How to take the typing test
Pick a mode and start typing in the box. There is no start button: the clock starts with your first keystroke, so take a breath and read the first line before you begin.
- 1, 3 or 5 minutes: proverbs and everyday sentences keep coming until time runs out. One minute shows your sprint speed; three or five minutes show the pace you can actually sustain.
- Passage: type a full excerpt from a classic such as Alice in Wonderland, Pride and Prejudice or the Gettysburg Address. Using the same passage every time is a great way to track progress.
- At the end of each line, press Enter or Space to move on. Mistakes turn red right away and can be fixed with Backspace.
- Press Esc or Restart to start over at any time. Pasting is disabled so results stay honest.
How WPM is calculated
Words vary in length, so typing tests use a standard word of five characters, including spaces and punctuation. This test reports three numbers:
- Gross WPM = (all characters typed / 5) / minutes. This is raw speed, ignoring mistakes.
- Net WPM = gross WPM - (uncorrected errors / minutes). This is the headline number. For example, 250 characters in one minute with 5 uncorrected errors is 50 gross WPM and 45 net WPM.
- Accuracy = correct characters / all characters entered. A character you mistyped and then fixed still counts against accuracy, but it no longer lowers your net WPM.
- Characters per minute (CPM) = correctly typed characters per minute, a handy number when comparing with tests that report keystrokes instead of words.
What is a good typing speed?
In a 2018 study by Aalto University and the University of Cambridge that analysed typing from about 168,000 volunteers, the average speed was 52 WPM. The same report notes that professionally trained typists studied in the 1970s and 1980s typically reached 60 to 90 WPM.
Rather than chasing someone else's number, compare yourself with yourself: take the same test a few times a week and try to beat your personal best for each mode, which this page keeps for you.
Tips to type faster
Speed comes from accuracy and habit, not from rushing.
- Accuracy first. Slow down until you stay above roughly 95% accuracy. Fixing errors costs more time than typing carefully.
- Keep your eyes on the screen. Rest your index fingers on the bumps of F and J and return to the home row after each key.
- Practice little and often. Ten to fifteen minutes a day beats an hour once a week.
- Relax. Keep your shoulders loose and your wrists straight, and take short breaks during long sessions.
Result card and saved history
When a test ends, a result card with your WPM, accuracy and mode is generated. Save it as a PNG, share it straight from your phone, or copy a text summary.
Your last 100 results and your best score for each mode are stored only in this browser (localStorage). Nothing is sent to a server, and you can clear the history at any time.
About the practice texts
Timed tests use traditional proverbs, pangrams and sentences written for this site. Passages are public-domain works by authors such as Lewis Carroll, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Herman Melville and Mark Twain, plus historic documents like the Gettysburg Address. Curly quotes and dashes have been converted to plain keyboard characters so every symbol can be typed directly.
FAQ
What is the difference between gross and net WPM?
Gross WPM counts everything you typed (characters divided by five, per minute). Net WPM subtracts one word per minute for each uncorrected error, so it reflects usable speed. Net WPM is the headline number on this page.
Does using Backspace hurt my score?
Corrected mistakes do not lower your net WPM, but the time spent fixing them does, and they still count against accuracy. Only errors left in the text are subtracted from net WPM.
Should I take the 1-minute or the 5-minute test?
The 1-minute test measures your short burst speed; 3- and 5-minute tests are closer to real-world typing because fatigue and focus come into play. Compare results only within the same mode.
Can I take the test on a phone?
Yes. The test works with on-screen keyboards, but phone typing is much slower than typing on a physical keyboard, so keep those results separate. Connecting a Bluetooth keyboard gives you desktop-like conditions.
Are my results stored anywhere?
Only in your own browser. There is no sign-up, nothing is uploaded, and clearing your browser data or pressing Clear history removes them.
Why does my WPM differ from other typing sites?
Sites differ in how they treat errors, whether spaces count, and when the clock starts. This test uses the common five-characters-per-word standard and shows both gross and net WPM so you can compare like with like.