By Abhishek · Reviewed by The Ai-TypingTest Editorial Team · Last reviewed
At a glance
| Required speed | Commonly around 70 WPM |
|---|---|
| Duration | Varies by agency |
| Errors allowed | Very high accuracy; verbatim |
| Scoring | WPM and accuracy |
| Test format | Audio transcription of hearings; typing speed test |
| Who uses it | Transcription officers at federal and state courts and tribunals (often APS3/APS4 or state equivalents) |
Key facts
- Court transcription officer roles commonly ask for around 70 WPM — higher than most admin jobs.
- Listings on APSJobs state the classification and the skills assessment. [source]
- Hearing transcripts are verbatim: speaker labels, exact words, legal terms.
- Australian spelling follows British convention: judgement, defence, organise.
How the real test works
Expect a typing speed and accuracy test and a transcription exercise from a recorded hearing. Hearings have several speakers, interruptions and legal terms. Speaker labels (Member:, Applicant:) and dates must be exact.
- Esc plays and pauses — like lifting your foot off a transcription pedal.
- Tab replays the current sentence.
- Choose Slow, Normal or Fast playback before you start. Real tests usually play at normal speech rate.
- The voice comes from your device, so the accent varies by browser. Chrome and Edge usually offer a British voice.
How scoring works
Use strict verbatim scoring above: case and punctuation count, as they do in a transcript.
| Characters typed correctly | 1,850 |
|---|---|
| ÷ 5 characters per word | 370 words |
| ÷ 5 minutes | 74 WPM |
| Errors (uncorrected words) | 3 |
| Result | Pass — 70+ WPM |
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 audio 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 70 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. Use headphones, the normal playback speed and the hotkeys only — no mouse.
- 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 80 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 70 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.
- Bring or ask for headphones, and find the pause and rewind controls before the clock starts.
- 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 Australia 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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Court / tribunal transcription officer | 70 WPM | Varies | Very high accuracy | Audio | Typical range |
| APS admin (where tested) | 40–60 WPM | 3–5 min | Accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Administration officer | 40–60 WPM | 3–5 min | Accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Medical receptionist / secretary | 45–60 WPM | Varies | High accuracy | Copy + audio | Typical range |
| Data entry operator | 8,000–12,000 KPH | 3–5 min | Accuracy | Data entry | Typical range |
| Receptionist | 35–45 WPM | Short | Accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Legal secretary | 50–65 WPM | Dictation + copy | Very high accuracy | Copy + audio | Typical range |
| Triple Zero (000) call-taker | 30–40 WPM | Short | Accuracy on details | Copy + audio | Typical range |
Frequently asked questions
Commonly around 70 WPM with high accuracy. Check the listing.
Yes — every word, with speaker labels.
Federal roles on APSJobs; state courts on state government job boards.
No. Court reporters use stenotype at 180–225 WPM; transcription officers type from recordings.
Not usually; accuracy, listening and legal vocabulary matter most.
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).
- APSJobs — Australian Public Service vacancies — Australian Public Service Commission (checked October 18, 2026)
- Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) — skills test speeds — National Court Reporters Association (checked October 18, 2026)
Related tests and guides
More tests for this market: Australia Typing Tests · Every requirement in one table: typing requirements by job