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SharonQ
Star Contributor
Bluefield, WV
USA
867 Posts |
 Posted - 01/23/2004 : 4:55:02 PM
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Okay, this may be a dumb question. I am in the middle of signing up for a merchandising company, and one of the questions is 'how many words can you type per minute.'
I have no idea, so I did a quick search, found an online test, took it (a few times) and averaged 75. My question is: what is bad, good, or average? I could NOT find the answer. I found weird sites, like the guy who can type 60 wpm with ONE hand, but not just a normal answer. Anyone know the answer
Thanks,
Sharon |
Call me crazy, but I LOVE resets! 
Yes, even cosmetic resets. |
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Terri-CA
Star Contributor
CA
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2004 : 5:03:04 PM
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| Hi Sharon! 75 is a super number. I think the county tests where I live require a 45 wpm with no errors certificate. You should be stoked about the 75! WTG! |
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.Allison near Toronto
Inactive
Toronto, ON
Canada
157 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2004 : 5:17:49 PM
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| Yes, Terri's right. I think 75 wpm is way above average. I worked in an office where 35 wpm was considered minimum. Anything below that was considered bad, and anything between and that and 50 wpm was considered average/good. 75 wpm is quite a fast typing speed and I'm sure would meet criteria for just about anything. There are some places that require 80 wpm and higher, but those are usually for things like straight transcription where all you ever do is type! |
Allison |
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SharonQ
Star Contributor
Bluefield, WV
USA
867 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2004 : 5:30:05 PM
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Thanks guys for stroking my ego!
I took typing in high school and did okay, but in college, I had a few classes where all our notes HAD to be typed, so I just learned to do it quickly.
But the goofy thing is that the job I am applying for involves doing store set-ups, resets, and other manual labor that have nothing to do with typing at all. Go figure!
 Sharon |
Call me crazy, but I LOVE resets!
Yes, even cosmetic resets. |
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MrsKenna
Star Contributor
Oxnard, CA
USA
1641 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2004 : 5:51:57 PM
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SharonQ, that is really good! A lot of places require between 25 to 40 so you are really SMOKING!!!! (in a good way)
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CALIFORNIA- Oxnard, Camarillo, Ventura, Port Hueneme and neighboring cities |
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.StephanieA
Inactive
Redmond, WA
USA
1816 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2004 : 02:40:52 AM
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My sister types at 110 per minute she was also a sectary so she had to type fast, and with long nails to boot. I do 80. But I have been at it a while.
Your doing real good at 75. |
Shopping WA especially, Redmond, Kirkland, Bellevue, Woodinville and from Tukwila to Lynnwood.
MSPA Gold |
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LindaCulp
Star Contributor
Portland, Oregon
USA
2334 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2004 : 04:12:55 AM
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As I recall, back when I was about 20 (which was [cough][cough]25 years ago[cough][cough]), most job applications asked for a minimum typing speed of 45-60 words a minute (that was for the higher-end to very top jobs, like legal secretaries, medical transcriptionists, etc.).
Now that we don't use manual typewriters anymore and practically EVERYONE (who works in an office) types for a living, the minimum expectation has inched up to roughly 60-75 words a minute, and some legal firms and medical places want 80 or more.
It all depends on the job expectations of course, but that's the trend I've seen happening over the past 25 years.  |
Happily shopping the Portland, Oregon metro area!
~MSPA *Gold* Certified, 2003~ |
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Arlene_HI
Star Contributor
Lawai, HI
USA
676 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2004 : 09:56:44 AM
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75 wpm is awesome!!
Keyboarding is one of the classes I teach along with the Microsoft applications. For anyone who wants to improve their typing, there are many programs you can buy. We use "Typing Quick & Easy." I believe it is in the $29 range and you can find it anywhere that sells software. It tracks/graphs your progress, has a series of tutorials and tests at different levels, such as easy words, difficult words, sentences, and sentences with numbers and symbols. It also has games that require typing to shoot ducks, climb mountains and a few others. |
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Heather86
Star Contributor
Bourbonnais (S. of Chicago), IL
USA
2015 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2004 : 3:58:42 PM
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| To save myself time from having to do the searching: do you remember the site of the online test? I am curious to know how fast I can type? |
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.Carla Thompson
Inactive
Wichita, KS
USA
136 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2004 : 5:35:30 PM
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http://www.learn2type.com/TypingTest
I went from typing around 13wpm without looking at the keys (I cheated in typing class!) to 51wpm in 3 months! I had a choice of a free program when I bought my computer and I chose "Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing." It has been so helpful to me! It sounds like the one posted above is very similar, and I think "Mavis Beacon" costs around $20. |
Carla Thompson |
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SharonQ
Star Contributor
Bluefield, WV
USA
867 Posts |
Posted - 01/25/2004 : 07:02:49 AM
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Well there are many many sites to look try. But the one I used was:
http://www.careerstep.com/typeintro.html
Thanks again for the help!
Sharon
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Call me crazy, but I LOVE resets!
Yes, even cosmetic resets. |
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MariJ73
Valued Contributor
NJ
USA
184 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2005 : 9:18:52 PM
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I scored 46 wpm (after taking 1 off for errors). Not too bad for someone who types with 3 or 4 fingers, right?!  |
Mari  |
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DeborahW
Star Contributor
Bellevue, WA
USA
778 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2005 : 08:13:32 AM
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Gross words per minute: 96
Net words per minute: 95
Smokin' you guys! 
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MSPA Gold Certified
Specializing in hotel, restaurant and bar shops in Seattle and the Eastside since 2004 |
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PaulG
Valued Contributor
AL
USA
101 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2005 : 7:21:10 PM
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I thought I was hot stuff, but I guess not.
GWPM: 64, NWPM: 64 |
MSPA Silver Cert. |
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Molly Brown
Star Contributor
HI
USA
324 Posts |
Posted - 07/27/2005 : 03:43:32 AM
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wow...you all have nitrous in your fingers or something... I gotta take the typing test and see if I can catch up with everyone..
I know my sis types over 100 wpm...she also plays the piano, I think it helps her type faster. |
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Jnanne
Star Contributor
Shreveport, LA
USA
2743 Posts |
Posted - 07/27/2005 : 04:41:18 AM
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| I took two tests. One timed me at 62 wpm and the other at 67. I am so bummed. I realize it has been decades since high school, but back then I typed 90. Guess arthritis plays a part. Yeah, that's right. I'll blame it on the arthritis! |
Jnanne
Silver certified and looking for work near my new home |
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Dani-Tigger
Star Contributor
The Villages, Florida
USA
1257 Posts |
Posted - 07/27/2005 : 06:02:57 AM
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| It's funny I know I can type fast, in fact people often comment on it but I do horribly on the typing tests, they make me so nervous that I can't type, kinda like when someone stands over my shoulder and watches me type, I get all messed up. |
~Tigg~
Bouncing with my Bunny in Central Florida  
MSPA Silver Certified |
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JuanitaJ
Star Contributor
Houston, TX
USA
946 Posts |
Posted - 07/28/2009 : 5:08:21 PM
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When I was in typing class in High School I was typing 35 wpm on a manual typewriter. My instructor always emphasized that we should strive for "accuracy" and speed would follow naturally. When I applied for my first job at 17-1/2 I typed 37. I started as a statistical typist and typed mostly numbers. In six months I was timed at 76 wpm. Within one year I was clocked at 120.
I could type for hours without making a typographical error. I had followed my teacher's instructions and strived to be an accurate typist and the speed did follow, just like he said.
To this day I am a very fast typist but I have lost some of my speed because my fingers are not as nimble. But I love, love, love to type (and I love typing numbers). I always have. So the reports, narratives, etc, that come with mystery shopping are fun for me.
But in answer to the original question, I believe 70 is considered to be an excellent typing speed - accurate of course. |
Juanita
MSPA Gold Certified
Happily shopping the Houston, TX area. |
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Marie In Chicago
Mega Contributor
Chicago, IL
USA
60630 Posts |
Posted - 07/28/2009 : 6:10:12 PM
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 http://www.typingtest.com/
This is a fun test. I average 78 WPM...but I had three mistakes. I took it again and it was 70 WPM.
You pick the topic, has an automatic timer. Have fun! |
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AndreaGayle
Star Contributor
MD
USA
350 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2009 : 07:55:36 AM
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| This sounds fun, can't wait to try it! Might be good for my kids to try to practice their typing skills. |
Andrea Gayle |
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AmyK
Star Contributor
Marin County, CA
USA
426 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2009 : 4:01:20 PM
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| As Juanita can confirm, one's typing speed is much faster on a keyboard than the old manual typewriters us older folks used when we were younger. It used to take strength to press the key down to make sure it "typed" clearly and evenly. Computer keyboards allow you too correct easily as you go dramatically increasing accuracy and speed. I took typing in Jr. High and my class was just before lunch. We could leave class early if we finished our exercises quickly. The hungry stomach and the smell of food was a great incentive to improve typing speed and accuracy! |
Amy
Gold in SF Bay Area |
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Topic |
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Typing Words Per Minute - What Is A Good Number?