Typing Speed Test

How Typing Speed Is Scored

1. Count keystrokes, not words. A standard word is five characters, spaces and punctuation included, so long and short words count fairly. Typing.com and eSkill both use this definition.
2. Gross WPM = characters typed ÷ 5 ÷ minutes. 300 characters in 2 minutes is 60 standard words ÷ 2 = 30 WPM, with no deduction for errors.
3. Accuracy = correct characters ÷ characters typed. 284 correct out of 300 is 94.7%. (Typing.com rounds the error rate, so it reports 95%.)
4. Net WPM = gross WPM × accuracy, eSkill’s “standard net WPM”: 30 × 0.947 = 28.4.

The test above compares what you type with the passage character by character; a wrong character counts as an error even if you fix later characters. It stops when the timer runs out or you reach the end of the passage, and it uses the elapsed time if you finish early.

Example Scores

Not Every Test Defines Net WPM the Same Way

Scores from different sites are not always comparable. eSkill multiplies gross speed by accuracy, as this page does. India’s CBSE typing test counts only correct whole words: a candidate who types 390 words in 10 minutes with 2 wrong scores 38.8 net WPM. Other tests subtract a penalty per uncorrected error. When a job ad asks for a speed, check whether it means gross or net, and at what accuracy.

Tips for a Fair Result

• Take the test two or three times and use the median; the first run is usually slower while you get used to the passage.
• On a phone, autocorrect is turned off in the test box, but keyboard suggestions can still insert words; tap past them.
• Accuracy first: a few points of speed are worth less than avoiding errors you have to fix.

Common Mistakes

• Counting actual words. “Internationalization” and “a” are not the same amount of typing; the five-character word is.
• Comparing gross with net. A 60 WPM gross score at 90% accuracy is 54 net.
• Using a 15-second burst. Very short tests overstate sustained speed; one or two minutes is more realistic.

What This Test Does Not Cover

It measures copying a passage, not composing your own text, and it doesn’t track keystrokes you erase with backspace. Formal certification or employment tests may use their own passages, durations and penalty rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Use This Calculator

1. Choose a passage and time — 30 seconds, 1 minute or 2 minutes.
2. Start typing — the timer starts with your first keystroke; correct characters turn colored and mistakes are highlighted.
3. Read your score — gross WPM, net WPM and accuracy appear as you type and when time runs out.
4. Or enter numbers — characters, errors and seconds from any other test into the calculator below.