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How to pass a typing test for a job

Know what is measured, practise the right kind of text, and arrive with a plan. Most failures are about accuracy, not speed.

Updated 13 October 2026

Many office, administrative, customer service, legal, medical and data entry jobs include a typing test, either online before an interview or on site. The tests are short, usually one to five minutes, and the pass mark is set in advance. Passing is very achievable with a week or two of targeted preparation.

What employers measure

  • Net words per minute. Your gross speed minus a penalty for uncorrected errors. This is the main number.
  • Accuracy. Often a separate requirement, typically 95% to 98%.
  • Keystrokes per hour for data entry and 10-key tests, where you type figures on the numeric keypad.

Some tests disable Backspace, and some keep the timer running if you click away. Ask the employer or recruiter which format they use; they will usually tell you the required speed and accuracy too.

Typical requirements

General office roles often ask for 35 to 45 net WPM. Administrative assistants, receptionists and customer service roles commonly ask for 40 to 50. Legal and medical transcription can require 60 or more. Data entry roles often ask for 8,000 to 10,000 keystrokes per hour on the keypad, sometimes more. Treat these as examples: every employer sets its own marks. The typical speeds guide has more detail.

The week before

  1. Take a baseline in the same format as the real test with the employment test simulator: set the job's required WPM and accuracy, the length, and strict mode if Backspace will be disabled.
  2. Practise on paragraphs, not word lists. Real tests use sentences with capitals and punctuation.
  3. Spend most of each session on your weak keys. The results after every test show them.
  4. For data entry jobs, practise the data entry simulator and the 10-key test.
  5. Aim to pass your target with a margin of about 5 WPM, because nerves usually cost a little on the day.

On the day

  • Use a keyboard you know if the test is online. Laptop keyboards and unfamiliar layouts cost speed.
  • Read the instructions carefully: whether Backspace works, whether errors are penalised, and whether you must finish the text.
  • Start at a steady pace. A fast start followed by errors is the most common way to fail.
  • If Backspace is allowed, fix a mistake immediately. If it is not, keep going and do not dwell on it.
  • Keep your eyes on the text, not the keyboard and not the timer.

If you do not pass

Ask whether you can retake the test and when. Note which part let you down, speed or accuracy, and practise that specifically. Two weeks of daily practice typically adds several words per minute and a few points of accuracy.