By Abhishek · Reviewed by The Ai-TypingTest Editorial Team · Last reviewed
At a glance
| Required speed | Typically 50–70 WPM |
|---|---|
| Duration | Usually 3–5 minutes, or a dictation file |
| Errors allowed | High accuracy expected (typically 95–98%+) |
| Scoring | Net WPM and accuracy |
| Test format | Copy typing of legal text; audio dictation for secretaries |
| Who uses it | Legal secretaries, legal assistants, paralegals, legal transcriptionists |
Key facts
- Legal typing tests use long sentences, defined terms and formal punctuation.
- Legal secretary roles in the UK and Commonwealth often include an audio typing test.
- Firms often add a Word formatting or proofreading task.
- Typos in names, dates and amounts carry more weight than in general prose.
How the real test works
Expect a timed copy test of legal prose, often followed by dictation or a formatting task. Legal text slows most typists: capitalized defined terms (“the Licensee”), section references, semicolons and long nested clauses.
- Keep capital letters exactly as written — defined terms are case-sensitive.
- Watch numbers and dates: “thirty (30) days” style appears often.
- British firms use British spelling (licence, defence); US firms use American (license, defense).
How scoring works
Scored in net WPM and accuracy, like any copy test.
| Characters typed correctly | 1,500 |
|---|---|
| ÷ 5 characters per word | 300 words |
| ÷ 5 minutes | 60 WPM |
| Errors (uncorrected words) | 3 |
| Result | Pass — 55+ 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. Practice at a pace where you make almost no errors. On a test that counts errors, clean typing at 55 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 65 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 55 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.
- 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
Typically 50–70 WPM with high accuracy. UK legal secretary roles often specify audio typing as well.
Usually a timed copy test of legal text, sometimes dictation and a Word formatting or proofreading task.
A little — long words, capitals and punctuation slow most people by several WPM.
Some firms test paralegals, usually at lower targets than legal secretaries.
Yes. Match the firm's jurisdiction — licence/defence in the UK, license/defense in the US.
Use the dictation tab above with pause and rewind hotkeys.
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).
- Typing speed tests in the test library — TestGorilla (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