Typing Test
Type the sentence as fast as you can. The timer starts when you do.
How is typing speed measured?
Typing speed is measured in words per minute (WPM), where one "word" is standardised as five characters. We count only the characters you type correctly, divide by five, and divide by the time you took, so accuracy directly affects your score. Average typists hit around 40 WPM; touch typists reach 70–100, and the fastest push well beyond.
How this test works
A random sentence appears above the input box. As you type, each character is highlighted green when correct and red when wrong, with the current letter marked so you never lose your place. The clock starts on your first keystroke and stops when you reach the end of the sentence. There's no penalty for fixing mistakes, so just keep your accuracy high.
How to type faster
Use all ten fingers and keep them on the home row so each key is a short, predictable reach. Look at the screen, not the keyboard, and let muscle memory do the work. Build accuracy first. Speed follows naturally once your fingers stop hesitating. Your best WPM is saved on your device, so refresh for a new sentence and try to beat it.
WPM benchmarks
| WPM | Level | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Under 30 | Beginner | Hunt-and-peck, eyes on the keyboard |
| 30–45 | Average | Most computer users live here |
| 45–65 | Good | Comfortable for any office job |
| 65–90 | Fast | Programmers, writers, admin professionals |
| 90–120 | Very fast | Transcriptionists, competitive typists |
| 120+ | Elite | Competition level; world records exceed 200 |
Since one "word" is five characters, 40 WPM means about 200 characters a minute. Note that short sentence tests like this one read a touch higher than long-form tests — there's no fatigue — so treat your result as a burst measurement, like the 5-second mode on theCPS test.
Touch typing in sixty seconds
Touch typing means each finger owns a column of keys and your eyes never leave the screen. Index fingers rest on F and J — feel for the raised bumps — with the remaining fingers along the home row and thumbs on space. Each finger travels only to its own keys and returns home. The payoff isn't finger speed; it's that a known hand position lets your brain automate whole words as single motions. That automation is the entire gap between 40 and 90 WPM. The rule that gets you there fastest is counterintuitive:slow down until you stop making errors. Every typo costs three keystrokes (the error, the backspace, the retype) plus a broken rhythm, so a calm 95%-accuracy typist beats a frantic 85% one every time.
Common plateaus and their fixes
Almost everyone stalls between 50 and 70 WPM, and it's usually one of three causes:reading lag (your eyes aren't staying ahead of your fingers — practice reading a few words ahead), uneven rhythm (bursts and stalls — typing slightly slower but perfectly evenly usually raises measured WPM immediately), or afossilized finger error on a common key that was fine at 40 WPM and bottlenecks at 70. Ten minutes of daily practice beats an hour once a week — it's motor learning, like an instrument. The full method, including drills and whether mechanical keyboards or alternative layouts matter (less than you'd hope), is in theguide to typing faster. And if you just want raw key speed, the spacebar test isolates a single key.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a good typing speed?
- The average typist manages about 40 WPM. 60 to 70 WPM is fast, 70 to 100 is very fast, and sustained 100+ with high accuracy is Lightning tier.
- Does accuracy matter or just speed?
- Both. Errors slow you down because you have to fix them, so steady, accurate typing usually beats frantic typing. Aim to keep accuracy above 95% while you build speed.
- How do I type faster?
- Use touch typing with all ten fingers, keep your eyes on the screen instead of the keyboard, and let rhythm rather than force carry you. Regular practice on real sentences is the fastest way to improve.
- Is the test the same every time?
- No. You get a fresh sentence each round, so you are measuring real typing skill rather than memorising one prompt.
- How long does it take to learn touch typing?
- With ten minutes of daily practice, most people rebuild their speed within two to four weeks and pass their old hunt-and-peck speed soon after. Going from 40 to 70 WPM over a couple of months is a normal trajectory.
- Do mechanical keyboards make you type faster?
- Not meaningfully. Consistent actuation can help rhythm and comfort, but no switch adds 20 WPM. Technique, accuracy and daily practice are what move typing speed.