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.
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.
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.
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
15 September 2014
I can’t touch type so no point in taking the test lol
15 September 2014
44 words per minute!
15 September 2014
Speed:
Accuracy:
68 WPM
96.1 %
16 September 2014
66WPM
16 September 2014
ha ha oh dear, 30 words per minute!!!!
16 September 2014
44 words per minute
16 September 2014
40 words per min
16 September 2014
used to be able to touch type but out of practice now, quite fast anyway
16 September 2014
45 WPM
16 September 2014
49 words per min.
16 September 2014
oh my…44 words per min…not good
16 September 2014
24 WPM lol!
16 September 2014
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
16 September 2014
27 wpm, I’m a slowey x
16 September 2014
30 wpm and 99.3% accuracy
16 September 2014
Not too interested in fast typing at the moment.
16 September 2014
30 words a minute. I think I need some practice!
16 September 2014
36WPM :O really bad!
16 September 2014
49 words per minute
16 September 2014
61 wpm
16 September 2014
slow… 30 wpm 96.3% accuracy
16 September 2014
56 wpm
16 September 2014
62 words per minute rubbish!!!
16 September 2014
Not sure if I can love to try tho
16 September 2014
49words a minute
16 September 2014
44 words per minute
16 September 2014
67 not bad!
16 September 2014
21 wpm 98.1 %
16 September 2014
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)
16 September 2014
I can’t touch type, I also had Hey Jude lyrics which I knew anyway:
Speed:
Accuracy:
35 WPM
95.7 %
16 September 2014
I can type fast enough. Unfortunately my brain doesn’t really keep up with my fingers.
16 September 2014
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.
16 September 2014
22 wpm
98.4% accuracy
Actually, I’m surprised it was that fast – I’m the original two-finger typist!
16 September 2014
33 words per minute! oops
16 September 2014
40 minutes a minute
16 September 2014
67 WPM – not bad I think :)
16 September 2014
34 WPM
16 September 2014
22 WPM
92.1 accuracy
16 September 2014
41 wpm which isn’t too bad I guess, but could do much better
16 September 2014
A disappointing 36 words 95% accuracy
16 September 2014
Speed:
Accuracy:
46 WPM
94.4 %
16 September 2014
33 WPM
16 September 2014
55 wpm, 98.9% accuracy
16 September 2014
Speed:44 wpm
Accuracy:98.2%
16 September 2014
Speed: 32 WPM
Accuracy: 97.5%
16 September 2014
66 for me!
16 September 2014
Typing speed: 21 wpm.
Accuracy: 87%
16 September 2014
55 wpm
98.9% accuracy
16 September 2014
22 WPM
17 September 2014
my score was so low i’m too embarrassed to print it!
17 September 2014
Not too bad I suppose…..
Speed: 25 WPM
Accuracy: 96.7%
17 September 2014
58 wpm Accuracy 96.7 – not too bad lol
17 September 2014
49WPM
17 September 2014
My typing speed it 61 wpm
17 September 2014
23 WPM
17 September 2014
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 :(
17 September 2014
Can’t believe it, I only got 24 but I have got certificates for 55wpm, albeit from 50 years ago!
17 September 2014
27
17 September 2014
53 wpm
17 September 2014
oh and my words are 34 wpm!
17 September 2014
48 wpm
17 September 2014
42 wpm, not too bad…
17 September 2014
38 wpm
17 September 2014
39wpm 94%
17 September 2014
31 wpm and my left and right index fingers were flying!!!
17 September 2014
48WPM – happy with that.
17 September 2014
47 WPM
17 September 2014
80 wpm!
17 September 2014
eek – 37 not so good!
17 September 2014
22 WPM
91.4 %
17 September 2014
35WPM…
17 September 2014
Hangs head in shame…. 21 :(
17 September 2014
56 WPM
96.1 %
Quite happy with that!
17 September 2014
33WPM 97.6%
17 September 2014
44 WPM
17 September 2014
29 wpm lol never make a typist would i
17 September 2014
36 wpm – not good!
17 September 2014
22 wpm 97.3 accuracy !
17 September 2014
72 wpm
17 September 2014
Speed 33 accuracy 95.3
17 September 2014
34, sure it could be improved xxx
17 September 2014
I got 39WPM Im so out touch lol Thats what you get being a stay at home mum
17 September 2014
30wpm
18 September 2014
42
18 September 2014
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.
18 September 2014
54 wpm
18 September 2014
have not got a scoobie!!-only type with two fingers so quite slow I imagine!!
18 September 2014
27 WPM :( Accuracy: 98.5% :)
18 September 2014
36wpm
18 September 2014
Speed: 32wpm
Accuracy: 100%
I am happy with that, never took a course before, just day to day stuff… ;0)
18 September 2014
Speed:27 WPM
Accuracy:97 %
18 September 2014
47WPM with 97.1% accuracy
18 September 2014
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!
18 September 2014
74 wpm
100% accuracy
Not bad if I do say so myself!
18 September 2014
27% wpm, 95% accuracy ~~ ;(
18 September 2014
29 WPM, 88.4 % accuracy.
18 September 2014
57 WPM
98.7% Accuracy
18 September 2014
27
18 September 2014
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 :-)
18 September 2014
57 WPM, 97.5% accuracy. Not fantastic but not too bad!
18 September 2014
54wpm
22 September 2014
is good 73 wpm?
18 September 2014
I’m rubbish – the old one-finger go-slow!
18 September 2014
a lowly 24 I’m afraid
18 September 2014
32% oops 97% accuracy
18 September 2014
I got 38 wpm and 92% accuracy
18 September 2014
62 wpm and 93% accuracy not bad
18 September 2014
34 WPM – not good!
18 September 2014
I got 38 wpm and 87 accuracy
18 September 2014
60 WPM with 96.8% accuracy.
18 September 2014
38 wpm!
18 September 2014
42 wpm
18 September 2014
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 :-)
18 September 2014
55 WPM, 97% Accuracy :)
18 September 2014
38 wpm not good accuracy !!
18 September 2014
So very pooor! 12 lol
18 September 2014
42 wpm
18 September 2014
70 WPM at 98.4% accuracy
18 September 2014
54 wpm and 93.4% accuracy. I could probably use some practice.
18 September 2014
Oh dear i’m sure it said 12wpm :(
19 September 2014
23 wpm (100% accuracy)
19 September 2014
22 wpm but I wasn’t really trying…
19 September 2014
Best was 45wpm – nowadays down to 35wpm
19 September 2014
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
19 September 2014
i gained rsa 11 and audio 1 and shorthand in 1983
19 September 2014
38 wpm 98% accuracy!
19 September 2014
Mine was 10wpm but it was rubbish, I type really fast when I’m not going over existing words.
19 September 2014
31 WPM
19 September 2014
A disappointing 73 words per minute
19 September 2014
Oh dear 26WPM :(
20 September 2014
32Wpm. happy to go slow :-)
20 September 2014
Speed:72 WPM
Accuracy:94.9 %
Not bad, but I have just woken up :P
20 September 2014
35wmp
20 September 2014
35wpm – I blame my old keyboard :)
20 September 2014
46wpm – 90% accuracy :/ thought I was faster than that to be honest :( x
20 September 2014
19 words per minute, notbad
20 September 2014
4 WPM its finger typeing as not done any since leaving school so im snails pace
20 September 2014
62 WPM :)
20 September 2014
38wpm
21 September 2014
38 words per minute
21 September 2014
44 WPM – not too bad :)
21 September 2014
21 wpm thats so bad
21 September 2014
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.
21 September 2014
Thanks for the giveaway!
22 September 2014
Very poor I’m afraid 22 wpm
23 September 2014
Speed:
Accuracy:
10 WPM
92.2 %
23 September 2014
40wpm but I definitely go faster when I’m not typing over words!
23 September 2014
Speed: 30 WPM
Accuracy: 94 %
24 September 2014
55 WPM and 94% Accuracy
24 September 2014
95% accuracy and 48wpm
25 September 2014
28 was my best!
25 September 2014
33WPM
25 September 2014
60wpm
25 September 2014
37WPM
26 September 2014
70 wpm ! I’m quietly impressed with that! Of course that might improve if I had a super duper ergonomic keyboard… Just saying ????
28 September 2014
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.
28 September 2014
48WPM
28 September 2014
44wpm…
29 September 2014
Errmmm 23wpm, all I can say is it’s good that I don’t have to type at work
29 September 2014
52 WPM, quite happy with that x
30 September 2014
30!
3 October 2014
17
3 October 2014
56 for me :)
4 October 2014
79 WPM
4 October 2014
32 wpm
5 October 2014
70 wpm which sounds about right for me
5 October 2014
44 wpm
6 October 2014
44WPM
6 October 2014
44WPM
6 October 2014
85 wpm !! but I have been typing as a job for the last 35 years LOL
7 October 2014
54 wpm with no errors – not bad
7 October 2014
25 WPM – I’m useless at typing!
8 October 2014
31 wpm
8 October 2014
I got 22WPM. needs practice.
8 October 2014
26 WPM
9 October 2014
55 WPM. :-)
9 October 2014
That was fun…but only 32? Must have hit some bum keys!!
9 October 2014
I couldn’t get it to work. Yet sure I would have been pants!
10 October 2014
36 wpm
10 October 2014
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
10 October 2014
84 WPM with a 98.6% accuracy i’m happy with that :D
10 October 2014
34
11 October 2014
70 wpm :)
12 October 2014
36 wpm
12 October 2014
39 :( can do better
13 October 2014
48 wpm which is ok considering I never took a single lesson, but taught myself :)
13 October 2014
55 WPM. I’m better on the computer, just proud that I got 97.5% accuracy!
13 October 2014
47 wpm
13 October 2014
75 wpm
13 October 2014
59
13 October 2014
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 ;-)
13 October 2014
58 WPM, quite impressed as English isn’t my first language :)
13 October 2014
27wpm but didnt help that the cat decided to love me half way through!
13 October 2014
63 wpm….oops!
14 October 2014
32wpm
14 October 2014
35
14 October 2014
44 – not too bad
14 October 2014
21 WPM
94 %
definitely need practice x
14 October 2014
not very good, 24wpm
14 October 2014
oops 25wpm not bad for two fingers and dodgy eyesight. lol
14 October 2014
41 WPM
14 October 2014
47wpm a couple of mistakes slowed me down as I corrected them… think I’ll give it another go!!
15 October 2014
38wpm – I thought it would be more than that, perhaps I need to take lessons after all !!
15 October 2014
35 WPM
15 October 2014
62 wpm, but I did learn to touch type at school (quite a few years ago though!)
15 October 2014
28wpm-i’m hopeless!
15 October 2014
37WPM
16 October 2014
I got 55wpm, although I didn’t realise the text started appearing at the top again!
16 October 2014
55 WPM, 91% accuracy!
16 October 2014
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.)
16 October 2014
46 for me
16 October 2014
41 words per minute on laptop, would be quicker on desktop
16 October 2014
40 words per minute
16 October 2014
40sec :)
17 October 2014
The last speed typing test I took was a couple of days ago and I was hitting 98 words per minute with 98% accuracy.
17 October 2014
55wpm 99% accuracy
17 October 2014
my son would love this
17 October 2014
55wpm 99% accuracy
17 October 2014
Wow I was 76wpm and 98.7% accuracy
17 October 2014
41 WPM
95.5 % Accuracy
17 October 2014
A lousy 25 words per minute.
17 October 2014
21 wpm
17 October 2014
25secs
17 October 2014
56 wpm and 97% accuracy
17 October 2014
30 on my laptop
17 October 2014
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?
17 October 2014
77
17 October 2014
46 words per minute!!! Used to be able to do 60!
17 October 2014
31 wpm
17 October 2014
15 first time then 21 second, pretty useless
17 October 2014
32 words per min
17 October 2014
Not very good considering I have loads of pitman qualifications :-/
Speed:
Accuracy:
48 WPM
96.5 %
17 October 2014
An awful 29 wpm 98% accuracy.
17 October 2014
38 wpm which was not too bad
17 October 2014
Only 27 wpm! 96% accuracy
17 October 2014
28 WPM for me and 95% Accruacy, but think I could do a lot better with some more practice !
17 October 2014
58wpm/ 98% accuracy
17 October 2014
33 WPM 94.5% accuracy lol
17 October 2014
32 WPM with 99.4 % accuracy – so slow but quite accurate ;))
17 October 2014
Speed:27 WPM
Accuracy:95 %
17 October 2014
43WPM and 97.1% accuracy
17 October 2014
Speed:33 WPM
Accuracy:98.9 %
17 October 2014
56 wpm/98.7 accuracy
17 October 2014
32 wpm, 97% accurate
17 October 2014
26 wpm 96 acuuracy
17 October 2014
56 wpm/98.7 accuracy
17 October 2014
Oh dear I’m rubbish only 22 wpm!
17 October 2014
I was 45 wpm which isn’t too bad as I’m typing with my laptop in bed!
17 October 2014
45 words per minute 96% accuracy
17 October 2014
42 WPM
17 October 2014
32 wpm
17 October 2014
42 WPM
17 October 2014
48 WPM 95.1% accuracy. The problem I have is when I do tests like this I always panic more hehe.
17 October 2014
58 words a minute
17 October 2014
45% with 95% accuracy…this is a lot lover than before I got arthritis in wrists and fingers :(
17 October 2014
Speed: 20 WPM
Accuracy: 89.8 % – with a cat sat on my lap as usual!
17 October 2014
Completely rubbish at 18 WPM
17 October 2014
41 wpm 97%
18 October 2014
40 for me
18 October 2014
34 WPM 93.5%
18 October 2014
47 WPM
18 October 2014
33wpm but admittedly sprawling on the sofa with a laptop resting on the arm of the sofa may not be ideal work conditions
18 October 2014
29 wpm
18 October 2014
65 WPM
97% Accuracy
18 October 2014
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
18 October 2014
54 wpm
18 October 2014
48 WPM 95.1% accuracy.
18 October 2014
44 words per minute 98% accuracy
18 October 2014
Not good, need a better keyboard ;-)
18 October 2014
46 wpm and 98.8% accuracy
18 October 2014
39
18 October 2014
47 wpm with 98.7% accuracy
18 October 2014
26 wpm – not impressed with myself
18 October 2014
66 wpm
18 October 2014
41 for me :)
18 October 2014
34 WPM
92.9 %
18 October 2014
I got 35WPM with a 97.1% accuracy.
18 October 2014
24 WPM
85.4 %
18 October 2014
I got 37
18 October 2014
I had 75 WMP and 100% accuracy – well, I do work in Administration and Social Media ;)
18 October 2014
24 wpm on the test, i never have to do copy typing and am much faster putting my own words down (51 wpm).
18 October 2014
I got 33 and 75%
18 October 2014
43 WPM 98% accuracy
18 October 2014
75 wpm 97.1% accuracy
18 October 2014
42 WPM and 96% accuracy
18 October 2014
55 WPM
18 October 2014
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!
18 October 2014
24 WPM
92.3 %
18 October 2014
73 WPM :)
18 October 2014
78wpm with 100% accuracy
18 October 2014
16 wpm – pathetic :)
18 October 2014
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.
18 October 2014
24 WPM
85.4 %
18 October 2014
35wpm 94.9% accuracy
33wpm 98.8% accuracy
35wpm 97.8% accuracy
35wpm 98.3% accuracy
need this prize for 100%
18 October 2014
Speed: 20 WPM
Accuracy: 92.8 %
18 October 2014
I managed 30 WPM :)
18 October 2014
basically…….quite a ways to go before I can even comment on here ahaha
18 October 2014
88wpm with 100% accuracy
18 October 2014
Speed: 38 WPM
Accuracy: 95.5 %
18 October 2014
I managed 77 but I knew the song which made it easier to type out haha :)
18 October 2014
60
18 October 2014
17 wpm
18 October 2014
34wpm with a small child chatting to me!!!
18 October 2014
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!
18 October 2014
LOL that wasn’t accurate though, was it? :)
18 October 2014
33wpm
18 October 2014
20 WPM with an 88.7% accuracy.