How Typing Tests Actually Work (And What Your Score Means)
You take a typing test and get 65 WPM with 94% accuracy. Great — but what does that actually mean? How was it calculated? Is 65 WPM good?
Understanding how typing tests work helps you interpret your scores and improve more effectively.
What is WPM?
WPM stands for "words per minute," but it doesn't actually count words. Instead, it uses a standardized measure: one "word" equals five characters.
This standardization exists because words vary wildly in length. If you typed "I" and "encyclopedia" in separate tests, counting actual words would give meaningless comparisons. Using five-character "words" levels the playing field.
The formula is simple:
WPM = (Total Characters Typed ÷ 5) ÷ Time in MinutesIf you typed 300 characters in 2 minutes, that's (300 ÷ 5) ÷ 2 = 30 WPM.
Gross WPM vs. Net WPM
Here's where it gets tricky. That calculation gives you gross WPM — your raw speed without considering mistakes.
Net WPM subtracts errors: Net WPM = Gross WPM - (Errors ÷ Time in Minutes)If you typed 60 gross WPM but made 10 errors in one minute, your net WPM is 60 - 10 = 50.
Different typing tests handle this differently:
- Some show only net WPM
- Some show both gross and net
- Some don't count errors until you fix them
- Some require you to fix errors before continuing
When comparing scores across platforms, check which metric they're using.
What is CPM?
CPM is "characters per minute" — a more granular measure than WPM. You can convert between them:
CPM = WPM × 5So 60 WPM equals 300 CPM.
Some platforms prefer CPM because it's more precise. Words per minute sounds intuitive, but characters per minute reflects what you're actually doing.
Accuracy Percentage
Accuracy measures how many characters you typed correctly out of all characters typed:
Accuracy = (Correct Characters ÷ Total Characters) × 100If you typed 100 characters and made 5 errors, that's 95% accuracy.
But here's a nuance: do backspaces count? If you made an error and fixed it, is that one error or zero?
Tests handle this differently:
- Strict: All errors count, even if corrected
- Lenient: Only final uncorrected errors count
- Mixed: Corrected errors count less than uncorrected ones
Higher accuracy is always better, but a high WPM with 92% accuracy might indicate good speed with messy technique, while a moderate WPM with 99% accuracy suggests careful, controlled typing.
Why Test Duration Matters
A 15-second typing test gives very different results than a 5-minute test. Short tests measure your burst speed — how fast you can type when completely focused. Long tests measure sustainable speed — what you can maintain without fatigue.
Your one-minute test score will typically be higher than your five-minute score. That's normal. Speed naturally decreases as:
- Your fingers tire
- Your concentration wavers
- Harder words appear (tests often frontload easier content)
For practical purposes, your sustainable speed (measured over 2-5 minutes) is more meaningful than your peak burst speed.
What's a "Good" Typing Speed?
Context matters enormously, but here's a general scale:
20-30 WPM: Slow, but functional for casual use 40-50 WPM: Average — most people land here 60-70 WPM: Above average, comfortable for most professional work 80-90 WPM: Fast — faster than most office workers 100+ WPM: Very fast — you're in the top percentile 150+ WPM: Exceptional — competitive typist territoryFor reference, conversational speaking is about 150 words per minute. If you can type at speaking speed, you can transcribe speech in real-time.
Professional typists (legal transcription, closed captioning) often need 80+ WPM with high accuracy. Average office workers function fine at 50 WPM. Competitive speed typists hit 150-200+ WPM.
Why Different Tests Give Different Results
You might hit 70 WPM on one site and 58 WPM on another. Several factors cause variation:
Word Lists
Some tests use common, short words that are easy to type. Others use technical vocabulary or longer words. Your score on "the cat sat" will differ from "juxtaposition of antithetical concepts."
Input Methods
Some tests require you to type exactly what's shown, errors and all. Others auto-advance when you complete a word correctly but make you fix errors before continuing. The latter is harder because every mistake costs extra time.
Visual Layout
How the text is displayed affects your speed. Scrolling text, word-by-word display, and full paragraph views all feel different. You might have a preference that affects your performance.
Timer Mechanics
Does the timer start when the test loads or when you start typing? Does it count the time spent fixing errors? These details change your final score.
How to Get Accurate Benchmarks
For meaningful progress tracking:
A single test is a snapshot. Your true typing speed is the average across many sessions.
What Scores Tell You (And Don't)
High WPM with low accuracy means you're rushing. Slow down until accuracy exceeds 95%, then gradually increase speed.
High accuracy with low WPM means you're being too careful. You have room to push faster without losing correctness.
Consistent scores that don't improve suggest a technique problem. You've optimized as far as your current approach allows. Time to examine fundamentals like home row position and finger assignment.
Variable scores (big swings between tests) indicate inconsistency in focus or technique. Work on making your typing more automatic so external factors matter less.
Typing tests are tools for measurement, not improvement. They tell you where you are, not how to get better. Use them to benchmark progress, then do the actual practice elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is WPM calculated?
WPM = (Total Characters ÷ 5) ÷ Minutes. The division by 5 standardizes "words" since actual word length varies.
What's the difference between gross and net WPM?
Gross WPM is raw typing speed. Net WPM subtracts penalties for errors. Net WPM better reflects real-world productivity.
Why is my typing test score lower on some sites?
Different sites use different word lists, timing methods, and error handling. For accurate tracking, always use the same platform.