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David K. Israel
4 Cool Typing Tests
by David K. Israel - August 6, 2008 - 5:41 AM

Yesterday I looked at three notable typists. One of those was Arttu Harkki, who landed in the Guinness Book of World Records for speed texting on his Treo 650. I’ve always been fascinated with people who can type quickly, as I can barely peck out 70 WPM. But I’m always trying to improve… So if you’re like me, here are a few cool typing tests you can take online to try to bolster your technique.

1. PowerTyping.com- this site has a cool free typing test where you will be asked to type a short paragraph in real time. It not only computes your WPM, it tells you how many mistakes you make per minute. Only problem is, the programming is such that you can’t advance through the paragraph until you type the character, which means you could get held up for a long time on one word.

2. TypingTest.com – Over at typingtest.com, however, a similar test lets you move through the paragraph whether you type the write words/characters or not.

3. MrKent.com – For a laugh, try this typing test which generates random, silly phrases for you to test your skills.

4. The iPhone Typing Test – And if you want to test your iPhone hunt-and-peck skills, type along with the Apple Guy, who can punch out “I know a great place a couple blocks away. I will make a reservation for three” in 23 seconds flat.

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Comments (15)

  1. I know it sounds weird, but I’m a typing junkie! I love to type, I’ve even got a program on my computer that let’s me play typing games. Thanks for the post. I love those websites!

    posted by Tricia on 8-6-2008 at 6:43 am

  2. Okay, that first test is kind of dumb. Is it not still the rule to put two spaces following a period? Because the paragraph there only had one, which accounted for several mistakes. Force of habit has me automatically put two spaces following a period.

    posted by mark on 8-6-2008 at 7:39 am

  3. “I’ve always been fascinated with people who can type quickly, as I can barely peck out 70 WPM.”

    Makes a guy who can’t type that fast feel pretty worthless. :(

    posted by George on 8-6-2008 at 8:06 am

  4. In the publishing world (books/mags/newspapers) it’s one space after a period. Whaddayagonnado?

    posted by David K. Israel on 8-6-2008 at 8:06 am

  5. In the publishing world, it may be one space after a period, but in the typing world, it’s two.

    And 70 wpm isn’t exactly “pecking.”

    posted by 8rustystaples on 8-6-2008 at 9:06 am

  6. I’va always heard that since the advent of computers, where characters aren’t all the same width, the publishing world has gone to 1 space after a period. It is easier to figure the difference between a space between two words and a space beginning a new sentence. I much prefer one space after a period…

    Josh

    posted by Josh on 8-6-2008 at 9:31 am

  7. The two spaces between sentences was drilled into my head, too–so badly, in fact, that I do it when I send text messages!

    posted by Orange on 8-6-2008 at 10:28 am

  8. I learned the two spaces rule, but now one space has been pounded into my head through work. I prefer one space. Two space looks a little too…um…SPACIOUS to me!

    posted by abbasmurf on 8-6-2008 at 12:10 pm

  9. When I was learning how to type it was always “one space after a comma, two spaces after a period!” Then I moved, and everyone put only one space after a period and groaned when my English teacher made them do two.

    posted by monsoon0203 on 8-6-2008 at 1:35 pm

  10. When I first learned to type, it was two spaces after a period. However, they changed that when I was in, oh, middle school for some reason. Meh, I happen to welcome our one-space overlords.

    posted by Nicole on 8-6-2008 at 3:51 pm

  11. In addition to the sites listed, I’d recommend you try out TypeRacer ( play.typeracer.com ). In addition to using movie quotes as your subject, you can also race against other random people or your friends, adding a fun competitive aspect to testing or improving your typing skills.

    posted by Evil Timmy on 8-6-2008 at 4:22 pm

  12. I got stage fright on the first test, so I only came up with 43 wpm. I’m much faster texting!!

    posted by Cassie on 8-6-2008 at 4:34 pm

  13. Yeah, I think the “two space” rule changed. I learned to type in high school – back in the late 80’s.

    I do love typing, but as an accountant, I love the 10 key even more!

    posted by Dawn on 8-6-2008 at 10:27 pm

  14. I *heart* Type or Die: Word Shoot. It’s over at Cognitive Labs dot com.

    posted by Angelia on 8-7-2008 at 2:23 am

  15. Sorry — have to brag, since I was always last at finishing my our typing exercises in elementary school (and reprimended for it) due to undiagnosed mild dyslexia.

    91 wpm in the first test
    83, 79, and 87 in the three exercises I did
    41 (I was too busy laughing), 92, 97, and 105 and a bunch of other strangly high numbers — I’m thinking a pair of sentences doesn’t do a good job of finding your wpm. ;)

    posted by Stephanie on 8-8-2008 at 7:05 pm

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