New Zealand Typing Test
British-convention English on the keyboard New Zealanders actually have — touch typing practice for jobs, admin roles and NCEA students.
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British spelling, American keyboard
New Zealand pairs the two halves of English localisation the same way Australia does, and it catches out almost everyone who assumes they travel together. Written New Zealand English follows British convention — colour, organise, centre, realise, programme — so that is what the passages here use.
The keyboard, though, is the American ANSI layout: wide single-row Enter key, at sign on Shift plus 2, apostrophe in its US position, no dedicated pound key and no extra key beside the left Shift. A UK visitor borrowing a New Zealand laptop hits exactly the same wall as one borrowing an American laptop. The UK vs US keyboard layout guide covers the differences key by key, and the Australian typing test is set up identically.
Typing test or touch typing test?
In New Zealand the skill is searched for both ways — “typing test” and “touch typing test” mean the same exercise here: type the passage on screen and get live WPM, accuracy and consistency the moment you finish. Touch typing simply describes doing it without looking at the keyboard, which is what the score rewards.
For NCEA and secondary students
Typing speed is not assessed by NCEA, but digital assessment and coursework mean students type a great deal. Building speed and accuracy early frees up thinking time in timed, on-screen work.
Typing speed for New Zealand roles
| Role | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| General admin | 35–40 WPM |
| Public-sector / council administration | 40+ WPM, high accuracy |
| Data entry | 45–60 WPM |
| Customer support / contact centre | 35–45 WPM |
There is no single national typing standard in New Zealand — individual agencies and employers set their own requirements, so check the job listing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The US (ANSI) layout, despite New Zealand using British spelling. That means the wide Enter key, the at sign on Shift+2 and no dedicated pound key — the opposite pairing to the UK and Ireland.
Yes. In New Zealand both terms describe this exercise: type the passage shown and get live WPM and accuracy. Touch typing means typing without looking at the keys.
Some administrative and clerical roles in the public sector and local councils assess typing speed during recruitment. There is no single national standard — requirements are set per agency, so check the listing.
Typing speed is not itself assessed by NCEA, but faster and more accurate typing helps with digital coursework and on-screen assessments.
Yes, free with no sign-up required. A free account is optional and adds result history and personalised practice.
Clerical and administrative roles commonly look for around 40 WPM with strong accuracy; data-entry and secretarial roles often ask for 50–60 WPM. Requirements are set per employer, so check the listing.
Add the Māori keyboard in your device settings — Windows, macOS, iOS and Android all include one. It lets you type macronised vowels with a modifier or dead key, and on phones you can usually long-press the vowel.
Got another question? Browse the full typing FAQ →