// typing speed test
How many words per minute do you type?
WPM (words per minute) is the universal measure of typing speed. By convention one "word" is 5 characters, so results are comparable across languages and tests. A typing test is simple: one minute of flowing text, and your score is what you typed correctly in that time.
Typing speed levels: where do you stand?
| WPM | LEVEL | IN PRACTICE |
|---|---|---|
| < 30 | Beginner | Still hunting for keys with your eyes |
| 30–45 | Average | Where most untrained typists sit |
| 45–60 | Competent | You type without thinking about the keyboard |
| 60–80 | Fast | A comfortable professional level |
| 80–100 | Very fast | The top tier: quick writers and developers |
| 100+ | Elite | Fewer than 1% of people type here |
One important caveat: a high WPM with low accuracy is an illusion. 95% accuracy is the minimum for the number to mean anything, because every corrected mistake costs more time than a slow keystroke ever will.
How to take the typing test on TypeQuake
- Open TypeQuake and choose SPRINT 60s (key 2).
- You get one minute of real words, the way you actually type day to day.
- At the end you see your WPM, accuracy and score. Your best run is saved as a ghost that races alongside you next time.
- Repeat the test on different days: your profile draws a progress curve, so you can watch your typing speed climb.
How to raise your WPM
Three levers, in order: accuracy (fewer mistakes beat faster fingers), weak keys (one slow key drags the whole hand down, and TypeQuake's Nemesis mode finds yours automatically) and consistency (ten minutes a day beats an hour on the weekend). The full method is in how to type faster, and if you still look down at the keyboard, start with learn touch typing.
Take the typing test now, free →