Measure your words per minute and accuracy. Pick a time, a word count or a full passage, then start typing.
tab + enter restart · esc new test · open for sound, caret and pace
Three ways to test your typing
Time mode gives you an endless stream of common words and stops the clock at 15, 30, 60 or 120 seconds. It's the fairest way to compare one day with the next. Words mode stops after 10, 25, 50 or 100 words, so it rewards a strong finish. Passage mode hands you a real paragraph with capitals and punctuation, which is closer to the writing you do at work or school.
Want more of a challenge? Turn on punctuation to add capital letters, commas, quotes and full stops, or numbers to mix in figures from the top row.
Use the pace caret to beat your best
Open the settings and switch on the pace caret. A soft second caret moves through the text at your personal best (PB), your recent average, or a fixed 60 WPM. Try to stay ahead of it. Racing a ghost of yourself is one of the quickest ways to push past a plateau.
How to get a higher score
Warm up first. Do one 30-second test before the one you care about.
Read one word ahead. While your fingers type the current word, your eyes should already be on the next one.
Don't stop for mistakes. Fix a wrong letter quickly, or carry on if the word is already finished. Stopping to stare costs more than the error.
Keep a steady rhythm. Even, unhurried keystrokes beat bursts of speed followed by corrections.
Practise your weak keys. After each test, use the Drill weak keys button to practise the letters you missed most.
A 1-minute test is the most common benchmark and is long enough to give a reliable WPM. Employers often use 3 or 5 minute tests because they also measure stamina and consistency. Use 15 or 30 second tests for quick warm-ups.
Why is my raw speed higher than my WPM?
Raw speed counts every key you pressed, including mistakes and characters you later deleted. WPM only counts characters in words you typed correctly. The gap between the two shows how much time mistakes cost you.
Does using backspace lower my score?
Correcting a mistake with backspace fixes the word, so it counts toward your WPM once it is right. The original wrong keystroke still lowers your accuracy, which is why careful typing usually scores best.
What does consistency mean?
Consistency measures how steady your raw speed was from one second to the next. 100% would mean exactly the same speed every second. Steady typists tend to be accurate and less tired.
Why are 15-second tests not rated?
Very short tests swing a lot with luck and word choice, so only tests of 30 seconds or longer (or 25+ words, or a full passage) count towards your Okay Rating. Short tests are still saved to your history.
Can I take the typing test on a phone or tablet?
Yes. Tap the text to bring up your keyboard and start typing. For the most accurate result, use a physical keyboard. Phone speeds are usually lower and are best compared with your own earlier phone results.