Do You Know Your Word-per-Minute Typing Speed?
Should you improve it?
I saw a fun post today by Pyrros Mathios on learning to type faster. In it, he suggests using a site like this to test out your speed.
I did.
There are two tests: Basic on the home page, and advanced, as a link on the left sidebar.
Words and phrases appear as a flying banner as you type into a blank input text box below. The tool colors the text red if you misspell it.
A timer auto starts when you type, set for one minute.
The advanced version has more complex words and alternating caps.
The site claimed my basic speed is 62 WPM and in advanced mode, it is 67 WPM with 11–12 errors, i.e. how many words I mistyped.
So my error rate was 15–16%.
I sense it is because I am used to spell-checker tools and edit rounds catching the issues, so am less mindful when typing.
I suspect those who receive my phone texts would agree and prefer I learn to edit on the go!
The site also shares:
‘The average WPM on 10fastfingers is 42 WPM. This number is extracted from over 14 million tests, spread out over 41 languages.’
I found a different site where you type over the letters that appear rather than type from the prompt above.
My results: It said I scored 67 WPM with an 84% accuracy rate which correlates with the first test.
This site claims that a professional would type at speeds of 65–75 WPM and that an advanced professional clocks 80–90 WPM.
Conclusion: I am a professional but not advanced?
Both were fun to try, but the first site — 10fastfingers — was better.
I found it easier to type from the two-line text prompt appearing above the input box.
LiveChat (the site is less about typing and more about selling a chat product: a misdirected lead magnet!) is distracting.
It is tougher to type over the words as they appear in grey, distracted when they indicate misspelled words in red, and use strike lines to show completed words.
Note: This is a classic example of a bad user interface design! The landing page was designed to be cool, not practical.
I suspect it is natural to type when you can see the words beforehand, or when you hear them spoken, or think of them.
But, what a fun exercise to tackle on a Sunday!
Feel like trying it too?