How is CPM (characters per minute) calculated?
CPM stands for Characters Per Minute. It's calculated by dividing the total number of characters in the target sentence by the time (in minutes) it took you to finish typing it. English speed is more commonly measured in WPM (words per minute); as a rough guide, WPM is approximately CPM divided by 5.
How is accuracy calculated?
Once you finish typing, your input is compared character by character against the target sentence, and the percentage of characters that match exactly becomes your accuracy. If you make a typo and fix it before finishing, only the final, corrected text is counted.
Typical typing speed benchmarks
- Beginner: around 20-30 WPM
- Average user: around 40 WPM
- Skilled typist: 60-80 WPM
- Professional typist: 100+ WPM
These are rough reference points only β actual speed varies widely from person to person and keyboard layout to keyboard layout.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I make a mistake partway through?
The character you're currently on is highlighted, and any mismatched characters are shown in a different color. Press backspace to fix a mistake and keep typing. Your final accuracy is calculated once you've typed the full sentence.
Can I try a different sentence?
Yes β click "Try a New Sentence" to get a new random sentence and reset the timer.