Typing test

How to take the test

Pick a duration or a word count, choose what you want to type, and press any key. The test begins with your first keystroke. Type the highlighted text as accurately as you can; mistakes show in red and you can fix them with Backspace. When the time runs out or the text is finished, your results appear below the test.

Press Esc at any time to restart with new text. Your settings are remembered on this device.

How your score is calculated

TypingSpark counts a "word" as five characters, including spaces and punctuation. That is the convention used by typing tests and employers, and it makes results comparable however long the actual words are.

• Gross WPM is every character in your final text divided by five, per minute.
• Net WPM takes gross WPM and subtracts one word per minute for each error you left uncorrected. This is the number most employers ask for.
• Accuracy is the share of your keystrokes that were correct, including mistakes you later fixed.

The timer starts on your first keystroke, not when the page loads, and pauses if you switch tabs. Read the full formulas.

Which test length should you choose?

A 1-minute test is the quickest way to measure your current speed. Short tests reward bursts, so results are often a little higher than you can sustain. A 3-minute or 5-minute test is closer to how employers test, and the 10-minute test shows how well you hold your pace over a long stretch.

Make every test count

After each test the coach lists the keys and key pairs that slowed you down, with a link to a drill built from them. Practising your own weak spots for a few minutes is far more effective than repeating random tests. Your history and progress charts are on your progress page, stored only in your browser.