The most widely reported typing speed records, why they are hard to compare, and what speed you really need for a government typing test.
How fast can a person type? Records set on typewriters and computers show that the fastest typists reach well over 200 words per minute in short bursts, and around 150 WPM over longer tests. This article looks at the most widely reported typing speed records, why records are hard to compare, and what they mean for you if you are preparing for a government typing test.
| Typist | Reported speed | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Barbara Blackburn | 150 WPM for 50 minutes; peak of 212 WPM | Reported in the 1980s on a Dvorak keyboard, and long listed by Guinness World Records as the fastest English-language typist. |
| Stella Pajunas | 216 WPM | Reported in 1946 on an IBM electric typewriter. |
| Online typing sites | Well over 200 WPM | Top typists post very high scores on tests lasting seconds rather than minutes. |
Figures like these are reported in different ways and were set under different conditions, so treat them as a guide to what is humanly possible rather than as exact, comparable numbers.
Figures of around 40 WPM are often quoted for an average adult typist, while trained typists commonly reach 60 to 80 WPM. In other words, the targets in government typing tests — usually 25 to 35 WPM — are well within reach of anyone who practises regularly.
| Exam (recent notifications) | Typical target | Test length |
|---|---|---|
| SSC CHSL English | 35 WPM | 10 minutes |
| SSC CHSL Hindi | 30 WPM | 10 minutes |
| RRB NTPC English / Hindi | 30 / 25 WPM | 10 minutes |
| SSC CGL (DEST) | 8,000 KDPH (about 27 WPM) | 15 minutes |
You do not need record speed to qualify. You need steady net speed across the full test, with few mistakes. A typist who holds 38 WPM at 97% accuracy for 10 minutes will pass where a 60 WPM sprinter with many errors may not.
Train for the whole test: Practise at your exam's full length. Most people are fastest in the first few minutes; what counts is whether your speed and accuracy hold until the timer ends.
See how your speed holds over a full exam-length test. 10 Minute Typing Test
Barbara Blackburn is widely reported to have held 150 WPM for 50 minutes, with a peak of 212 WPM, and Stella Pajunas is reported to have reached 216 WPM in 1946. Online sites show higher scores over very short tests.
Reported peaks are above 200 WPM, but only over short bursts. Over long tests, the best typists sustain around 150 WPM.
Around 40 WPM is often quoted for an average adult. Government exams usually ask for 25 to 35 net WPM.
No. Most typing tests need 25 to 35 net WPM. Accuracy and stamina over the full test matter more than peak speed.
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