By Abhishek · Reviewed by The Ai-TypingTest Editorial Team · Last reviewed
At a glance
| Required speed | Employer-set; usually the same target as English |
|---|---|
| Duration | Typically 3–5 minutes |
| Errors allowed | Accents count — a missing é is an error |
| Scoring | Net WPM and accuracy |
| Test format | Copy typing in French |
| Who uses it | Bilingual administrative and service roles in Canada; French-language employers |
Key facts
- In this test, accented letters count: e for é is an error.
- The Canadian Multilingual Standard (CSA) and Canadian French layouts put é on its own key.
- Federal bilingual positions assess second-language reading, writing and oral skills separately from typing. [source]
- Expect to type French a few WPM slower than English until the accent keys are automatic.
How the real test works
It is a copy test in French — the same format as English, with accents and French punctuation. Canadian French puts no space before colons in most styles but uses « guillemets » and spaces in times (8 h 30).
Keyboard layouts
- Canadian Multilingual Standard (CSA): é has its own key; dead keys for ^ and ¨.
- Canadian French: similar, popular in Quebec.
- US English: use the US-International layout or OS shortcuts for accents — slow for tests.
- France (AZERTY): a different layout entirely; practise on the one the employer uses.
How scoring works
Scored like English: correct characters ÷ 5 ÷ minutes, with accents treated as characters.
| Characters typed correctly | 600 |
|---|---|
| ÷ 5 characters per word | 120 words |
| ÷ 3 minutes | 40 WPM |
| Errors (uncorrected words) | 3 |
| Result | Pass — 35+ 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 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 35 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 45 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 35 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
Use a Canadian Multilingual or Canadian French layout, where é has its own key and other accents use dead keys.
On this test, yes — and on most French typing tests.
Some admin roles do. Federal bilingual positions also require a separate second-language evaluation.
Usually by a few WPM because of accents and longer words.
Yes — the text is the same; it just uses Canadian vocabulary.
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).
- Second language evaluation in the federal public service — Public Service Commission of Canada (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