This free English typing test online shows your typing speed in words per minute (WPM) and your accuracy. Pick 1, 3 or 5 minutes, choose the type of text, and start typing. It runs in your browser, with no sign-up and nothing to download.
What should I do before I start the English typing test?
Two minutes of setup saves you from a bad score.
- Switch your computer to the English keyboard. The taskbar should say ENG.
- Rest your fingers on the home row, as in our English typing lessons and course guide.
- Sit straight, with your wrists relaxed and the screen at eye level.
- Close chat apps and other tabs, so nothing pulls you away.
- Look at the screen, not at the keys.
Warm up with three words
T H E
T Y P E
S P E E D
How do I take the English typing speed test?
It runs in your browser, so there is nothing to install.
- Pick a time. Choose 1, 3 or 5 minutes under the text.
- Pick a text. Sentences is the default. You can switch to paragraphs, simple words or numbers.
- Click the text. The timer starts on your first key, so get ready first.
- Type word by word. Press Space after every word.
- Fix mistakes with Backspace. A fixed mistake still counts against accuracy.
- Read your result. Press Restart to retry, or New text for a different passage.
Finish early? More text is added until time ends. Choose Show keyboard if you want to see the next key.
What does my result look like?
An example only. Your own result appears under the text when time is up.
Which test length should I choose?
A quick check, or a weekly progress note.
A steady score. This is the default.
Builds stamina and feels like a real test.
Who is this English typing test for?
You type homework and assignments, and want your speed to match your ideas.
You have a typing test coming up for a clerk, data entry or office job.
You type emails and reports all day and want to see how you are doing.
You are learning touch typing and want a number to track your progress.
New to touch typing? Do the first lessons of the English typing tutor first.
What text will I type in the English typing test?
Use the text menu under the test. Switching starts a fresh passage.
Everyday sentences with capitals, commas and full stops. The default, and the closest to real writing.
Longer passages for stamina. They feel like a real test.
Common lowercase words, with no capitals or punctuation. A gentle first test.
Prices, times, dates and signs like $, % and @. Expect a lower speed here.
We wrote the sentences and paragraphs ourselves. The simple words are common English words.
How is typing speed measured?
Like most typing tests, we count every 5 characters as one word. Only characters in correctly typed words count toward your speed.
WPM
Correct characters ÷ 5, then ÷ minutes.
600 correct characters in 3 minutes = 120 words = 40 WPM
Characters per minute
WPM × 5. Some sites show this instead of WPM.
40 WPM = 200 CPM
Accuracy
Correct characters, out of all the characters you tried.
96 right out of 100 = 96%
Counts everything you typed.
Takes the errors away. Our speed score is closer to this.
A job test may use its own formula. Read the notice for your test.
How accurate is this typing test?
It is a fair check, with a few limits you should know.
Every run counts words, mistakes and time the same way.
A slow browser or a worn keyboard can change your score a little.
A job test may count mistakes in its own way.
Take the test two or three times and use your best score. Scores move a little from run to run.
What is a good typing speed?
There is no official number. Here is what we know, and what we do not.
The average in a study of 168,000 typists, run by Aalto University.
What professionally trained typists reached in studies from the 1970s and 1980s, as reported in the same news article.
The fastest people in that study.
The bands below are our own rough guide. They are not an official scale.
| Speed | Level | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 WPM | Just starting | Learn where the keys are. Ignore speed for now. |
| 20 to 34 WPM | Learning | Push your accuracy to 95%. |
| 35 to 49 WPM | Steady | Everyday typing feels comfortable. Many office jobs ask for about this. |
| 50 to 69 WPM | Good | Keep your accuracy high and add 5 minute tests. |
| 70 WPM and up | Strong | Practice numbers, symbols and long paragraphs. |
Accuracy matters as much as speed. Mistakes slow you down, and many tests count them against you.
Why does my typing speed test score feel low?
A low first score is normal. These are the usual reasons.
Every glance down costs a second. Look at the screen, and hide the on-screen keyboard once you know a row.
Mistakes and Backspace slow you down more than a steady pace does.
The Shift key and the comma and quote keys make most beginners pause.
Typing with ten fingers is slower to learn, then much faster.
Compare your score with your own score from last week, not with other people.
What should I do with my score?
A test only shows where you are. To get faster, practice with the 10 free English typing lessons, then test again.
Start with Lesson 1: Home Row.
Work on the keys you miss. Try Lesson 2: Upper Row or Lesson 3: Lower Row.
Type sentences and paragraphs.
Add numbers, punctuation and symbols.
How can I improve my typing speed?
- Learn the home row first. Rest your fingers on A S D F and J K L ;.
- Look at the screen, not the keys. Feel the bumps on F and J.
- Put accuracy first. Aim for 95% before you push speed.
- Practice about 15 minutes a day. Short, regular sessions beat one long one.
- Use the right finger. The hand guides in our lessons show which one.
- Test once a week. Write down your WPM and accuracy and watch them grow.
Which lessons teach this in order?
See all English typing lessons.
How should I sit while typing?
- Feet flat, back supported.
- Wrists straight, screen at eye level.
- Rest your eyes and stretch every 20 to 30 minutes.
These are general habits, not medical advice. If pain does not go away, see a doctor.
Is this English typing test good practice for a job?
It helps you practice speed and accuracy. It is not an official exam and gives no certificate.
Tests for clerk, data entry, office assistant or call center jobs usually ask for a speed and an accuracy level. The numbers change from one notice to the next.
Read the job notice and check three things
US QWERTY is what you practice here. If the test uses another one, practice on it too.
Find the speed and accuracy the notice asks for.
Find out how errors are counted, including capitals and punctuation.
How do I work out my WPM by hand?
Typed on another site or on paper? Put your numbers in here.
Same rule as the test: 5 correct characters = 1 word. Example: 620 characters, 20 mistakes, 3 minutes = 40 WPM and 97% accuracy.
I type Urdu too. How do I switch to English for the test?
Most keyboards sold in Pakistan are US QWERTY with Urdu letters printed or stuck on top. That is the layout this test uses.
- Press Alt + Shift, or the Windows key + Space.
- Check that the taskbar says ENG, not Urdu.
- Click the test text and type one word to check.
On a lab, office or cyber cafe computer? Your last results are kept only in that browser. On a shared computer, press Clear under the test, or write down your WPM and accuracy.
Want to test your Urdu typing instead? Try the Urdu typing test or the Urdu keyboard online.
Which keyboard layout does the English typing test use?
The test uses the standard US QWERTY layout. The name comes from the first six letters on the top row.
The one in this test. The @ sign is on Shift + 2 and the double quote is on Shift + '.
Letters sit in the same places. Some symbols move, such as @, the quote marks and #.
Taking a job test? Ask which layout it uses before you practice. If it is not US QWERTY, practice on that layout in Windows as well.
Can I take the English typing test on my phone?
We built and tested this test for a computer keyboard. Phone typing may not be scored correctly, so use a computer for a real result.
Why not on a phone? A phone has a different layout, and you type with your thumbs. That is a different skill from touch typing.
What do the key terms mean?
- WPM
- Words per minute. Every 5 correct characters count as one word.
- CPM
- Characters per minute. It is WPM times 5.
- Accuracy
- The share of characters you typed right, out of all characters you tried.
- Touch typing
- Typing without looking at the keys, with a set finger for each key.
- Home row
- The middle row of letters, where your fingers rest. A S D F and J K L ;.
- Net WPM
- Your speed after errors are taken away.
About this test
- Made by
- The TypingSpot team. TypingSpot is a free typing practice site for English, Arabic and Urdu.
- How scoring works
- The rules are explained above, and the same rules run every time.
- Test text
- Sentences and paragraphs written by our team. Simple words are common English words. Numbers lines are written by our team.
- Limits
- One layout, US QWERTY. Works best on a computer keyboard.
- Updated
- 28 October 2026. We correct mistakes when you report them.
- Privacy
- No account. What you type is not sent to us. Your last 5 results stay in your browser.
What we checked, and what we did not
We typed full passages in a browser. Speed, accuracy and mistakes were counted as described above.
All the text in all four sets uses only keys on a US QWERTY keyboard.
Every keyboard layout on every device.
Sources used on this page
- Observations on Typing from 136 Million Keystrokes (Aalto University)Used for the study of 168,000 typists.
- ScienceDaily report on the same studyUsed for the 52 WPM average and the 60 to 90 WPM range for trained typists.
- Windows keyboard layouts (Microsoft Learn)Used for the idea that layouts differ by language and region.
More typing practice
Frequently asked questions about the English typing test
Is there a free English typing test online?
Yes. This one is free and runs in your browser. Pick 1, 3 or 5 minutes, click the text and start typing. There is no sign-up and nothing to download.
How do I take an English typing speed test?
Choose a time, click the text, and type it exactly as you see it. Press Space after every word. When time is up, you see your speed in words per minute (WPM), your accuracy and your mistakes.
What is a good typing speed?
There is no official number. A large study of 168,000 people found an average of about 52 WPM, and many typists land between 40 and 60 WPM. For most jobs, a steady 40 WPM with high accuracy is a good target. Read the job notice for the exact number.
What does WPM mean?
WPM means words per minute. Like most typing tests, we count every 5 characters as one word. So 150 correct characters in one minute is 30 WPM.
How is accuracy calculated?
Accuracy is the share of keys you typed correctly, out of all the keys you tried. If you fix a mistake with Backspace, it still counts against your accuracy, because you made it first.
Which test length should I choose?
Start with 1 minute for a quick check. Use 3 minutes for a steady score, which is the default. Use 5 minutes to build stamina and to feel what a real test is like.
What is the difference between gross WPM and net WPM?
Gross WPM counts everything you typed. Net WPM takes your errors away, so it is lower. Our speed score is closer to net WPM. A job test may use its own formula, so read the notice.
Can I take the English typing test on my phone?
We built and tested this test for a computer keyboard. Phone typing may not be scored correctly, so use a laptop or desktop for a real result.
Do capital letters and punctuation count?
In the Sentences and Paragraphs tests, yes. You must type capitals, commas, full stops and quote marks as shown. Pick Simple words if you want lowercase words only.
Which keyboard layout does the test use?
The standard US QWERTY layout. Many UK keyboards share the same letters but place some symbols, such as the quote marks and the @ sign, in other spots.
Why is my typing speed low when I take the test?
A first score is often low. Common reasons are looking at the keys, typing too fast and making mistakes, or being new to capitals and punctuation. Practice 15 minutes a day and test again in a week.
How can I improve my typing speed?
Learn touch typing first. Keep your fingers on the home row, look at the screen, and put accuracy before speed. Our free English typing tutor has 10 lessons that teach this in order.
Is this good practice for a job typing test?
It helps you practice speed and accuracy. It is not an official exam and gives no certificate. Check the layout, the speed and accuracy targets, and how errors are counted in your job notice.
Is my result saved or shared?
Only in your own browser. We do not create accounts or store what you type, and we do not receive your results. Your result shows on the screen. The last 5 results are kept in your own browser on this device, so you can see your progress. You can clear them any time.
How do I switch my keyboard to English before the test?
Press Alt and Shift together, or the Windows key and Space, until the taskbar shows ENG. If you see letters from another language while typing, your computer is still on that keyboard.
Are online typing tests accurate?
Good ones are accurate enough to track progress. They count words, mistakes and time by clear rules. Small differences come from your keyboard and browser, so take the test two or three times and compare your best scores.
Does the test keep my past results?
Yes, the last 5 results are kept in your own browser on this device, so you can watch your progress. They are never sent to us. Press Clear under the test to remove them.
How do I work out my typing speed by hand?
Count the correct characters you typed, divide by 5 to get words, then divide by the minutes. For example, 600 correct characters in 3 minutes is 120 words, which is 40 WPM. Our calculator on this page does it for you.
Do I need to do the lessons before the test?
No. You can take the test right now. If you score low or still look at the keys, the English typing tutor will help you improve.