Punjabi typing test: practise ਗੁਰਮੁਖੀ typing in Unicode

This Punjabi typing test gives you real Punjabi sentences in Gurmukhi script and measures your speed and accuracy. In Punjabi it is a ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਟਾਈਪਿੰਗ ਟੈਸਟ. The passage is Unicode text, the same text the Raavi font shows on Windows, so it is good practice for newer Punjab typing tests that use Unicode. The test is free, needs no sign-up and runs in any browser.

Raavi, Asees, Anmol Lipi or Joy: which font is this?

Punjabi typists often ask for a test "in Raavi font" or "in Asees font", because the font decides how the text is stored:

This Punjabi typing test is a Unicode (Raavi-compatible) test. You can type it two ways: with the built-in Inscript layout, which turns any English keyboard into a Gurmukhi keyboard, or with your own Punjabi keyboard (choose "My own Punjabi keyboard" in the Keyboard menu). Asees, Anmol Lipi and Joy practice needs their own non-Unicode key maps, which this site does not include; typing those fonts here would be marked wrong.

Gurmukhi typing rules: tippi, bindi, addak and pairin

Gurmukhi has a few signs that don't exist in Hindi, and they cause most mistakes in a Punjabi typing test:

• Tippi (ੰ) and bindi (ਂ) both add a nasal sound. As a general rule, tippi goes with mukta (no vowel sign), sihari ਿ, aunkar ੁ and dulainkar ੂ, as in ਪੰਜਾਬ and ਕਿੰਨਾ. Bindi goes with the longer vowel signs ਾ ੀ ੇ ੈ ੋ ੌ, as in ਮੈਂ and ਨਹੀਂ. Type the sign after the vowel sign.
• Addak (ੱ) doubles the next consonant: ਪੱਕਾ, ਇੱਕ, ਵਿੱਚ. It is typed after the letter it sits on and before the consonant it doubles.
• Pairin letters (subjoined ਰ, ਹ, ਵ) are made with the halant: ਪ ੍ ਰ gives ਪ੍ਰ. On Inscript the halant is on D, and Shift+3 types ੍ਰ in one press.
• Dotted letters such as ਸ਼ ਖ਼ ਗ਼ ਜ਼ ਫ਼ ਲ਼ are the base letter plus a nukta. On Inscript ਸ਼ is Shift+M and ਲ਼ is Shift+N; for the rest, type the letter and then the nukta key ].
• Vowel signs come after the consonant. Sihari ਿ is drawn to the left, but you always type ਕ then ਿ to get ਕਿ.

On the built-in layout the Punjabi-only signs have their own keys: tippi ੰ is on Z, addak ੱ on ` (the key left of 1) and ੜ on \. The on-screen keyboard shows them too, so you can type every Gurmukhi letter on an ordinary English keyboard.

The Punjabi Inscript keyboard and home row

Inscript puts letters in the same places for every Indian script, so the Punjabi Inscript home row matches Hindi's. Left fingers on A S D F, right fingers on J K L ;:

The rest of the Punjabi typing keyboard chart follows the same pattern. Top row: Q ੌ, W ੈ, E ਾ (kanna), R ੀ (bihari), T ੂ, Y ਬ, U ਹ, I ਗ, O ਦ, P ਜ, [ ਡ. Bottom row: X ਂ (bindi), C ਮ, V ਨ, B ਵ, N ਲ, M ਸ, / ਯ. Shift gives the full vowels (ਆ ਈ ਊ ਐ ਔ) and the aspirated letters (ਭ ਘ ਧ ਝ ਢ), plus ਣ on Shift+C.

For a first lesson on the home row, open typing lessons and choose "Punjabi – Inscript". Lessons add two keys at a time with star ratings.

How your Punjabi typing speed is measured

Net WPM = (correct characters ÷ 5) ÷ minutes

Accuracy = correct keystrokes ÷ all keystrokes × 100

Each Unicode character counts, including vowel signs, tippi, bindi and addak, plus the space after a correct word. So ਪੰਜਾਬ is five characters (ਪ ੰ ਜ ਾ ਬ). Raw WPM includes mistakes, CPM is characters per minute, and consistency shows how steady you were.

Worked example: in a 10 minute Punjabi typing test you type 1,500 correct characters and 1,560 in total. Net speed = (1,500 ÷ 5) ÷ 10 = 30 WPM. Accuracy = 1,500 ÷ 1,560 × 100 = about 96.2%.

Punjabi typing tests for PSSSB and Punjab government jobs

Clerk, data entry and typist posts in Punjab, including many PSSSB (Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board) recruitments, commonly include a computer typing test in both Punjabi and English, often at around 30 WPM in each. In recent years many of these tests have used Unicode text in the Raavi font. Punjab and Haryana High Court and other departments run their own typing tests with their own rules.

Speed, duration, font (Raavi or a legacy font), keyboard and Backspace rules change between notices. Always check the official notification for your post.

A good mock test routine: a Punjabi typing test of 10 minutes in Paragraph mode, typed as Unicode (Raavi font) text, then the English typing test for the English half. For strict exam scoring with a pass/fail verdict, use the government exam typing test.

How to learn Punjabi typing and increase your speed

1. Start on the home row. Punjabi typing for beginners begins here: practise the first lesson until ੋ ੇ ੍ ਿ ੁ and ਪ ਰ ਕ ਤ ਚ ਟ need no looking.
2. Drill the Punjabi-only signs. Words with tippi, bindi and addak (ਪੰਜਾਬ, ਮੈਂ, ਵਿੱਚ) are where speed is lost.
3. Take a Punjabi typing test of 2 minutes or 5 minutes daily and click "Practise weak keys" to open typing practice built from your mistakes.
4. Once or twice a week, type a Punjabi paragraph for 5 or 10 minutes to build exam stamina.
5. Keep accuracy at 95% or better. In exams, wrong words usually cost more than slow ones.

For a lighter session, the typing games use Punjabi words too.

How to type Punjabi on a computer, laptop or phone

• Punjabi keyboard for PC and laptop (Windows): add Punjabi in Settings → Time & language → Language & region and choose the Punjabi (Gurmukhi) Inscript or phonetic keyboard. Switch with Windows+Space. You can then type Punjabi in MS Word (it shows in Raavi), WhatsApp Desktop and any other program.
• Punjabi keyboard for Android and iPhone: add Punjabi in Gboard or in iPhone Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards. On phones this test uses your own keyboard automatically.
• Phonetic typing: Google Input Tools lets you type Punjabi in English letters. It is easy for chats but slower than a proper Gurmukhi layout in a timed test.

Your results are saved on My progress. Download a free typing certificate for any Punjabi result; it is a personal record of your own score.