UK Typing Tests: Audio, Copy, NHS & 999
By Abhishek · Reviewed by The Ai-TypingTest Editorial Team · Last reviewed
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40–60 WPM · 5–10 min · CopyTypical range — confirm in the job posting.
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| Test | Speed | Duration | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audio Typing Test | Commonly 50–60+ WPM for secretaries; lower for call handlers | A dictation file, often 5–15 minutes | Audio transcription with pause/rewind controls |
| Copy Typing Test | Commonly 40–60 WPM for admin roles | Usually 5 or 10 minutes | Copying a printed or on-screen passage |
| 999 Call Handler Typing Test | Commonly around 25–35 WPM (force-set) | Short timed tests | Copy typing and/or typing while listening to a recorded call |
| NHS Typing Test | Commonly 50–60 WPM for medical secretaries; less for general admin | Varies by trust | Copy typing and/or audio typing of clinic letters |
| Medical Secretary Typing Test | Commonly 50–60+ WPM | Varies; often a dictated letter | Audio typing of clinical dictation; copy typing |
| Legal Secretary Typing Test | Commonly 50–70 WPM | Varies; a dictated letter or a 5–10 minute copy test | Audio typing of dictation; copy typing of legal text |
| UK Civil Service Typing Test | Only where the advert specifies; commonly 40–50 WPM | Typically 5 minutes | Copy typing |
United Kingdom typing requirements by job
Sort or filter the table to find your role. “Official / published” rows link to the source; “Typical range” rows reflect common job-posting language and must be checked against the posting.
| Duration | Errors | Basis | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Administrator / clerical | 40–60 WPM | 5–10 min | ~95% accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Medical secretary (NHS / private) | 50–60 WPM | Dictated letter | High accuracy | Audio | Typical range |
| NHS admin / ward clerk | 35–50 WPM | Varies | High accuracy | Copy + audio | Typical range |
| Legal secretary | 50–70 WPM | Dictation + copy | Very high accuracy | Copy + audio | Typical range |
| Police / 999 call handlerSet by each force | 25–35 WPM | Short | Accuracy on details | Copy + audio | Typical range |
| Civil Service AO/EO (where tested)Most roles don't test typing | 40–50 WPM | ~5 min | Accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
| Audio typist / transcriptionist | 50–70 WPM | Audio file | High accuracy | Audio | Typical range |
| Data entry clerk | 8,000–12,000 KPH | 3–5 min | Field accuracy | Data entry | Typical range |
| PA / executive assistant | 55–65 WPM | 5–10 min | High accuracy | Copy + audio | Typical range |
| Receptionist | 30–45 WPM | Short | Accuracy | Copy | Typical range |
Copy typing vs audio typing
Copy typing is the UK name for a standard typing test: copying a printed or on-screen passage. Audio typing means typing from a recording, pausing and rewinding with a foot pedal or hotkeys. Secretarial roles favour audio; general admin favours copy. Practise both: copy typing test and audio typing test.
NHS and healthcare
NHS trusts set their own tests, usually on interview day. Medical secretaries are typically tested on a dictated clinic letter. The requirement is in the person specification on NHS Jobs. See the NHS typing test and medical secretary test.
Police and emergency services
Call handler assessments for 999 and 101 combine a typing test — sometimes while listening to a call — with listening exercises and role-play. Each force publishes its own assessment information. See the 999 call handler typing test.
Legal
Law firms test legal secretaries on dictation from fee earners plus a copy test, often 50–70 WPM with very high accuracy — legal secretary typing test.
Civil Service
Most Civil Service roles do not include a typing test; selection uses Success Profiles. Some secretarial, PA and transcription posts do — UK Civil Service typing test.
UK keyboards
UK keyboards use the ISO layout: an L-shaped Enter key, " on Shift+2 and @ on Shift+', £ on Shift+3, # next to Enter, and an extra \ key by left Shift. If you learnt on a US keyboard, practise on UK layout before the test — see UK vs US keyboard layout. Passages on UK pages use British spelling: colour, organise, practise (verb), programme.
Want passages in local spelling? The United Kingdom typing test has local spelling and examples.
Where your speed stands
Around 40 WPM is a common adult average; 60–70 WPM is comfortably above it, and 80+ is professional range. Use the table to see which roles a given speed opens up — then check the posting.
| Net WPM | Typically enough for |
|---|---|
| 25–35 | Emergency call handling (with accuracy on details), some reception roles |
| 35–45 | Clerk-typist, government clerical standards (e.g. 40 WPM), most reception and support roles |
| 45–60 | Admin and executive support, live chat, medical and legal admin |
| 60–80 | Medical and legal secretaries, transcription, high-volume chat |
| 80+ | Professional transcription and captioning (on QWERTY) |
Not sure where you are? Take the 5-minute test — most employer tests are three to five minutes — or see what percentile your WPM is.
How typing tests are scored
Almost every employer test reports net words per minute: correctly typed characters ÷ 5 ÷ minutes. Some subtract errors from gross speed instead (Criteria-style adjusted WPM), some cap the number of errors (the US federal standard allows 3 in 5 minutes), and some allow more errors at higher speeds (the Canadian 5-minute table). Numeric tests use keystrokes per hour, where 1 WPM = 300 KPH. Accuracy is the share of keystrokes that were right first time; most employers that state one want 95% or better. The full formulas are on our methodology page.
A practice score here is unproctored. It tells you whether you are ready; it is not proof an employer has to accept. Where a job needs proof, it will either test you itself or name the kind of certificate it accepts.
Frequently asked questions
Commonly 40–60 WPM for admin, 50–60+ for medical and legal secretaries from audio, and around 25–35 WPM for police call handlers. Check the advert.
Copy typing is from a printed or on-screen passage; audio typing is from a recording you pause and rewind.
There is no single NHS figure; trusts set it. Medical secretary adverts commonly ask around 50–60 WPM from audio.
Yes, as part of the assessment centre, often with listening tasks. Each force sets the standard.
Only for some secretarial, PA and transcription posts. Most roles do not test typing.
The @, " , £ and # keys are in different places from US keyboards. Practise on the layout you will be tested on.
Sources
- NHS Jobs — search admin and medical secretary adverts — NHS Jobs (checked October 18, 2026)
- Civil Service Jobs — Administrative Officer and Executive Officer adverts — GOV.UK (checked October 18, 2026)