New Competition! Win a £100 Microsoft keyboard and mouse #TypingMatters

Can you touch type?

No, me either.

I actually consider myself a pretty fast typist; but last year when I lopped the top off my finger off with a  lawnmower (don’t ask) I realised that the injury wasn’t slowing down my typing. In fact, when I examined how I typed, I realised that I pretty much use just three fingers – forefinger on the left hand, first two fingers of the right hand.

When I was reading about this campaign from Microsoft, I got curious and decided to test my typing speed. My unique 3-finger freestyle manages a relatively-impressive 60wpm. Not so bad.

But bearing in mind I spend probably 70% of my day typing, that is in no way efficient. In all honesty I probably manage nearer 120 wpm if I’m writing for myself – I can look at the keyboard and just type whatever thoughts dribble through my fingers. But I expect that would drop back to maybe 90wpm once i’d gone and corrected all the duff typos I’ve created. And really touch typing isn’t just about the speed. It’s an automatic skill – of course an expert typist will be a fast typist, but probably more importantly they’ll be an accurate typist. The principal benefit of touch typing is that it doesn’t need conscious thought or confirmation.

If I were in a ‘real’ workplace where I was having to copy text? I just don’t think I’d be considered good enough; no matter how good I am at the actual job, my actual skill level would let me down.  In fact, I KNOW they would – I once sailed through an interview process and was taking the final typing test as a formality. I saw their confident welcoming smiles fade as I gamely tapped away with my 3-finger-freestyle – and I didn’t get the job.

Typing-Matters-Infographics-1of4

It didn’t surprise me then to read new research from Microsoft that reveals that almost one third of British employers (30%) will not hire someone if they can’t touch type, with 43% viewing typing as a crucial work and life skill.

Yet much of the UK workforce is lacking this key skill. Forty two per cent type with just one or two of their index fingers (okay, so I use three. Go me!) and over half (52%) type below 50 words per minute – a speed considered a ‘basic minimum’ by a leading academic.

One in five bosses (21%) say that most workers lack typing skills good enough to do their job, and many employers (41%), students (38%) and parents (29%) say that there is not enough emphasis on typing skills at schools and universities.
Typing-Matters-Infographics-2of4

Robert Epstein from Microsoft UK says: “Typing is a core life skill that can sometimes be overlooked when it comes to proper training. Our Typing Matters campaign aims to get children, students and parents to recognise typing as an essential ‘life skill’ in the modern world. But also more than that – that typing matters because it can help you achieve amazing things.

“The research has made it clear that having strong typing skills can put you ahead of the pack when it comes to securing a job and set you up for a successful career.”

More than a third of employers say that typing enhances productivity (38%) and ensures their business remains competitive (36%). Almost one fifth say their business could not operate if their staff did not touch type or type fast.

Professor John Sutherland, author and Emeritus Professor of English Literature at UCL, commented: “Typing is an incredibly important skill both in a personal and professional context. If it is a skill you lack, you are very much limiting your chances in the jobs marketplace. In my view, typing is a skill in short supply at all levels in our education system and everyone should aim for a minimum speed of 50 words per minute.”

As a nation we’re spending more and more time studying at our computers, laptops and tablets. But are we missing the opportunity to gain valuable skills that could set us up for life, like typing? Microsoft wants everyone to have the best chance to succeed academically and professionally. And it all starts with the right keyboard…
To mark the launch of its Typing Matters campaign Microsoft is giving away free Mavis Beacon typing software with every Microsoft Keyboard or Microsoft Keyboard Desktop set.

promo-banner

And WE’RE giving away a fabulous £100 Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop set to one lucky reader! Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below – there’s all the usual extra entry options with tweets and facebooking and the like. The closing date for this competition is 18th October 2014 and only entries received on or before that date can be included. The 1st prize winner will be the first randomly selected entry.  Good luck!

NOW CLOSED

Author: Laura

A 70's child, I’ve been married for a Very Long Time, and appear to have made four children, and collected one large and useless dog along the way. I work, I have four children, I have a dog… ergo, I do not do dusting or ironing. I began LittleStuff back in (gulp) 2004. I like huge mugs of tea. And Coffee. And Cake. And a steaming cone of crispy fresh fluffy chips, smothered in salt and vinegar. #healthyeater When I grow up I am going to be quietly graceful, organised and wear lipstick every day. In the meantime I *may* have a slight butterfly-brain issue.

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307 Comments

  1. I can’t touch type so no point in taking the test lol

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  2. 44 words per minute!

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  3. Speed:
    Accuracy:
    68 WPM
    96.1 %

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  4. ha ha oh dear, 30 words per minute!!!!

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  5. 44 words per minute

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  6. 40 words per min

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  7. used to be able to touch type but out of practice now, quite fast anyway

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  8. 49 words per min.

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  9. oh my…44 words per min…not good

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  10. 24 WPM lol!

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  11. 25 wpm with 82.5 accuracy thanks – I felt so under pressure though with the time going! But I’m going to keep trying so how high my score can be. thanks

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  12. 27 wpm, I’m a slowey x

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  13. 30 wpm and 99.3% accuracy

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  14. Not too interested in fast typing at the moment.

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  15. 30 words a minute. I think I need some practice!

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  16. 36WPM :O really bad!

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  17. 49 words per minute

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  18. slow… 30 wpm 96.3% accuracy

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  19. 62 words per minute rubbish!!!

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  20. Not sure if I can love to try tho

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  21. 49words a minute

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  22. 44 words per minute

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  23. 67 not bad!

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  24. 21 wpm 98.1 %

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  25. 67 words a minute with 100% accuracy – jumping up and down as that is with inch long fingernails, if I was typing for work at the moment then cutting my nails would put me up to 100+ words a minute. I didn’t use your test though – that is not a realistic test as there were far too many special characters for a piece of writing that is so short. I used this one http://www.typingtest.com/index_41.html where you can choose a passage to type from several options ;o)

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  26. I can’t touch type, I also had Hey Jude lyrics which I knew anyway:

    Speed:
    Accuracy:
    35 WPM
    95.7 %

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  27. I can type fast enough. Unfortunately my brain doesn’t really keep up with my fingers.

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  28. 61 wpm, that is terrible – I have a certificate saying I can type 70 on an old electric. Trouble is don’t type much now.

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  29. 22 wpm

    98.4% accuracy

    Actually, I’m surprised it was that fast – I’m the original two-finger typist!

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  30. 33 words per minute! oops

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  31. 40 minutes a minute

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  32. 67 WPM – not bad I think :)

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  33. 22 WPM
    92.1 accuracy

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  34. 41 wpm which isn’t too bad I guess, but could do much better

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  35. A disappointing 36 words 95% accuracy

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  36. Speed:
    Accuracy:
    46 WPM
    94.4 %

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  37. 55 wpm, 98.9% accuracy

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  38. Speed:44 wpm
    Accuracy:98.2%

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  39. Speed: 32 WPM
    Accuracy: 97.5%

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  40. Typing speed: 21 wpm.

    Accuracy: 87%

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  41. 55 wpm
    98.9% accuracy

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  42. my score was so low i’m too embarrassed to print it!

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  43. Not too bad I suppose…..

    Speed: 25 WPM
    Accuracy: 96.7%

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  44. 58 wpm Accuracy 96.7 – not too bad lol

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  45. My typing speed it 61 wpm

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  46. I’ve written two novels which has greatly improved my typing (trying to keep up with my mind!)Still can’t touch type perfectly yet though :(

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  47. Can’t believe it, I only got 24 but I have got certificates for 55wpm, albeit from 50 years ago!

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  48. oh and my words are 34 wpm!

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  49. 42 wpm, not too bad…

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  50. 31 wpm and my left and right index fingers were flying!!!

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  51. 48WPM – happy with that.

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  52. eek – 37 not so good!

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  53. 22 WPM
    91.4 %

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  54. Hangs head in shame…. 21 :(

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  55. 56 WPM
    96.1 %

    Quite happy with that!

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  56. 29 wpm lol never make a typist would i

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  57. 22 wpm 97.3 accuracy !

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  58. 72 wpm

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  59. Speed 33 accuracy 95.3

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  60. 34, sure it could be improved xxx

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  61. I got 39WPM Im so out touch lol Thats what you get being a stay at home mum

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  62. On tests I average 65 wpm, but trust me I’m faster, I’ve had an entire room of people standing watching me type. What I do counts as touch typing, but I apparently don’t use my fingers correctly – e.g. I use my first two fingers, rather than keeping my hands in place and using all fingers – not sure why that’s an issue as long as I type well.

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  63. have not got a scoobie!!-only type with two fingers so quite slow I imagine!!

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  64. 27 WPM :( Accuracy: 98.5% :)

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  65. Speed: 32wpm
    Accuracy: 100%

    I am happy with that, never took a course before, just day to day stuff… ;0)

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  66. Speed:27 WPM
    Accuracy:97 %

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  67. 47WPM with 97.1% accuracy

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  68. Speed:
    Accuracy:
    75 WPM
    98.4 %

    Not bad, I learned typing at school and have always done it so never get rusty! Its great as my typing can keep up with my thoughts so its really easy to email family and friends as the words just flow as if I were talking to them!

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  69. 74 wpm
    100% accuracy
    Not bad if I do say so myself!

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  70. 27% wpm, 95% accuracy ~~ ;(

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  71. 29 WPM, 88.4 % accuracy.

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  72. 57 WPM
    98.7% Accuracy

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  73. Oh dear only 55!!! I have certificates from College that show I am much better than that – but that was more years ago than I care to remember. My excuse is that I don’t get as much practice these days :-)

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  74. 57 WPM, 97.5% accuracy. Not fantastic but not too bad!

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  75. I’m rubbish – the old one-finger go-slow!

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  76. a lowly 24 I’m afraid

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  77. 32% oops 97% accuracy

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  78. I got 38 wpm and 92% accuracy

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  79. 62 wpm and 93% accuracy not bad

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  80. 34 WPM – not good!

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  81. I got 38 wpm and 87 accuracy

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  82. 60 WPM with 96.8% accuracy.

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  83. 42 wpm. Much faster than I thought. Not bad for two fingers, especially when one of them hurts following a bad cut that need stitches and then getting a glass splinter. If it was working properly I may have got up to 43wpm :-)

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  84. 55 WPM, 97% Accuracy :)

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  85. 38 wpm not good accuracy !!

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  86. 70 WPM at 98.4% accuracy

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  87. 54 wpm and 93.4% accuracy. I could probably use some practice.

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  88. Oh dear i’m sure it said 12wpm :(

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  89. 23 wpm (100% accuracy)

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  90. 22 wpm but I wasn’t really trying…

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  91. Best was 45wpm – nowadays down to 35wpm

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  92. Tracey Mcloughlin’s Test Results
    Speed:
    Accuracy:
    30 WPM
    97.5 %
    Correct Entries:
    Incorrect Entries:
    Fixed Mistakes:
    Total Entries:
    Error Rate:
    Raw Speed:
    Key Speed:
    Complete Words:
    Total Time:
    *mouse over labels for more info
    159
    4
    1
    163
    3
    33 WPM
    163 KPM
    33
    1 min

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  93. i gained rsa 11 and audio 1 and shorthand in 1983

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  94. 38 wpm 98% accuracy!

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  95. Mine was 10wpm but it was rubbish, I type really fast when I’m not going over existing words.

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  96. A disappointing 73 words per minute

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  97. Oh dear 26WPM :(

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  98. 32Wpm. happy to go slow :-)

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  99. Speed:72 WPM

    Accuracy:94.9 %

    Not bad, but I have just woken up :P

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    • 35wpm – I blame my old keyboard :)

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  100. 46wpm – 90% accuracy :/ thought I was faster than that to be honest :( x

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  101. 19 words per minute, notbad

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  102. 4 WPM its finger typeing as not done any since leaving school so im snails pace

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  103. 38 words per minute

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  104. 44 WPM – not too bad :)

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  105. 21 wpm thats so bad

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  106. 22 wpm,, not good, but i suppose I was trying to concentrate too hard on being accurate. Not bad for 2 fingered typing though I suppose.

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  107. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  108. Very poor I’m afraid 22 wpm

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  109. Speed:
    Accuracy:
    10 WPM
    92.2 %

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  110. 40wpm but I definitely go faster when I’m not typing over words!

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  111. Speed: 30 WPM
    Accuracy: 94 %

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  112. 55 WPM and 94% Accuracy

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  113. 95% accuracy and 48wpm

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  114. 28 was my best!

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  115. 70 wpm ! I’m quietly impressed with that! Of course that might improve if I had a super duper ergonomic keyboard… Just saying ????

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  116. Speed (WPM)
    43
    Accuracy
    89.6

    It kept dropping as I was slacking on punctuation,
    It highlights the fact that i rely way to much on the spell checkers.

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  117. Errmmm 23wpm, all I can say is it’s good that I don’t have to type at work

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  118. 52 WPM, quite happy with that x

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  119. 70 wpm which sounds about right for me

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  120. 85 wpm !! but I have been typing as a job for the last 35 years LOL

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  121. 54 wpm with no errors – not bad

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  122. 25 WPM – I’m useless at typing!

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  123. I got 22WPM. needs practice.

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  124. That was fun…but only 32? Must have hit some bum keys!!

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  125. I couldn’t get it to work. Yet sure I would have been pants!

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  126. 24 WPM – good job I didn’t need typing when I started my job even though we do use computers now. I generally only use my left hand to type ‘a’ and occasionally an ‘f’ or a ‘d’ lol, no wonder I’m slow

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  127. 84 WPM with a 98.6% accuracy i’m happy with that :D

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  128. 39 :( can do better

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  129. 48 wpm which is ok considering I never took a single lesson, but taught myself :)

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  130. 55 WPM. I’m better on the computer, just proud that I got 97.5% accuracy!

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  131. I didn’t try very hard and took a break in the middle because I hadn’t realised I had to go back to the top. I shan’t brag about my results but I would say I am constantly niggled when there is only one space between a full stop and a new sentence. And what sort of test is it that not only allows you to look at the keyboard but is devoid of three part flimsies and doesn’t have a manual return. what is the world coming to ;-)

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  132. 58 WPM, quite impressed as English isn’t my first language :)

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  133. 27wpm but didnt help that the cat decided to love me half way through!

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  134. 63 wpm….oops!

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  135. 44 – not too bad

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  136. 21 WPM
    94 %

    definitely need practice x

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  137. not very good, 24wpm

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  138. oops 25wpm not bad for two fingers and dodgy eyesight. lol

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  139. 47wpm a couple of mistakes slowed me down as I corrected them… think I’ll give it another go!!

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  140. 38wpm – I thought it would be more than that, perhaps I need to take lessons after all !!

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  141. 62 wpm, but I did learn to touch type at school (quite a few years ago though!)

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  142. 28wpm-i’m hopeless!

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  143. I got 55wpm, although I didn’t realise the text started appearing at the top again!

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  144. 55 WPM, 91% accuracy!

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  145. 40 WPM with a 91.5 accuracy
    Not the best but I get by.Never taken a typing course, this is just from using computers all the time.
    (probably quicker when not copying.)

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  146. 41 words per minute on laptop, would be quicker on desktop

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  147. The last speed typing test I took was a couple of days ago and I was hitting 98 words per minute with 98% accuracy.

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  148. my son would love this

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  149. 55wpm 99% accuracy

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  150. Wow I was 76wpm and 98.7% accuracy

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  151. 41 WPM
    95.5 % Accuracy

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  152. A lousy 25 words per minute.

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  153. 56 wpm and 97% accuracy

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  154. 58wpm
    94.9% accuracy.

    Just to add I think the 30% of all British companies would only hire someone who could touch type is nonsense. Surely there is more context to this?

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  155. 46 words per minute!!! Used to be able to do 60!

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  156. 15 first time then 21 second, pretty useless

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  157. Not very good considering I have loads of pitman qualifications :-/

    Speed:

    Accuracy:

    48 WPM

    96.5 %

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  158. An awful 29 wpm 98% accuracy.

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  159. 38 wpm which was not too bad

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  160. Only 27 wpm! 96% accuracy

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  161. 28 WPM for me and 95% Accruacy, but think I could do a lot better with some more practice !

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  162. 58wpm/ 98% accuracy

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  163. 33 WPM 94.5% accuracy lol

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  164. 32 WPM with 99.4 % accuracy – so slow but quite accurate ;))

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  165. Speed:27 WPM
    Accuracy:95 %

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  166. 43WPM and 97.1% accuracy

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  167. Speed:33 WPM
    Accuracy:98.9 %

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  168. 56 wpm/98.7 accuracy

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  169. 32 wpm, 97% accurate

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  170. 26 wpm 96 acuuracy

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  171. 56 wpm/98.7 accuracy

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  172. Oh dear I’m rubbish only 22 wpm!

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  173. I was 45 wpm which isn’t too bad as I’m typing with my laptop in bed!

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  174. 45 words per minute 96% accuracy

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  175. 42 WPM

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  176. 48 WPM 95.1% accuracy. The problem I have is when I do tests like this I always panic more hehe.

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  177. 58 words a minute

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  178. 45% with 95% accuracy…this is a lot lover than before I got arthritis in wrists and fingers :(

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  179. Speed: 20 WPM
    Accuracy: 89.8 % – with a cat sat on my lap as usual!

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  180. Completely rubbish at 18 WPM

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  181. 33wpm but admittedly sprawling on the sofa with a laptop resting on the arm of the sofa may not be ideal work conditions

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  182. 65 WPM
    97% Accuracy

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  183. Correct Entries:
    Incorrect Entries:
    Fixed Mistakes:
    Total Entries:
    Error Rate:
    Raw Speed:
    Key Speed:
    Complete Words:
    Total Time:
    *mouse over labels for more info
    176
    0
    0
    176
    0
    35 WPM
    176 KPM
    35
    1 min

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  184. 48 WPM 95.1% accuracy.

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  185. 44 words per minute 98% accuracy

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  186. Not good, need a better keyboard ;-)

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  187. 46 wpm and 98.8% accuracy

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  188. 47 wpm with 98.7% accuracy

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  189. 26 wpm – not impressed with myself

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  190. I got 35WPM with a 97.1% accuracy.

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  191. I got 37

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  192. I had 75 WMP and 100% accuracy – well, I do work in Administration and Social Media ;)

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  193. 24 wpm on the test, i never have to do copy typing and am much faster putting my own words down (51 wpm).

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  194. I got 33 and 75%

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  195. 43 WPM 98% accuracy

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  196. 75 wpm 97.1% accuracy

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  197. 42 WPM and 96% accuracy

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  198. 77wpm with 97% accuracy – the touch typing course I did between GCSEs and A-Levels is definitely the most useful thing I did at school!

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  199. 78wpm with 100% accuracy

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  200. 16 wpm – pathetic :)

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  201. 16 wpm with 90% accuracy. I do have Parkinson’s so my typing screwed…..damn I knew I was slow but damn. Think it’s time for Dragon software.

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  202. 35wpm 94.9% accuracy
    33wpm 98.8% accuracy
    35wpm 97.8% accuracy
    35wpm 98.3% accuracy

    need this prize for 100%

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  203. Speed: 20 WPM

    Accuracy: 92.8 %

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  204. I managed 30 WPM :)

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  205. basically…….quite a ways to go before I can even comment on here ahaha

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  206. 88wpm with 100% accuracy

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  207. Speed: 38 WPM
    Accuracy: 95.5 %

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  208. I managed 77 but I knew the song which made it easier to type out haha :)

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  209. 34wpm with a small child chatting to me!!!

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  210. 40 wpm but acxcurate. Ive really let my skills go since I stoopped typing for a living many years ago; I gained RSA III in my time! I may keep doing this test just to hone my skills again!

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    • LOL that wasn’t accurate though, was it? :)

      Post a Reply
  211. 20 WPM with an 88.7% accuracy.

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