Why one minute?
One minute is the most common format for measuring typing speed: long enough to give a reliable score, short enough to repeat a few times and keep your best result.
Read your result
Your score is in words per minute: every 5 correct characters count as one word. Look at your accuracy too — a fast score full of mistakes is not a real gain.
How to get your best one-minute score
- Warm up with one or two tests before the one that counts.
- Read a word or two ahead instead of staring at the letter you are typing.
- Keep a steady rhythm: in one minute there is no time to make up for a burst of mistakes.
- After a mistake, don't rush: one slip costs far less than the next three.
What to do with your score
- Under 30 WPM: learn where each finger goes with the lessons before chasing speed.
- 30 to 50 WPM: you are around the average. A few minutes of daily practice on your slowest keys make the biggest difference.
- 50 to 70 WPM: you type faster than most people. Add punctuation and numbers to the test to train real writing.
- Over 70 WPM: work on your accuracy and on holding your speed for five minutes.
One minute or five?
The one-minute test measures your top speed. The five-minute test measures the speed you can hold, the figure many job typing tests ask for, and it gives you a certificate. If your one-minute score is far above your five-minute score, build your endurance with daily practice.