German Typing Test (QWERTZ)
A WPM and accuracy test for typists on a German QWERTZ keyboard — English passages, scored the standard way.
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What this test does — and does not — cover
Be clear on this before you start: the passages here are English prose, scored exactly as on every other page on this site — net WPM = (correct characters ÷ 5) ÷ minutes, with uncorrected errors subtracted, plus an accuracy percentage. There is no German-language content set yet, so this is not a test of typing German text. What it is useful for is measuring your speed and accuracy on the QWERTZ keyboard you actually use, and for English typing, which many German workplaces need.
How QWERTZ differs from QWERTY
The German layout is close to the US layout but not identical, and the differences land on keys you hit constantly:
- Y and Z are swapped. Z sits where a QWERTY typist expects Y (top row), and Y sits on the bottom row. This is the single biggest source of errors when switching between layouts.
- Umlauts and ß have dedicated keys. ä, ö and ü sit to the right of the home and top rows, where QWERTY puts
;,'and[; ß sits to the right of the number row. - AltGr replaces the right Alt key. It produces the third symbol printed on a key — @ on Q, € on E, and the braces and brackets programmers reach for constantly.
- Punctuation moves. Several symbols that need Shift on QWERTY need AltGr on QWERTZ, and vice versa.
Who a QWERTZ typing test helps
| Who | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Developers on a German keyboard | Brackets, braces and @ all sit behind AltGr — worth drilling |
| Anyone switching QWERTY ↔ QWERTZ | The Y/Z swap is the error you have to unlearn |
| Office / Verwaltung roles | English correspondence at 40+ WPM is common in international teams |
| Students and learners | Baseline English typing speed, measured the standard way |
A German-language content set (German passages, with umlauts and ß in the text itself) is on our roadmap. Until then this page is English passages with QWERTZ guidance, and we would rather say so than imply otherwise.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The passages are English prose, scored the standard way (net WPM and accuracy). There is no German content set yet — it is on our roadmap. The page is aimed at people typing on a German QWERTZ keyboard, and it explains how QWERTZ differs from QWERTY.
Yes. The test reads whatever characters your keyboard produces, so a QWERTZ layout works normally. Since the passages are English, you will rarely need ä, ö, ü or ß while typing them.
Y and Z are swapped — Z is on the top row on QWERTZ. There are also dedicated ä, ö, ü and ß keys, and an AltGr key that produces the third symbol on a key, such as @ on Q and € on E.
Yes, free with no sign-up required. A free account is optional and adds result history and AI-personalised practice.
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