By Abhishek · Reviewed by The Ai-TypingTest Editorial Team · Last reviewed
Independent practice tool. Not affiliated with or endorsed by SHL or IBM Kenexa. Brand names are used only to describe compatibility.
At a glance
| Required speed | Employer-set; commonly ~40 WPM for clerical roles |
|---|---|
| Duration | 5 minutes |
| Errors allowed | Per minute, by speed band (table below) |
| Scoring | Net WPM checked against the errors-per-minute table |
| Test format | Onscreen copy typing |
| Who uses it | Canadian employers and agencies using the SHL / IBM Kenexa Canadian typing test |
Key facts
- The SHL / IBM Kenexa catalogue lists a 5-minute onscreen Canadian typing test. [source]
- Errors allowed per minute: 0 at 25–28 WPM, 1 at 29–44, 2 at 45–54, 3 at 55–72, 4 at 73–90. [source]
- The table continues: 5 errors per minute at 91–109 WPM and 6 at 110–127. [source]
- The employer chooses the minimum speed for the job.
How the real test works
You type a passage onscreen for five minutes; the result is your speed and an error count checked against the table. Faster typists are allowed more errors per minute, so the test rewards speed without ignoring accuracy.
| Speed | Errors allowed / minute | Over 5 minutes |
|---|---|---|
| 25–28 WPM | 0 | 0 |
| 29–44 WPM | 1 | 5 |
| 45–54 WPM | 2 | 10 |
| 55–72 WPM | 3 | 15 |
| 73–90 WPM | 4 | 20 |
| 91–109 WPM | 5 | 25 |
| 110–127 WPM | 6 | 30 |
How scoring works
Work out your WPM, find its band, and compare your errors with the band's allowance × 5.
| Characters typed correctly | 1,250 |
|---|---|
| ÷ 5 characters per word | 250 words |
| ÷ 5 minutes | 50 WPM |
| Errors (uncorrected words) | 9 |
| Errors allowed at this speed | 2/min × 5 min = 10 |
| Result | Pass at a 40 WPM minimum |
How to pass
Most people who type within 10 WPM of the target can close the gap in a week; a bigger gap takes about a month of 15–20 minutes a day. Take one baseline run on the test above first, then follow the plan that fits your gap.
7-day plan (you are within about 10 WPM)
- Day 1 — baseline. Three runs at the real test length. Write down your middle score and error count, not the best one.
- Days 2–3 — accuracy first. Practise at a pace where you make almost no errors. On a test that counts errors, clean typing at 40 WPM beats fast typing with mistakes. Use an AI lesson to drill the keys your results flag as weak.
- Days 4–5 — endurance. Two full-length runs a day. Speed usually drops in the final minute; aim to hold your pace to the end.
- Day 6 — test conditions. Turn Backspace off in your head: fix nothing and see what your real error count is.
- Day 7 — mock test. One run, first thing, no warm-up. That is the number to trust.
30-day plan (bigger gap, or starting out)
- Week 1 — technique. Learn or relearn touch typing on the touch typing test and the finger chart. Expect your speed to dip.
- Week 2 — accuracy. Daily 1-minute runs at 97%+ accuracy; slow down whenever you drop below.
- Week 3 — speed. Short bursts 5–10 WPM above your comfortable pace (try 50 WPM), then one run at the real test length.
- Week 4 — rehearsal. Every other day, a full mock test in exam format. Track your middle score; when it clears 40 WPM three times in a row, you are ready.
Full method: the 30-day typing improvement plan and how to type faster. Practise little and often — 15 minutes a day beats two hours at the weekend.
Test-day checklist
- Use the kind of keyboard you will test on — a laptop keyboard and a desktop keyboard feel different.
- Check the keyboard layout. On a UK keyboard @ and " are swapped compared with a US one — see UK vs US layout.
- Warm up for five minutes beforehand — a short run on this page is enough.
- Read the instructions twice: whether Backspace works and how errors are counted change your strategy.
- Keep a steady pace. A rhythm you can hold for the whole test beats a fast start that fades.
How this compares with other Canada typing tests
Requirements vary widely by role — from around 25–35 WPM for call handling to 70+ WPM for transcription. Rows marked “Typical range” are common posting figures, not official standards.
| Duration | Errors | Basis | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clerical (Canadian 5-minute test)Errors allowed rise with speed | 40 WPM | 5 min | Per-minute table | Copy | Official / published |
| 911 call-taker / emergency communicator | 35–45 WPM | Short | Accuracy | Copy + audio | Typical range |
| Bilingual admin (EN/FR) | 35–45 WPM | 3–5 min each | Accents count | Copy | Typical range |
| Office administrator | 40–55 WPM | 5 min | Per-minute table | Copy | Typical range |
| Data entry / 10-key | 8,000–12,000 KPH | 3–5 min | Accuracy | Data entry | Typical range |
| Receptionist | 35–45 WPM | 5 min | Per-minute table | Copy | Typical range |
| Medical secretary / unit clerk | 45–60 WPM | Varies | High accuracy | Copy + audio | Typical range |
| Legal assistant | 50–65 WPM | 5 min | High accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
Frequently asked questions
It depends on your speed: 1 per minute at 29–44 WPM, 2 at 45–54, 3 at 55–72, 4 at 73–90, per the SHL catalogue.
Five minutes, onscreen.
The employer sets it; around 40 WPM is common for clerical roles.
Only with zero errors, and only if the employer's minimum is 25.
Federal departments run their own assessments; check the job poster on GC Jobs.
No — independent practice that applies the published table.
Sources
Requirements change. Always confirm the speed, duration and error rules in the official job posting or exam notice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us — we review every requirement quarterly (methodology).
- Canadian Typing — General (5 minutes, onscreen): errors per minute by speed — SHL / IBM Kenexa catalogue (checked October 18, 2026)
- GC Jobs — Government of Canada job search — Government of Canada (checked October 18, 2026)
Related tests and guides
More tests for this market: Canada Typing Tests · Every requirement in one table: typing requirements by job