Every second counts in today’s fast-paced digital workspace. For roles that demand data entry, content creation, or real-time communication, typing speed and accuracy can significantly influence productivity. As an employer, understanding the value of a typing test in the hiring process is key to optimizing talent acquisition and workforce efficiency.
Table of Contents
This comprehensive guide will break down what a typing assessment is, why it matters, and how you can effectively use it to evaluate typing speed, accuracy, and overall keyboard proficiency during the hiring process using advanced skills assessment software.
TL;DR – Key Takeaway!
- A typing test measures typing speed and accuracy, crucial for roles requiring fast and error-free data entry or communication.
- Most tests use words per minute (WPM) and error rate to determine overall typing performance.
- A score of 45–75+ WPM with 95%+ accuracy is considered job-ready depending on the role.
- There are multiple formats like typing speed check, capitalization/punctuation tests, and 10-key numeric tests to meet various job demands.
- Why assess typing skills? To boost productivity, reduce errors, shorten training time, and gain a competitive advantage.
- Use customized typing assessment tests that match your hiring needs.
- Conduct tests in a controlled environment with reliable online typing tests for consistent, scalable, and audit-ready results.
- Skip typing assessments from pre-employment testing at your own risk: increased errors, slower work, higher training costs.
- Xobin’s AI-driven skills-based assessments provide a full portfolio of typing tests for employment designed to measure speed, accuracy, and endurance.
- Use the test results not only to hire smarter but also to identify training gaps in your existing workforce.
What is a Typing Test?
A typing skill assessment test is a standardized assessment that measures how quickly and accurately a person can type. It evaluates multiple facets such as typing speed, accuracy, and proficiency with keyboard layouts. Often, typing tests measure words per minute (WPM), a standard metric indicating how many words a person can type in 60 seconds, while also assessing spelling, grammar, punctuation, and error rate.
Typing tests come in various forms, including
- Online typing test platforms
- Timed exercises focused on speed or accuracy
- Specialized tests for capitalization, punctuation, or numeric keypad skills
Typing skills are no longer limited to administrative jobs. In the digital age, everyone from customer service representatives to programmers and journalists needs excellent typing proficiency. That’s why using a reliable typing assessment is crucial for hiring. These tests serve as practical evaluations for recruitment and training, particularly in roles where fast and precise typing is crucial.
Typing Test Benchmarks: What’s a Good Score?
For most roles:
- 35–45 WPM: Average (basic admin tasks)
- 45–60 WPM: Good (customer support, sales admin)
- 60–75+ WPM: Excellent (transcription, coding documentation)
Accuracy should ideally be above 95%. A low error rate is just as important as typing speed.
Why Typing Skills Matter for Your Business
Typing is a fundamental skill in nearly every modern office environment. Here’s why you should prioritize assessing these skills for your workforce:
- Enhanced Productivity: Faster typists can complete tasks like data entry, email correspondence, and report writing more quickly.
- Improved Accuracy: Accurate typing reduces costly errors, especially in fields like finance and customer service.
- Better Communication: Clear and swift typing facilitates smoother internal and external communication.
- Reduced Training Time: Hiring candidates with proven typing skills shortens onboarding time.
- Competitive Edge: Skilled employees can adapt to new software and digital workflows faster.
Companies that neglect to check typing skills risk hiring employees who struggle with fundamental digital communication. You must recognize that investing in robust typing tests is a smart business move to boost efficiency and quality.
Key Metrics Evaluated in a Typing Assessment or a Typing Test
A high-quality typing test goes beyond just WPM. Here’s what it typically measures:
1. Typing Speed (WPM)
Measures how many words per minute a candidate can type.
2. Typing Accuracy
Calculates the error rate, including spelling mistakes, skipped words, and misplaced punctuation.
3. Typing Endurance
Assesses how well someone maintains speed and accuracy over a longer duration.
4. Attention to Capitalization and Formatting
Some tests, such as Xobin’s Typing Speed Capitalization and Punctuation Test, evaluate a candidate’s ability to format correctly under time pressure.
5. Numerical and Symbol Typing
Certain jobs require fast numerical input. Tests like the 10-Key Typing Decimals and Operators Test help assess this ability.
Different Types of Typing Tests to Consider
When deciding how to evaluate typing speed and accuracy, it’s important to know the different types of typing tests for jobs that are available:
| Test Type | Purpose |
| General English Typing Test | Assess English typing speed for basic clerical roles |
| Fast Typing Test | For roles requiring high output volume |
| Capitalization & Punctuation Test | Evaluates formatting accuracy |
| 10-Key Typing Test | For numeric data entry roles |
| Typing Accuracy Test | Identifies error-prone candidates |
Choosing the best skills testing tool to assess these skills online depends on various factors. Select the the one which fits in your role’s daily requirements.
How to Assess Candidates Typing Skills
For leaders looking to improve their hiring or internal training processes, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to test candidates for typing skills effectively:
Step 1: Define Your Job Requirements
Start by clearly defining the typing skills your job demands. Is speed most important? Or is accuracy critical? Some roles require a mix of both, while others might need specialized skills like numeric keypad typing.
Step 2: Choose the Right Typing Assessment Test
Based on your requirements, select the appropriate typing skills evaluation. For example:
- For general office roles, a words-per-minute typing test with accuracy measurement may suffice.
- For accounting roles, a 10-key typing decimals and operators test is ideal.
- For customer support roles, an online typing assessment in English can ensure communication fluency.
At Xobin, we offer a diverse portfolio of tests tailored for various job functions:
- Typing Online Test
- Typing Speed, Capitalization, and Punctuation Test
- Typing Speed Lowercase Only Test
- 10-Key Typing Decimals and Operators Test
Step 3: Administer the Test in a Controlled Environment
Send candidates a link to complete the typing test online. Use Xobin’s skill assessment platform to monitor completion, time taken, and performance. Whether remote or onsite, ensure candidates understand instructions clearly.
Step 4: Measure and Evaluate Results
Get automated reports highlighting words per minute, accuracy, and typing style. Look beyond just the raw typing speed numbers. Analyze accuracy, error patterns, and consistency. The best candidates balance speed with precision.
Step 5: Use Results for Hiring and Development
Use the pre employment typing test result for decision making to shortlist candidates. Additionally, use the results from your skill gap analysis to identify training needs for current employees.
Challenges Without a Typing Assessment
If you skip this vital test:
- You risk hiring slow communicators.
- Data entry errors may increase.
- Training time and costs go up.
- Productivity takes a hit.
To mitigate these risks, a typing test for employment is non-negotiable.
Evaluate Typing Skills with Xobin!
For executives aiming to build a high-performing team, leveraging a robust typing evaluation skill strategy is crucial. It enables you to assess typing speed, accuracy, and overall proficiency effectively, all while reducing hiring risks and improving employee productivity.
Remember, choosing the best typing test for employment doesn’t have to be complicated. With Xobin’s smart skills testing software, you get reliable, scalable, and easy-to-use tools that help you hire smarter and grow faster.
Using Xobin’s skills-based hiring, you can:
- Customize test duration and difficulty.
- Evaluate typing words per minute with accuracy tracking.
- Scale assessments to hundreds of candidates, facilitating high volume hiring.
- Gain audit-ready documentation of hiring processes.
Ready to check the typing skills of your candidates and employees? Don’t leave typing skills to chance. Book a personalized demo to access Xobin’s AI-based typing assessment tests. And find out how easy and effective it is to evaluate typing speed and accuracy with our comprehensive online solutions.
With Xobin, you’re not just assessing candidates; you’re making data-backed decisions that lead to better hires and better business outcomes.
FAQs
1. What is the purpose of a typing test in hiring?
A typing test helps employers evaluate typing speed, accuracy, and keyboard proficiency, ensuring candidates can handle data entry, communication, or documentation roles efficiently. It’s a critical part of skills-based assessments for hiring the right talent.
2. What’s considered a good score in a typing assessment test?
A good score in a typing skills assessment is typically above 45 WPM with 95%+ accuracy. Roles like transcription or data entry may require 60–75+ WPM with minimal errors.
3. How can employers check typing skills online?
Employers can evaluate typing skills through an online typing test platform like Xobin. It offers customizable, auto-graded tests that track typing speed, formatting accuracy, and more. All of this happens remotely and works easily at scale.
4. Why is accuracy as important as speed in typing tests for jobs?
Accuracy matters just as much as speed, especially in fields where errors can lead to serious issues. Typing accuracy tests reduce risk by highlighting error-prone candidates before hiring decisions are made.
5. How does Xobin’s typing test help with pre-employment screening?
Xobin’s pre-employment typing test helps companies evaluate candidates using different assessment types like capitalization tests, numeric key tests, and words-per-minute typing. As a result, HR leaders gain useful insights to make smarter decisions for hiring and upskilling.
