Why does my speed drop on tests vs. normal typing?

Test anxiety and unfamiliar random words slow you down. Your effective speed in familiar contexts is usually 10–20% higher than test results.

Typing Test WPM and Accuracy: What Your Results Actually Mean

< 30 WPM: beginner. 30–50 WPM: average. 50–70 WPM: above average. 70–90 WPM: fast. 90–120 WPM: advanced. 120+ WPM: exceptional (top 5%).

Standard WPM = (characters typed ÷ 5) ÷ minutes. Net WPM = gross WPM − (errors × 1). Accuracy = (correct characters ÷ total characters) × 100.

Productivity target: 60 WPM at 98% accuracy. Writers: 80+ WPM. Developers: 70+ WPM with code symbols. Data entry: 70+ numeric keypad.