A WPM test measures your typing speed in words per minute – the number used by schools, employers and exam boards around the world. This one gives you 50 words to type. The clock runs from your first key to your last word, so the test takes about a minute for an average typist and less for a fast one. It is free, needs no sign-up and works on a computer, laptop, tablet or phone.
What is a WPM test? The meaning of WPM
WPM stands for "words per minute" – that is the full form you will see on job forms and exam notices. In a words per minute test, a "word" is not whatever sits between two spaces. It is a standard block of five characters, including spaces and punctuation. This rule, used by nearly every typing test, makes scores fair: someone typing "a to be" and someone typing "responsibility" are measured on the same scale.
So when a job says "40 WPM", it means 200 correct characters per minute, whatever the text.
How to calculate WPM in a typing test
Your WPM test result shows two speeds: net WPM, which counts only correct characters, and raw WPM, which counts everything you typed. Net WPM is the one that matters.
Net WPM = (correct characters ÷ 5) ÷ minutes
Raw WPM = (all typed characters ÷ 5) ÷ minutes
Accuracy = correct keystrokes ÷ all keystrokes × 100
Worked example: a 50 word test
You type the 50 words in 72 seconds (1.2 minutes). The passage has 262 characters including spaces, and 255 of the characters you typed are correct. Net WPM = (255 ÷ 5) ÷ 1.2 = 51 ÷ 1.2 = 42.5, shown as about 43 WPM. Raw WPM counts all 262 characters you typed: (262 ÷ 5) ÷ 1.2 = about 44 WPM. If you pressed 270 keys and 256 were right, your accuracy is 256 ÷ 270 = about 94.8%.
Want to work out WPM from your own numbers, or turn keystrokes per hour into WPM? Use our WPM calculator. Prefer characters? The CPM test reports characters per minute directly.
What is a good WPM test score?
How many words per minute is good depends on what you use typing for. Typical figures for adults on a physical keyboard:
| WPM | Level |
|---|---|
| Under 25 | Beginner or hunt-and-peck typist |
| 25–40 | Average (the adult average is about 40 WPM) |
| 40–60 | Good: office and exam ready |
| 60–80 | Fast: professional level |
| 80–100 | Very fast. Is 83 WPM fast? Yes – about double the average. |
| 100+ | Elite |
Aim for 95% accuracy at any speed. See the full breakdown by age and profession on the average typing speed page.
How many WPM do you need to pass a typing test?
Most employers ask for 30–50 WPM. Here is how to pass the common targets:
- How to pass a 30 WPM typing test: reach 35 WPM in practice with 95% accuracy. Most people with basic touch typing get there in a few weeks.
- How to pass a 35 WPM typing test (the SSC CHSL English standard): practise until you can hold 40 WPM for the full 10 minutes, since longer tests lower your score.
- How to pass a 40 WPM typing test: is typing 40 WPM hard? It is average, so it is very reachable. Train to 45+ on this test, then check that you keep it over 3–5 minutes.
- How to pass a 50 WPM typing test: you will need clean touch typing. Drill your weak keys daily and read one word ahead as you type.
Leave a margin of about 5 WPM above the target: nerves and an unfamiliar keyboard usually cost a few words per minute.
WPM test on mobile and phone
This WPM test works in any mobile browser with your phone's own keyboard. Thumb typing is its own skill, and most people score lower on a phone than on a keyboard – often 30–40 WPM compared with 40–60 on a PC. Turn off autocorrect and word suggestions for an honest result, and only compare phone scores with other phone scores. On a tablet, a Bluetooth keyboard will give you a result closer to your desktop speed.
Typing WPM vs reading and speaking WPM
Words per minute is used for other skills too, which can be confusing. This site runs a typing words per minute test only. For comparison:
- Reading speed: a words per minute test for reading measures how fast you read and understand text; adults typically read about 200–300 WPM silently.
- Speaking speed: conversation usually runs at roughly 120–160 WPM.
- Typing speed: about 40 WPM for the average adult – much slower than reading or speaking, which is why typing practice pays off.
Options: your own words, no punctuation, other languages
- Without punctuation: the default is a plain WPM test without punctuation or capitals, measuring pure speed. Turn on punctuation and numbers for a harder, more realistic test.
- With your own words: paste any text into the custom typing test – a work email, a favourite poem or an exam passage.
- Kids: a WPM typing test for kids works best with the 10 or 25 word setting and the easy-to-read font.
- Languages: take a WPM test in Hindi, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Italian, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Bangla and more. The words, and the on-screen keyboard, switch to that language.
- Certificate: after any WPM test, create a free certificate with your result for a resume or portfolio.
Putting WPM on your resume
Quote your net WPM with accuracy and the test length, for example "62 WPM, 97% accuracy (5-minute test)". Employers trust a longer test more than a one-minute score, so take your number from a 3 or 5 minute test if you can.