Typing tests are programs used by employers in various industries to measure a potential employee's typing speed and accuracy. The ability to type efficiently is a must for any job-seeker in any field. Typing tests can also help students or future students. With the advent of the Internet, the ability to communicate accurately through email, message board/forum postings, and other types of online media is required in many universities and colleges. Typing tests are very simple to take and require little time. Once you find a site with a typing test you are comfortable with (see resources below) you need only enter a few sentences to a paragraph's worth of words while being timed. Once the test is complete, the program will show you how quickly you typed in words per minute, or WPM. The program also will highlight or otherwise note any spelling, numerical or punctuation errors made.
If you're a job-seeker in any field, a typing test can mean getting that coveted second interview or the actual job. The results of a typing test on a resume shows potential employers that you are a professional. It shows that you are aware of the skills required of you, and most importantly, that you have those skills. Because typing tests can be taken over and over again, you can keep practicing until you have a consistently high WPM result.
If you're a returning student, typing tests can help you strengthen your typing skills. In this day and age, it is almost required that you are familiar with using the Internet effectively, as well as using a computer to turn in assignments. Everyone knows that academic life can be stressful, and one of those stresses can come from a difficulty in typing up various assignments. Typing tests allow you to get familiar with your keyboard at your own pace. This familiarity will become invaluable since it will help you decrease the time it takes you to complete your assignments.
Since typing tests take little time, you can take them whenever you have around 5-15 minutes of free time. However, if you know you have a job interview scheduled in the next few weeks but you also know that your typing is a little rusty, you should probably start practicing as soon as possible. If you know your WPM speed but want some document to prove it, you can take the test a few days before your interview.
Finding sites to test your typing is very easy. All you need to do is go to your preferred search engine and key in the phrase, "typing test" or "WPM test". Most typing tests online are free of charge and offer documentation proving your speed for a fee. The results of all typing tests are usually the same, though there can be differences in layout. All typing tests will evaluate your performance based on accuracy and speed. More in-depth typing tests will show you the areas in which you really excelled, or the areas where you could use a little more practice. These areas can range from vocabulary and grammar, to punctuation and numbers. If you know that you need help with ten-key or numerical typing, a search for "numerical typing test" or "ten key typing test" will show you sites that offer evaluations of your accuracy in typing numbers.
Once you have found a site you are comfortable with, the actual test will be pretty simple, but remember to read the instructions carefully. There will be a few sentences or a paragraph of words and a text box, usually beneath the example sentences, where you will actually type. While it is impossible to "fail" a typing test, there are some things that can significantly improve your performance. Namely, be sure your space is free of distractions. Typing tests are about concentration; anything that can break your concentration will result in a lowered WPM result. You also want to make sure you are comfortable while taking the test. Make sure your seating is stable and your keyboard is placed comfortably in front of you. You should not have to stretch or squeeze your arms in while typing. Finally, try not to pay attention to the words that you are typing. This is difficult since most of us immediately read every word we see, but reading while taking a typing test can slow you down.