Fact · Typing and writing speed
25.2words per minute
In MacKenzie's worked example, a 43-character phrase entered in 20 seconds scores 25.2 words per minute once the timing adjustment is applied.
Checked against its source on October 16, 2026
In the source's own words
“So, for the above example, text entry speed is 2.10 × (60 / 5) = 25.2 wpm.”
A Note on Calculating Text Entry Speed, I. Scott MacKenzie, York University, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (author's research note), 2002, Words Per Minute.
Open the original- What it measures
- The 2.10 characters per second figure leaves out the time before the first keystroke. The note gives 2.15 characters per second when that time is included.
- What it does not show
- The score depends on where the timer starts and stops, and the note shows both choices.