By Abhishek · Reviewed by The Ai-TypingTest Editorial Team · Last reviewed
At a glance
| Required speed | Employer-set, often the same in both languages |
|---|---|
| Duration | Typically 3–5 minutes per language |
| Errors allowed | Accents count in French |
| Scoring | Net WPM and accuracy |
| Test format | Copy typing in English and French |
| Who uses it | Bilingual admin, service-centre and dispatch roles in Canada |
Key facts
- Federal bilingual positions assess second-language reading, writing and oral skills. [source]
- Typing tests for bilingual roles are usually given in each language separately.
- The Canadian Multilingual Standard keyboard handles both languages without switching layouts.
- Canadian English mixes British and American spelling: colour, centre, but organize.
How the real test works
You take the same copy test twice, once in each language. Use the tabs above. Canadian English uses “colour” and “centre” but “organize”; Canadian French uses spaces in times (8 h 30) and « guillemets ».
How scoring works
Each language is scored separately in net WPM.
| Characters typed correctly | 1,100 |
|---|---|
| ÷ 5 characters per word | 220 words |
| ÷ 5 minutes | 44 WPM |
| Errors (uncorrected words) | 5 |
| Errors allowed at this speed | 1/min × 5 min = 5 |
| Result | Pass at a 40 WPM minimum |
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 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. 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
Some do, usually as a separate test in each language.
Most people are a few WPM slower in French because of accents.
The Canadian Multilingual Standard (CSA) layout types both languages well.
No. It assesses reading, writing and speaking separately from typing.
Partly: colour and centre, but organize and realize.
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)
- Canadian Typing — General (5 minutes, onscreen): errors per minute by speed — SHL / IBM Kenexa catalogue (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