What Is Audio Typing? (and How to Pass an Audio Typing Test)
Audio typing is typing from a recording instead of from text: you listen through headphones, pause and rewind with a foot pedal or hotkeys, and produce an accurate document. It is the standard skills test for UK medical and legal secretaries, transcriptionists and many NHS admin roles, commonly at around 50–60+ WPM.
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| What it is | Typing from dictation, controlling playback yourself |
|---|---|
| Who uses it | Medical and legal secretaries, NHS admin, transcriptionists, some call handlers |
| Typical speed | 50–60+ WPM for secretaries |
| How it is marked | Accuracy and presentation of the finished document; sometimes speed |
How audio typing works
A fee earner, doctor or manager dictates; the audio typist turns the recording into a finished document. You listen to a few words, type them, and keep going — pausing, rewinding and replaying as needed with a foot pedal or keyboard shortcuts so your hands stay on the keys.
Who is tested on it
- Medical secretaries — clinic letters, referrals, discharge summaries.
- Legal secretaries — letters, contracts, court documents.
- NHS admin — trust-dependent.
- Transcriptionists — interviews, meetings, hearings.
- Call handlers — typing while listening to a caller.
How an audio typing test is marked
Most employers mark the finished document: words, spelling, punctuation and layout. Some also time you or calculate WPM. Common errors are mishearing similar words, missing small words (a, the, of) and getting numbers wrong.
How to pass
- Type in longer chunks. Listen to five to eight words, then type. Stopping every two words halves your speed.
- Use hotkeys, never the mouse. On our audio typing test, Esc pauses and Tab replays the sentence.
- Learn the vocabulary. Medical and legal terms are where audio typists lose marks.
- Proofread once at the end. Read the document through before you submit.
- Practise on British voices if the job is in the UK.
Audio vs copy typing
Most people type 10–20% slower from audio. If an advert asks for 50 WPM audio typing, aim for 60 WPM on copy tests — see copy typing vs audio typing.
A worked example
Here is how a sentence of dictation becomes text. The doctor says: “He was seen in clinic today — full stop — new paragraph — on examination there is mild swelling of the right knee.” A trained audio typist types:
He was seen in clinic today.
On examination there is mild swelling of the right knee.
Spoken punctuation and layout instructions (“full stop”, “new paragraph”, “comma”) are part of dictation conventions. Some dictators speak them; others expect you to add punctuation yourself. Tests usually tell you which.
Equipment
- Headphones — over-ear or a single-ear headset; employers provide them at tests.
- Foot pedal — left to rewind, middle to play, right to fast-forward, typically.
- Transcription software — controls playback speed and adds rewind-on-pause.
How fast is fast enough?
| Role | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| Medical secretary | ≈ 50–60 WPM, high accuracy |
| Legal secretary | ≈ 50–70 WPM, very high accuracy |
| General transcriptionist | ≈ 65–80+ WPM |
| Police call handler | ≈ 25–35 WPM while listening |
Common audio typing mistakes
- Homophones: their/there, practice/practise, affect/effect.
- Dropped small words: “of”, “a”, “the”.
- Numbers: “fifteen” vs “fifty”; dates in the wrong format.
- Names: always check the spelling of patients, clients and places against the file.
Before any employer or exam typing test
Five questions decide how you should prepare, so get the answers before test day. Most can be found in the job posting, the candidate information pack, or by asking the recruiter.
- How long is the test? One minute rewards a fast start; five or ten minutes rewards endurance.
- How are errors counted? Per word, per character, subtracted from WPM, or capped (for example 3 errors in 5 minutes).
- Can you use Backspace? Some platforms disable it.
- What is the content? Prose, numbers, forms, or audio.
- What keyboard? UK ISO or US ANSI — and whether there is a numeric keypad.
| Method | Used by | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Gross WPM | Some agency reports | 50 |
| Net WPM (errors per minute deducted) | Most employers | 49 |
| Adjusted WPM (WPM − errors) | Criteria-style tests | 45 |
| Error cap (≤ 3 errors) | US federal standard | Fail — 5 errors |
| Canadian table (2 errors/min at 45–54 WPM) | Canadian 5-minute test | Pass — 10 allowed |
Find the preset that matches your test on the requirements table, or use the requirement checker to compare your best score with the job.
Sources
- NHS Jobs — search admin and medical secretary adverts — NHS Jobs (checked October 18, 2026)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does audio typing mean on a job advert?
That you will type from recorded dictation. Expect an audio typing test at interview.
What WPM is needed for audio typing?
Commonly around 50–60+ WPM for secretaries, with high accuracy.
Do I need my own foot pedal?
No. Employers provide equipment; hotkeys work for practice.
Is audio typing harder than copy typing?
Usually, because you have to listen and remember as well as type.