By Abhishek · Reviewed by The Ai-TypingTest Editorial Team · Last reviewed
Independent practice tool. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Kenexa, IBM or SHL. Brand names are used only to describe compatibility.
At a glance
| Required speed | Agency-set; commonly 35–50 net WPM |
|---|---|
| Duration | Short timed tests, often 1–5 minutes |
| Errors allowed | Reported; net WPM accounts for them |
| Scoring | Gross WPM, net WPM, errors (and accuracy) |
| Test format | Onscreen copy typing |
| Who uses it | Staffing and temp agency candidates for admin, reception and data roles |
Key facts
- The IBM Kenexa assessment catalogue, which includes typing tests, is now hosted by SHL. [source]
- Staffing agencies use them to screen candidates before placing them with clients.
- Agencies choose the test length and pass mark; ask your recruiter.
- Gross WPM counts everything you typed; net WPM deducts errors.
How the real test works
You usually take Prove It at a staffing agency's office or on a link they send you. The typing test shows a passage and a timer; you type for the set time and the report goes to the agency. Agencies often run a Word, Excel or 10-key test in the same session.
- Ask your recruiter which tests you will take and how long each is.
- Warm up for five minutes before you start — the first minute is often the slowest.
- Type steadily; errors reduce net WPM, which is the number agencies usually quote.
How scoring works
Gross WPM = all typed characters ÷ 5 ÷ minutes. Net WPM deducts errors. If you type 260 characters' worth of words a minute (52 gross) with 3 uncorrected errors a minute, net WPM is about 49.
| Characters typed correctly | 720 |
|---|---|
| ÷ 5 characters per word | 144 words |
| ÷ 3 minutes | 48 WPM |
| Errors (uncorrected words) | 3 |
| Result | Pass — 45+ 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 45 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 55 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 45 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
Agencies set their own marks; 40–50 net WPM with high accuracy is a solid score for most office placements.
Agencies choose; short 1- to 5-minute tests are common. Ask your recruiter.
Usually, at the agency's discretion. Ask if you had a bad run.
Corrections are generally allowed but cost time. Net WPM only deducts uncorrected errors.
No. This is an independent practice tool in the same format, not affiliated with Kenexa, IBM or SHL.
Commonly Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, 10-key and data entry.
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)
Related tests and guides
More tests for this market: US Typing Tests · Every requirement in one table: typing requirements by job