50 WPM .
    • If you highlight the typed text and look for a “Word Count” option in the menu, it will also list the character count.
    • You can always take longer typing tests to test your speed over different periods of time. Use the formula (number of characters ÷ 5) / number of minutes .
  4. Look back through the words you typed and compare it to the original text for any typos. Count each mistake you made and subtract it from the total number of characters. Use number of correct characters / number of total characters , multiply the result by 100, and round down to find your accuracy percentage. [2]
    • Example : If you made 8 errors and typed 250 characters total, your accuracy is 242 ÷ 250 = 0.968 = 96% accuracy .
  5. Use the formula words per minute x accuracy percentage . Round the result down to find the adjusted typing speed. [3]
    • Example : If you typed 50 words per minute with 96% accuracy, then 50 x 0.96 = 48 WPM .
    • Alternatively, some people calculate their net typing speed as WPM - number of errors. Using this formula, if you type 50 WPM but make 8 errors, your net words per minute is 42.
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Section 2 of 4:

Free Online Typing Speed Tests

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  1. Multiple sites offer free typing tests to calculate your speed. Many tests will generate random lists of words or use famous quotes, plus they’ll highlight where you made errors. Some of the best free typing tests include:
Section 3 of 4:

What is a good typing speed?

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  1. 40 words per minute is the average typing speed . This is the speed that’s common for most adults who regularly use a computer. If you type a little slower, work on improving your typing speed . [4]
  2. If you want to work in administrative positions or frequently use a computer, then work on building up to at least 60 WPM. As you keep practicing, you’ll start being able to type faster . [5]
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Section 4 of 4:

How to Improve Your Typing Speed

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  1. When you sit at your computer , using the correct posture can make typing easier and a lot faster. Whenever you’re sitting down to type, use the following posture: [6]
    • Sit with your back straight against your chair’s backrest.
    • Keep your feet flat on the floor.
    • Position your keyboard so you can keep your elbows bent at 90 degrees and close to your sides.
  2. Place your left fingers on the A, S, D, and F keys, and put your right fingers on the J, K, L, and ; keys. Whenever you press a key, bring your fingers back to their starting positions on the home row. Keep both of your thumbs over the space bar so you can easily press it in between words. [7]
    • Keeping your fingers on the home row helps you familiarize yourself with your keyboard and the letter locations.
  3. Practice typing without looking at your hands. As you get more familiar with the layout of your keyboard, practice looking at your computer screen while you’re typing. That way, you can catch any typos you make faster so you don’t have to go back and edit them later on. [8]
    • The F and J keys usually have a raised bump on them so you can easily feel where they are and reposition your fingers back on the home row.
  4. If you’re copying text, look ahead to the word after the current one you’re typing. If you’re writing something without a reference, plan out the next few words in your head. This can help you position your fingers for the next word so you don’t frequently start and stop typing. [9]
  5. As you keep practicing, make your own typing test or take one online to test your skills again. If you notice you’re having trouble with specific keystrokes, keep practicing them until they become natural.
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  • Question
    How do I find out how many words I type?
    juliet oiye
    Community Answer
    Take an online typing test. There are several free versions available.
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  • Question
    Should spaces be included in character count?
    Community Answer
    Yes, spaces should typically be included in character count.
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  • Question
    How can I calculate the statement heading on a typewriter?
    Community Answer
    Copy from a text and type. Pause the timer every time you need to realign the paper. Then resume the timer and then keep typing. Other than that, follow the instructions above.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.typetolearn.app/knowledge-base/how-words-per-minute-and-accuracy-are-calculated/
      2. ↑ https://rapidtyping.com/appendix.html
      3. ↑ https://www.typetolearn.app/knowledge-base/how-words-per-minute-and-accuracy-are-calculated/
      4. ↑ https://www.asaporg.com/efficiency-skills/average-words-per-minute-typing-how-fast-is-fast-enough
      5. ↑ https://www.typingpal.com/en/blog/good-typing-speed
      6. ↑ https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/Pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=hw200906&
      7. ↑ https://www.herzing.edu/blog/5-tips-improving-your-typing-speed-accuracy
      8. ↑ https://www.herzing.edu/blog/5-tips-improving-your-typing-speed-accuracy
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/QAb3ATOpBpE?t=114

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