Words per minute (WPM) measures typing speed with minimal errors. Traditional tests involved typing a specific paragraph with a stopwatch, counting words and deducting errors. Today, employers may still test WPM on a computer without spell check.
Words per minute (WPM) is a term used to describe the rate at which an individual can accurately type a complete set of words, with a minimum of errors. In the past, when most typing was done using manual or electronic typewriters, the ability to type on a minimal amount of words per minute was often a key skill when requiring any type of administrative or clerical work. Even today, when most office work is done using a QWERTY keyboard on a computer, there is still some emphasis on maintaining a decent WPM as a requirement for certain types of work.
The traditional process for determining the words per minute an individual can type usually required giving the individual a specific paragraph or set of paragraphs to type. With this approach, the person taking the test would allow the taker to sit in front of the typewriter and drop a piece of paper into the cart. When signaled by the instructor, the applicant would begin typing the words from the sample provided until the instructor told the applicant to stop. Typically, the instructor uses a stopwatch to determine the end and start times so that the applicant types in exactly one minute.
Once the typing was complete, the paper was pulled from the typewriter and the words counted by hand. In the event that the applicant transposed letters or made any type of spelling error, those words were deducted from the total count. The end result would be the total words typed per minute and would be used to determine if the candidate was qualified for the job they were looking for.
There were variations on this basic process for determining words per minute. Some methods called for allowing a full two minutes, on the premise that the asker would need about twenty seconds to pick up speed. When this was the case, the total words typed were counted, any spelling errors deducted, and the total divided by two to give the final count.
Although typewriters are rarely used today, it’s not unusual for employers to still ask job seekers about the total words per minute they can type. Often, the interview process will include a typing test, using a desktop computer to gauge the typist’s speed. With this more contemporary approach, the typist is not allowed to use the automatic spell check during the test, or stop for a moment to correct the spelling.
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