What is WPM?
WPM stands for words per minute, the standard measure of typing speed. One "word" is defined as 5 characters including spaces, so your WPM equals (characters typed ÷ 5) ÷ minutes elapsed. Accuracy — the share of keystrokes that matched the text — is tracked alongside, because fast typing full of errors is slower in practice once corrections are counted.
How to take this typing test
Press Start test, then click the text box and begin typing the shown passage. The 60-second timer starts with your first keystroke. Correct letters turn green, mistakes turn red. When time runs out you get your WPM, accuracy, character count, and mistake total, plus a skill grade from Beginner to Elite.
Typing speed benchmarks
| WPM | Level | Typical of |
|---|---|---|
| 0–25 | Beginner | Hunt-and-peck typists |
| 26–40 | Average | Casual computer users |
| 41–60 | Good | Office workers, students |
| 61–80 | Advanced | Writers, programmers |
| 81–100 | Expert | Professional typists |
| 100+ | Elite | Competitive speed typists |
How to type faster
- Learn touch typing: keep all fingers on the home row and type without looking down.
- Accuracy first: slow down until you hit 95%+ accuracy; speed follows naturally.
- Daily practice: 10 focused minutes a day beats one long weekly session.
- Good posture: sit straight, wrists floating, screen at eye level.
- Retake the test: tracking your WPM over weeks shows real progress.