English typing test
An exam style English typing test: five minutes of continuous paragraphs, scored on WPM and accuracy, exactly the way real typing assessments work. Free, no signup.
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Where the bar sits
Those four figures decide most exam results, and the sections below explain where each one comes from. Stenographer and higher clerical posts often ask for 35 WPM or more.
Why this test uses full paragraphs
Most typing tests online show a stream of random common words. Real English typing exams do not. They give you connected paragraphs with capital letters, punctuation, and sentence structure, and they run for several minutes. That combination is harder: your eyes must read ahead through real sentences while your hands keep a steady rhythm, and fatigue starts to show after the second minute.
This page presets both conditions. You type full paragraphs for five minutes, then get your WPM, accuracy, consistency, and a per-key breakdown of what slowed you down. Expect your score here to be 8 to 15 WPM lower than a quick 1 minute test. That lower number is your honest exam-day speed, and it is the one worth tracking. When you can hold your target comfortably here, confirm your endurance on the 10 minute typing test.
Typing speed requirements for government exams
If you are preparing for an Indian government typing test, the numbers you will see most often are these. They differ by exam, so check your own notification. CPCT (MAP_IT, Madhya Pradesh) requires 30 net WPM in English over a 15 minute test, and 20 net WPM in Hindi. SSC CHSL LDC and JSA posts require 35 WPM in English, about 10,500 key depressions per hour, on a passage typed in 10 minutes; Hindi is 30 WPM, about 9,000 KDPH. CPCT scores in net WPM rather than setting a separate accuracy percentage.
Some notices express speed as key depressions per hour instead of WPM. The conversion is simple because one standard word equals 5 key depressions: WPM x 300 = key depressions per hour.
| Wording in the notice | Equivalent WPM |
|---|---|
| 8,000 depressions per hour | roughly 27 |
| 9,000 depressions per hour | 30 |
| 10,500 depressions per hour | 35 |
So a notice asking for "8,000 key depressions per hour" is asking for about the same speed as one asking for 27 WPM. Our typing metrics page documents every formula we use, including how accuracy and net speed are computed.
How to pace a 5 minute English test
- Accuracy first. Exams reject candidates on accuracy, not raw speed. Hold 95%+ in practice so you have margin above an 80% cutoff under exam pressure.
- Start slower than you think. Sprint openings collapse by minute three. Begin at about 90% of your comfortable pace and let rhythm build.
- Read a few words ahead. Skilled typists read 3 to 8 characters ahead of their fingers (Salthouse, 1984). Paragraph practice trains exactly this habit.
- Do not chase every error. Fix a mistake with one quick backspace and move on. Long correction detours cost far more time than a single wrong character.
- Practice daily, briefly. One or two 5 minute paragraph runs a day beat an occasional marathon. Use paragraph typing practice between scored tests, and track your trend on your stats page.
If your speed is stuck below 30 WPM, the bottleneck is usually technique rather than effort. The free touch typing course rebuilds finger placement step by step, and the average typing speed guide shows where your score sits against real data.
Proof of your speed
Need a document for an application or your own records? Take any test on the certificate page and download a free certificate with your name, WPM, and accuracy, instantly and without signup.
Practice and prepare
- 10 minute typing test The SSC LDC skill test length
- 5 minute typing test Same duration, common word list
- Paragraph typing practice Unscored reps between real attempts
- Free typing certificate Download your result, no signup
- Typing metrics explained Every formula, including key depressions
- Learn to type Rebuild finger placement from the home row
Questions people ask
What WPM is required for government typing exams?
Requirements vary by exam and state. CPCT requires 30 net WPM in English on a 15 minute test (20 net WPM in Hindi), while SSC CHSL LDC and JSA posts require 35 WPM in English, about 10,500 key depressions per hour, over 10 minutes. Always confirm the exact figure in your own exam notification. Practice endurance on the 10 minute typing test once you pass this 5 minute version comfortably.
What are key depressions per hour in typing exams?
Some exam notices state speed as key depressions per hour instead of WPM. One standard word equals 5 key depressions, so multiply WPM by 300 to convert: 30 WPM is 9,000 key depressions per hour, and a notice asking for 8,000 depressions per hour is roughly 27 WPM. The full conversion is explained on our typing metrics page.
Is this English typing test the same as the exam test?
It uses the same format most exams use: continuous English paragraphs typed against the clock, scored on speed and accuracy. Exact passages, software, and error rules differ by exam body, so treat this as realistic practice rather than an official simulation, and read your exam instructions carefully.
How can I get a free English typing certificate?
Finish a test on our typing certificate page and download a certificate with your name, WPM, and accuracy instantly. It is free with no signup. Note that it documents your score but is not an official government credential.
What is a good English typing speed?
The adult average is about 40 WPM at roughly 92% accuracy. For exam qualification the bar is usually 30 to 35 net WPM, depending on the exam; for office jobs, 50 to 60 WPM is common. See the full breakdown in what is a good WPM.