Many job postings for office, customer support, data entry, transcription and administrative roles include a line like "typing test required" or "minimum 40 WPM." If you have never taken a typing test as part of a job application, it can feel more stressful than it needs to be. This guide explains what these tests usually look like, how employers score them, how to read the requirement in a posting and how to list your typing speed on an application or resume.
Why employers ask for a typing test
For jobs where you type for most of the day, typing speed and accuracy affect how quickly you can answer emails, log calls, update records or turn notes into documents. A short test is a quick, objective way for an employer to check that an applicant can keep up with the work. It is usually one step among several, alongside an interview, a skills assessment or a writing sample, so a typing test is rarely the only thing that decides whether you get the job.
Common test formats
Typing tests in hiring are not all the same. These are the formats you are most likely to see:
- Paragraph copy test. You copy a passage of ordinary text shown on screen for a fixed time, often one to five minutes. This is the classic WPM test.
- Timed word list. Random common words appear one after another, similar to the free typing test on this site.
- Data entry test. You copy names, addresses, numbers or codes into form fields. Speed is sometimes reported in keystrokes per hour (KPH) instead of WPM. Our guide to typing speed for data entry jobs covers this in detail.
- 10-key test. A separate test of speed on the numeric keypad, common for billing, payroll and accounting roles.
- Audio transcription test. You listen to a recording and type what you hear. See typing speed for transcription for how these differ.
Tests may be taken online at home as part of the application, or in person at the employer's office or a staffing agency. Some allow Backspace and some do not, so read the instructions on the first screen carefully.
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Open the free typing speed test →How typing tests are scored
Most tests report three numbers: gross WPM, net WPM and accuracy. A "word" is usually counted as five characters, including spaces, so long and short words even out.
- Gross WPM = (characters typed ÷ 5) ÷ minutes
- Net WPM = gross WPM − (uncorrected errors ÷ minutes)
- Accuracy = correct characters ÷ characters typed × 100
Employers usually care most about net WPM and accuracy, because they reflect usable output. Our post on how WPM is calculated walks through each formula.
Worked example (hypothetical numbers)
Imagine a three-minute test where you type 690 characters and leave 9 errors uncorrected.
- Words typed: 690 ÷ 5 = 138 words
- Gross WPM: 138 ÷ 3 = 46 WPM
- Error penalty: 9 ÷ 3 = 3 WPM
- Net WPM: 46 − 3 = 43 WPM
If the posting asks for 40 WPM, you pass, but with a narrow margin. Fixing even a few of those errors as you go would give you a safer score than trying to type faster.
How to read the requirement in a job posting
Before you practice, look closely at what the posting actually says:
- Is the number gross or net WPM? If it does not say, assume net, since that is the stricter reading.
- Is there an accuracy minimum? Many tests set a separate accuracy bar, and a fast score with low accuracy may not count.
- How long is the test? A one-minute score is often higher than a five-minute score, because fatigue and loss of focus build up over time. Our 5-minute typing test guide explains why.
- What kind of text? Plain prose, numbers, addresses and audio all produce different speeds.
Then compare your own score fairly. Take the typing test three times and use your average, not your best run. For context on where your number sits, see what is a good typing speed and the WPM chart.