By Abhishek · Reviewed by The Ai-TypingTest Editorial Team · Last reviewed
Independent practice tool. Not affiliated with or endorsed by CritiCall or Biddle Consulting Group. Brand names are used only to describe compatibility.
At a glance
| Required speed | Agency-set; typically 35–45 WPM for keyboarding |
|---|---|
| Duration | Each module is short; the full battery takes longer |
| Errors allowed | Scored by module — accuracy matters on data entry |
| Scoring | Module scores; some agencies require an overall pass mark |
| Test format | Computer-based: keyboarding, data entry, listening, multitasking |
| Who uses it | 911 / public-safety dispatchers and call-takers |
Key facts
- CritiCall describes its tests as measuring operational (hard) skills, plus behavioral and situational dimensions in CritiCall 3D. [source]
- CritiCall tests applicants for the multitasking and hard and soft skills dispatch requires. [source]
- Each agency picks which modules to run and sets its own pass marks.
- Data-entry accuracy — exact addresses, numbers and plates — counts as much as typing speed.
How the real test works
CritiCall is taken on a computer at the agency or a testing site, usually in one sitting. The agency selects modules from the battery. Typing-related tasks typically include a timed keyboarding exercise and data-entry tasks where you copy information into fields; other modules can involve listening to audio, memory, map or reading tasks and doing two things at once.
Your agency's applicant guide is the authority on which modules you will see. Many agencies publish a preparation sheet — ask the recruiter if yours is not online.
How scoring works
Each module produces its own score, and the agency compares it with a cut-off it chose. For keyboarding that is a speed with an accuracy requirement. For data entry, a record is typically only right if every field matches exactly.
The data-entry tab above scores the same way: a field counts only if it matches character for character, and speed is shown as keystrokes per hour (KPH). 10,000 KPH is about 33 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 data-entry test 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. Practice 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. Practice 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.
- Use Tab, not the mouse, to move between fields.
- 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 United States 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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal clerk / office automation (USAJOBS) | 40 WPM | 5 min | ≤ 3 | Copy | Official / published |
| Federal secretary (OA), GS-0318 | 40 WPM | 5 min | ≤ 3 | Copy | Official / published |
| California state Office Assistant (Typing)Certificate valid 4 years | 40 WPM | 5 min, proctored | Net WPM | Copy | Official / published |
| State / county clerk-typist | 35–45 WPM | Usually 5 min | Net WPM | Copy | Typical range |
| 911 dispatcher / call-takerOften with CritiCall | 35–45 WPM | 1–5 min | Accuracy floor | Copy + audio | Typical range |
| 10-key / numeric data entry | 8,000–12,000 KPH | 2–5 min | Net KPH | 10-key | Typical range |
| Data entry clerk | 40–45 WPM | 3–5 min | Field accuracy | Copy + data entry | Typical range |
| Administrative assistant | 40–60 WPM | 3–5 min | ~95% accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Executive assistant | 55–65 WPM | 3–5 min | ~95% accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Receptionist | 35–45 WPM | 1–5 min | Net WPM | Copy | Typical range |
| Live chat / remote support agent | 50–70 WPM | 1–3 min | ~95% accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Virtual assistant | 45–60 WPM | 1–5 min | High accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| General transcriptionist | 65–80 WPM | Audio file | 98%+ accuracy | Audio | Typical range |
| Healthcare admin / medical office | 45–60 WPM | 1–5 min | 90%+ accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Legal assistant / secretary | 50–70 WPM | 3–5 min | 95–98% accuracy | Copy + audio | Typical range |
| Paralegal | 45–60 WPM | 3–5 min | High accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Court reporter (stenotype, NCRA RPR)Stenotype, not QWERTY | 180–225 WPM | 3 × 5 min | 95% accuracy | Audio | Official / published |
| Staffing agency office placement (Prove It-style) | 35–50 WPM | 1–5 min | Net WPM | Copy | Typical range |
Frequently asked questions
CritiCall measures operational skills such as keyboarding and data entry, and in CritiCall 3D also behavioral and situational judgment. Agencies choose which modules to use.
Each agency sets its own cut-offs. Check the agency's job posting or applicant guide.
Typically 35–45 WPM for the keyboarding module, set by the agency.
This page is independent practice in similar formats. Some agencies offer official practice materials; ask the recruiter.
Yes, the modules are timed. Practice working accurately under a clock.
Retake rules are set by each agency, often with a waiting period. Ask before you test.
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).
- CritiCall — operational, behavioural and situational testing for dispatch — CritiCall (Biddle Consulting Group) (checked October 18, 2026)
Related tests and guides
More tests for this market: US Typing Tests · Every requirement in one table: typing requirements by job