# How fast do you type? (link to a test in case you don't already know) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 17, 2003, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-do-you-type-link-to-a-test-in-case-you-dont-already-know/162090 "2003-03-17T20:51:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-do-you-type-link-to-a-test-in-case-you-dont-already-know/162090/21 "2003-03-18T05:01:48Z")
Gross Speed: 67WPM Errors: 5 words Net Speed: 62WPM Accuracy: 92% ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-do-you-type-link-to-a-test-in-case-you-dont-already-know/162090/22 "2003-03-18T08:29:33Z")
I got 63 WPM with a whole BUNCH of errors. But I’m pretty sure that it was just a comma offset by a space, which counted as a word by itself and screwed up the rest of my score. So, 63 WPM with a 90+%ish accuracy. ---
**Author:** ![catnoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@catnoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catnoe)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-do-you-type-link-to-a-test-in-case-you-dont-already-know/162090/23 "2003-03-18T12:34:15Z")
**Lieu** , when the others leave us in the dust with their typing skills will you wait for me to catch up? 27 wpm/1 spelling mistake Fortunately I don’t have a job that reqires typing, wait a minute, I don’t have a job! I type faster if I’m not transcribing. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-do-you-type-link-to-a-test-in-case-you-dont-already-know/162090/24 "2003-03-18T12:42:34Z")
97 gross, 94 net. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-do-you-type-link-to-a-test-in-case-you-dont-already-know/162090/25 "2003-03-18T13:07:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by firagon \* > \*\*Gross speed: 117 wpm > Net speed: 116 wpm > Accuracy: 99% > > This is my third try; the first one I had around 130wpm, but my accuracy was only 96%. \*\* zhesh, that’s quick. I could only hit 100 on my third try, and lord knows that was way beyond my level of comfort. anybody know the record for typing? i couldn’t sift through all the glurge on the net, and the best i could come up with is some guy who can error-free type at speeds “approaching 200 WPM” which seems inconceivable to me… ---
**Author:** ![Harli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c0e974/32.png) [@Harli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harli)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-do-you-type-link-to-a-test-in-case-you-dont-already-know/162090/26 "2003-03-18T14:34:49Z")
I’ve visited that test a few times, and my average typing is usually around 65-70wpm, 95-99% accuracy. I find it totally changes depending on which test I use. For example, the Mark Twain drops my speed down considerably because of the improper English that is used. My head can’t wrap itself around it fast enough for my fingers to type it out. I seem to do best on the Finland Fishing one. Anyone else find that? ---
**Author:** ![NE\_Texan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e99b99/32.png) [@NE\_Texan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NE_Texan)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-do-you-type-link-to-a-test-in-case-you-dont-already-know/162090/27 "2003-03-18T15:21:23Z")
I found that it doesn’t handle typos that include spaces very well. I got a 76/94%, and 85/98%, and a 35/40%. The 35 wpm was the first time, and I didn’t understand why the program said I had so many mistakes (the words in red seemed correct to me), or my speed seemed so low. When I did it again on a different sample, I realized that the first time that the program was highlighting the word you were supposed to be typing, and that I wasn’t in sync the first time. After a few trials and playing around with different ways to mess up, I determined that if you put a space in the wrong place, it would ignore any backspace to correct the word, and if you continued typing the word and went on, it would be a word off for the rest of the test. For example: “The quick brown fox juymped over the lazy dog.” -\> 1 error, 8 correct words to count towards your speed. “The quick brown fox ju mped over the lazy dog.” -\> 5 errors, 4 correct words to count towards your speed. Either way, one extraneous character (ie error) inserted. Once you get past this quirky error counting method (and really, I understand why that’s simpler for the applet to do), it’s not too bad. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-do-you-type-link-to-a-test-in-case-you-dont-already-know/162090/28 "2003-03-18T16:23:15Z")
108 wpm, 91% accuracy. I was typing at my usual speed, but I think I made more mistakes due to the text being so different from what I usually write. I also had problems correcting errors, so I just left them. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-do-you-type-link-to-a-test-in-case-you-dont-already-know/162090/29 "2003-03-18T18:45:45Z")
121WPM at 100% accuracy on the “Strategic Alliances” text. That 100% is a bit suspect, though – I did have several errors, but I corrected them before the word was completed, so it counted as 100%. Also, the java applet doesn’t work very well on my computer, and on this particular test it activated the Next button when I hit the space bar in the middle of the test, so it stopped with about 15 seconds remaining. My score probably would have been somewhat different if I had gotten to complete the test. ---
**Author:** ![Unisource](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Unisource](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unisource)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-do-you-type-link-to-a-test-in-case-you-dont-already-know/162090/30 "2003-03-18T19:04:40Z")
😕 I can’t figure out how to start the test. It gives me a blank page, nowhere to type into, and the only buttons are for English (which goes back to start) and button to look at the product specs and download. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-do-you-type-link-to-a-test-in-case-you-dont-already-know/162090/31 "2003-03-18T21:50:57Z")
27 wpm.:eek: At least I’m accurate! ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-do-you-type-link-to-a-test-in-case-you-dont-already-know/162090/32 "2003-03-18T21:54:56Z")
88 wpm, 98% accuracy But I’ve registered with dozens of temp agencies and I always score about 75 wpm. Any other similar experiences? ---
**Author:** ![Caesar\_s\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/73ab20/32.png) [@Caesar\_s\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caesar_s_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-do-you-type-link-to-a-test-in-case-you-dont-already-know/162090/33 "2003-03-18T22:13:27Z")
100 WPM on that test, but the highest I’ve ever scored on the typing program my school uses was 145. I was on a roll. I learned to type fast in sixth grade. We had daily assignments that consisted of typing up several paragraphs of information that bored me to death. So I’d sit down, immediately start typing, and be finished anywhere from 5-15 minutes into the class. I don’t use the ‘home row’ style, something my current teachers hate. I just memorized the keyboard and let my hands (mainly index fingers) fly over it and get the correct keys. Using the home row slows me down considerably. ---
**Author:** ![IThinkNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ce73a5/32.png) [@IThinkNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IThinkNot)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-do-you-type-link-to-a-test-in-case-you-dont-already-know/162090/34 "2003-03-19T03:13:34Z")
82 wpm with 91% accuracy. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![IThinkNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ce73a5/32.png) [@IThinkNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IThinkNot)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-do-you-type-link-to-a-test-in-case-you-dont-already-know/162090/35 "2003-03-19T03:17:22Z")
Okay, okay… maybe not so good. ☹ But hey, I was listening to “Voodoo Child” at 45 audio level. That’ll blow your eardrums out. I should have done it in silence. Ah, well. SIL. ---
**Author:** ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-do-you-type-link-to-a-test-in-case-you-dont-already-know/162090/36 "2003-03-19T04:15:48Z")
Fear me and my slothlike speed. 28 wpm, with a 75% accuracy. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-do-you-type-link-to-a-test-in-case-you-dont-already-know/162090/37 "2003-03-19T05:38:34Z")
58WPM, 100% accuracy. I’m happy with it. ---
**Author:** ![NoNameForMoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e47774/32.png) [@NoNameForMoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoNameForMoi)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-do-you-type-link-to-a-test-in-case-you-dont-already-know/162090/38 "2003-03-19T06:45:36Z")
Gross Speed 73 WPM Errors 4 Words Net Speed 72 WPM Accuracy 98% I thought I was pretty fast, but most people seem to be beating me, oh well. ---
**Author:** ![alex5390](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d07c76/32.png) [@alex5390](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alex5390)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-do-you-type-link-to-a-test-in-case-you-dont-already-know/162090/39 "2003-03-19T20:00:36Z")
## Try 1: (Strategic Alliances with the Competitors) Gross Speed: 41wpm Net Speed: 37wpm Accuracy: 90% Try 2: (Tigers in the Wild) Gross Speed:45wpm Net Speed:43wpm Accuracy:95% Hey, I’m only 13! Honestly, when I was 10, I could type 60+wpm (No joke) I would play MUDs (Multiplayer Something Dungeons) which were 100% text based games. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-do-you-type-link-to-a-test-in-case-you-dont-already-know/162090/40 "2003-03-19T20:12:51Z")
Gross - 68wpm Net - 66wpm 2 errors Not super fast, but you should see me flying around a spreadsheet… ZOOOOM! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-do-you-type-link-to-a-test-in-case-you-dont-already-know/162090.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-do-you-type-link-to-a-test-in-case-you-dont-already-know/162090.md?page=3)