Why you need a typing speed test and a WPM certificate, and which test to take

Let's figure out why you should take a typing speed test at all, who needs a WPM certificate and where, and — most importantly — which test is worth taking: 1, 2, or 5 minutes.

What a WPM certificate is and why you need one

A typing speed certificate — is a document that confirms how fast and how accurately you type. It states your name, your result in WPM (or in characters per minute), your accuracy percentage, and the date of the test. Essentially, it's objective proof of a skill that you would otherwise have to simply «promise» an employer verbally.

And the word «objective» is the whole point. Anyone can write «confident PC user» or «I type fast» on a resume. A certificate turns that promise into a concrete number that can be verified.

Argument 1. Many companies require a certificate outright

This isn't a marketing scare story — for a whole range of positions, a typing speed test is an official condition of employment. Here are real examples.

Civil service

• In California, for clerical positions such as Office Assistant (Typing) and Office Technician (Typing), a candidate is required to provide a certificate obtained from a 5-minute test with a minimum of 40 WPM.
• Federal clerical positions in the US (the OPM standard) target 35–40 WPM, while the British Civil Service and the NHS target 50–60 WPM. 
• The civil services of Canada and Australia test not only speed but also accuracy — «fast but with mistakes» won't pass there. In India, a typing test is a standard part of the Staff Selection Commission exams.

Data entry and customer support

For data entry specialists, the typical bar is 50–60 WPM at 95%+ accuracy, and for live chat agents and support staff it's 50–65 WPM. This is where employers test candidates perhaps most often: typing speed directly affects how many clients a person can serve per shift.

Highly specialized roles

• Court reporters (stenographers) in the US go through NCRA certification with requirements of 180–225 WPM — that's a professional league of its own, but it shows well how seriously the skill is taken where a mistake is costly.

By the way, Ratatype is mentioned among the recognized providers of such certificates alongside Typing.com and TypingTest.com, so a certificate from us is treated as valid proof.

We've already explained in detail who exactly needs a typing certificate for work — if your future position is on that list, it's better to prepare in advance.

Tip: even if a job posting has no explicit requirement, you never know for sure whether the question will come up in the interview. 5 minutes for a test is a small price for peace of mind.

Argument 2. A certificate strengthens your resume and LinkedIn

Imagine two candidates with identical experience. One simply has «literate, attentive to detail» on their resume. The other has the same plus the line «Typing speed: 65 WPM, 98% accuracy (Ratatype certificate)». Which one will the recruiter remember?

A certificate works for you in several places at once:

• On your resume and cover letter — as a concrete, measurable skill in the Skills section. Especially valuable for administrative, remote, and entry-level positions, where experience is still limited but you need to prove your competence.
• On your LinkedIn profile — you can share the certificate as a separate post or add it to the achievements section. It's a signal of digital literacy and that you take your tools seriously.
• In an interview — when most candidates speak in general terms, a concrete number sets you apart and removes any unnecessary doubts for the employer.

The main thing: a certificate doesn't require a diploma, courses, or years of experience. It's a skill you can confirm in a matter of minutes, and it looks solid on a resume. If you've never taken a test before — it's never too late to start.

Argument 3. The test shows your real level

Even if you don't need a certificate right now, the test is worth taking for at least one reason — to learn the truth about yourself. Most people are very bad at estimating their own typing speed: some underrate themselves, others are sure they type «fast» until they see the number.

According to our data from over 506,000 tests, the median is about 35 words per minute. For many office tasks that's enough, but reaching a truly comfortable level (60+ WPM) from there still takes a lot of work. A 5-minute test will clearly show:

• what level you're at — from «hunt-and-peck» to the top 5% of masters;
• whether it's worth investing time in increasing your speed, or whether it's no longer your bottleneck;
• where your weak link is — speed, accuracy, or both at once.

It's like weighing yourself before drawing up a training plan. Without a starting number, you won't see progress and will quickly lose motivation. But when the number is in front of you, the urge to improve it kicks in.

4 more reasons to take the test today

Besides the three main arguments, there are a few more reasons that get mentioned less often:

1. Objective proof of ability. The test evaluates the skill itself — regardless of your diploma, age, or experience. For an employer it's a fair way to compare candidates, and for you — a chance to win on skill rather than connections.
2. Saving time — yours and your employer's. A fast typist gets more done per shift and tires less. By our calculations, speeding up from 35 to 60 WPM saves someone who spends a few hours a day at the keyboard about 20 working days per year.
3. Motivation and progress tracking. Regular tests turn the abstract «I want to type faster» into a concrete game with your own records. Seeing 38 WPM turn into 55 — is the best fuel for practice.
4. A stress test of the skill. Timed typing under the clock shows how you hold both speed and accuracy under pressure — and that's exactly what real work against a deadline looks like.

Which test to take: 1, 2, or 5 minutes?

This question matters more than it seems, because the test's duration directly affects the result.

• The 1-minute test — is a sprint. You have time to «get up to speed» and put out an almost peak result, but you don't have time to get tired. That's exactly why your speed over one minute is usually 10–20 WPM higher than over the long haul. It's great for a daily warm-up, a quick self-check, or when you just feel like competing with friends. 
• The 2-minute test — is the golden mean for practice. Fatigue is already starting to kick in, so the result is more honest than the one-minute one, while it takes little time. A good format for regularly tracking progress while learning.
• The 5-minute test — is the option for a certificate. And that's no accident: employers often deliberately choose 5 minutes, because they care not about a sprinter's burst but about your ability to hold the pace the same way you'll hold it throughout the workday. That same California civil service requires a certificate specifically from a 5-minute test. If someone claims 80 WPM based on a one-minute result, on a real 8-hour shift with an 80 WPM requirement they will most likely «fall apart».

The takeaway is simple:

• want to warm up, check your ceiling, or compete — 1 minute;
• training and want an honest picture of progress — 2 minutes;
• need a certificate for your resume, LinkedIn, or an employer — 5 minutes is better.

Ratatype has all of these formats: a quick test for self-checking and a full 5-minute test that generates a certificate based on your result.

How to get a certificate on Ratatype

It takes literally just a few minutes:

1. Open the testing page and take the 5-minute test.
2. Get a certificate with your name, speed in WPM, accuracy, and date — available in 10 languages.
3. Not happy with your result? Practice on the trainer and retake the test anytime — the certificate will be saved for your best result.

No limit on the number of attempts: you can always come back, build up your speed, and update the certificate to a fresher, better result.

Get a WPM certificate

Frequently asked questions

Is a WPM certificate really needed for a job? 

For some positions — yes, right in the job requirements (civil service, data entry, customer support, administrative roles). For the rest it's not mandatory, but it becomes a significant plus on your resume and in the interview.

Which test should you take for a certificate — 1, 2, or 5 minutes? 

For a certificate — the 5-minute one is better. It reflects your real working endurance, whereas shorter tests inflate the result and are better suited for warming up and practice.

What typing speed is considered good?

For office positions — usually 40–60 WPM at 95%+ accuracy; for data entry and support — 60 WPM and above. The median among Ratatype users is about 35 WPM, so most people have room to grow.

Can you add the certificate to LinkedIn and your resume? 

Yes. This is especially useful for administrative, remote, and entry-level positions. You can share the certificate in a social media post and add it to your LinkedIn profile.

What should you do if your result is low? 

Don't be upset — typing speed can be trained. Practice on the Ratatype trainer, giving it 15 minutes a day, and retake the test. The certificate can always be updated to a better result.

Don't know your level? Find out right now — it's free and takes less time than a coffee break.

Take the test on Ratatype