WPM Tests

WPM stands for Words Per Minute and is a standardized way of testing typing speed. In this measure, ‘words’ not does not mean acutal words, but rather any set of 5 characters (and spaces) For example, the sentence ‘What a gorgeous butterfly’ would count as 5 words because it takes a total of 25 (5×5) keystrokes to type it.

The Keyboard Playground currently offers 6 different typing tests that will provide you with an idea of your WPM typing speed:

WPM Test #1 – Barack Obama’s Acceptance Speech
WPM Test #2 – Excerpt from Thoreau’s Walden
WPM Test #3 – Einstein’s essay The Mysterious
WPM Test #4 – Lorem Ipsum
WPM Test #5 – Mark Twain’s Essay on weather
WPM Test #6 – Langston Hughes, A Dream Deferred

Aussi, il y a un test en francais!
MPM Test de Dactylographie #1 – Voltaire

What is a good WPM typing speed? Check out the following information from Wikipedia:

In one study of average computer users, the average rate for transcription was 33 words per minute, and only 19 words per minute for composition.[1] In the same study, when the group was divided into “fast”, “moderate” and “slow” groups, the average speeds were 40 wpm, 35 wpm, and 23 wpm respectively.
An average professional typist reaches 50 to 70 wpm, while some positions can require 80 to 95 (usually the minimum required for dispatch positions and other time-sensitive typing jobs), and some advanced typists work at speeds above 120.
Two-finger typists, sometimes also referred to as “hunt and peck” typists, commonly reach sustained speeds of about 37 wpm for memorized text, and 27 wpm when copying text but in bursts may be able to reach up to 60 to 70 wpm.[2]

And remember, one of the best ways to improve your typing speed is by playing typing games…