Type a short passage and instantly see how fast and accurately you write, measured in words per minute.
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A writing speed test measures how fast you can put words on a screen, expressed in words per minute (WPM). It is the same measurement people call a typing speed test: you type a passage, and the test times how much accurate text you produce. By convention, every 5 characters (spaces included) count as one "word," so WPM stays comparable across passages with different word lengths.
Our free test times you against a short passage, then reports three numbers: your raw WPM, your accuracy (the percentage of characters typed correctly), and your effective WPM, which is the one that actually reflects how much usable text you wrote.
Note: this is copy typing, so it measures your raw text-production speed. Composing original writing is slower, because you are also thinking of what to say. Copy typing speed sets the ceiling for how fast your writing can go.
Writing speed is measured the same way as typing speed. Here's how the numbers typically compare:
| WPM Range | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | Beginner | Still learning key positions, mostly hunt-and-peck |
| 20-40 | Developing | Comfortable with the keyboard, building muscle memory |
| 40-60 | Average | Typical adult typing speed for everyday computer use |
| 60-80 | Above Average | Common among people who type for a living |
| 80-100 | Fast | Strong touch-typing skills, minimal look-down |
| 100+ | Expert | Professional transcriptionist / competitive typist territory |
Note: a large-scale study of over 168,000 typists (Dhakal et al., 2018, CHI) found an average typing speed of about 52 WPM, so if you land in the 40-60 range, you're right in line with most writers working on a keyboard.
The standard formula treats every 5 characters you type (spaces included) as one word:
WPM = (Characters Typed ÷ 5) ÷ Time in Minutes
Worked example: say you type 250 characters in 60 seconds (1 minute). That's 250 ÷ 5 = 50 "words," giving you a raw speed of 50 WPM. If 90% of your characters were correct, your effective WPM is 50 × 0.90 = 45 WPM, which is the number that actually reflects how much usable text you produced.
You don't need to do any of this math by hand. Our typing test tracks every keystroke and calculates your raw WPM, accuracy, and effective WPM automatically the moment you finish.
Find out your exact writing speed in words per minute
See exactly how many characters you typed correctly
Retake the test over time and watch your WPM climb
Faster, more accurate typing means less time fighting the keyboard
Our writing speed test is completely free with no signup required. You can:
Measured as copy typing, the average is about 52 words per minute (Dhakal et al., 2018, a study of over 168,000 typists). 40 to 60 WPM is typical, 60 to 80 is above average, and 80 or more means strong touch typing. Composing original text is slower because you are also deciding what to say.
Every 5 characters you type, spaces included, count as one word. The test divides your character count by 5, divides that by your time in minutes for raw WPM, then multiplies by your accuracy for an effective WPM.
Mechanically, yes. Both measure how fast and accurately you produce text on a keyboard in words per minute. This test uses a short copy typing passage and also reports accuracy and a flow score.
Learn touch typing so you are not looking at the keyboard, keep your hands on the home row, and prioritise accuracy first since corrections cost more time than they save. Retaking a short test like this one and tracking your WPM is a simple way to measure progress. See our guide on how to improve your writing speed.
Yes, it is completely free with no signup required. You can retake it as many times as you want.