Typing ToolkitTYPING GUIDE
How to prepare for a typing test for a job
Many office, administration, customer service and data-entry roles include a typing test. Knowing how these tests work lets you practise for the right thing.
What employers measure
- Speed: usually WPM over one to five minutes. Check whether the posting asks for gross or net WPM, because net speed subtracts errors. See what is WPM.
- Accuracy: often a minimum percentage. A fast score with low accuracy can fail.
- Numeric entry: data-entry roles may test the numeric keypad and report keystrokes per hour (KPH).
- Copying from a document: some tests ask you to retype a printed or on-screen document, including formatting and punctuation.
Check the details in advance
Ask or check the posting for the test length, whether Backspace is allowed, the minimum speed and accuracy, and whether it is taken at home or on site. On-site tests may use an unfamiliar keyboard, so practise on more than one if you can.
One-week preparation plan
| Day | Practice |
|---|---|
| 1 | Three one-minute tests to set a baseline. Note average WPM and accuracy. |
| 2–3 | Accuracy test and weak-key drills. Target 97% or better. |
| 4 | Punctuation and capitals drills, which appear in most real documents. |
| 5 | Number test and numbers drill, especially for data-entry roles. |
| 6 | Tests at the same length as the real test, for example 5 minutes. |
| 7 | Light practice only. Rest your hands. |
On the day
- Adjust the chair and keyboard before the test starts.
- Type at your practised pace, not faster. Nerves tend to speed you up and cause mistakes.
- If you make an error, correct it calmly and keep going.
Reviewed October 2026 · How we write our guides · Suggest a correction