How WPM (Words Per Minute) and Accuracy are Calculated (Teacher & Student)

WPM (Words Per Minute) and Accuracy are the two numbers behind every screen, test and report on Typing.com. Here is exactly how each one is worked out.

What is WPM?

WPM measures speed alone. Errors are not deducted from it, so it is a gross speed, and it is rounded down to a whole number.

• Formula: WPM = (characters typed ÷ 5) ÷ time in minutes

• Word Definition: one word is five keystrokes. Letters, numbers, punctuation and spaces all count.

Example:

• 300 characters in 2 minutes gives (300 ÷ 5) ÷ 2 = 30 WPM.

What is Accuracy? Accuracy is what is left after your mistakes. Typing.com works out your error rate, rounds it to a whole percent, and subtracts it from 100.

Example:

• 300 characters with 16 errors is an error rate of 16 ÷ 300 = 5.3%, which rounds to 5%.

• Your accuracy is 100 - 5 = 95%.

Both figures are shown to students on their own pages and to teachers on the class roster and in reports.