How TypeSwift works

1. 01

   Configure your test

   Choose your language from 7 options and select a test duration — 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, or 5 minutes. Your preferences are remembered for your next visit.

   Language and duration affect the word list used. Longer tests give a more accurate WPM average by smoothing out early warm-up variance.

2. 02

   Start typing

   The timer starts automatically on your first keystroke — no need to click a button. Type the displayed words, pressing Space to confirm each word.

   Correct words turn green instantly. Incorrect words turn red. The current word is underlined with a blinking cursor showing your position.

3. 03

   Watch your stats update live

   WPM, accuracy percentage, time remaining, and total keystrokes all update in real time as you type. No waiting for the test to end to see how you're doing.

   Live WPM is calculated as: (correctly typed words ÷ minutes elapsed). Accuracy is recalculated after each word submission.

4. 04

   Review your results

   When the timer ends, you're taken to a detailed results screen with WPM, CPM, accuracy, keystroke count, error rate, and a WPM timeline chart.

   If you beat your personal best for that language and duration, a celebration banner appears. All scores are saved locally — no account required.

WPM (words per minute) measures how many words you type correctly in one minute. TypeSwift uses the industry-standard gross WPM calculation, then adjusts for errors to show net WPM.

Gross WPM

(Total characters typed ÷ 5) ÷ Minutes elapsed

Net WPM

Gross WPM − (Uncorrected errors ÷ Minutes elapsed)

CPM

Correct characters typed ÷ Minutes elapsed

Why divide by five? The standard definition of a “word” in typing tests is five characters including spaces. This normalizes scores regardless of whether you typed long or short words, making your WPM directly comparable to other typists.

WPM benchmarks

TypeSwift currently supports 8 languages, each with a curated word list of the most commonly used words. Word lists are designed to reflect realistic typing patterns — not obscure vocabulary.

More languages coming soon. The language system is config-driven — adding a new language requires only a word list JSON and a single entry in the language config file. Community contributions are welcome.

TypeSwift is designed to be used entirely without a mouse. Every action you need during a test is accessible via keyboard shortcut.

1. 1

   Fix your posture first

   Sit with your back straight, elbows at 90°, and wrists floating above the keyboard. Tension in your wrists is the most common cause of speed plateaus and repetitive strain injury.

2. 2

   Learn touch typing — home row is everything

   Place your left fingers on A-S-D-F and right fingers on J-K-L-;. Never look at the keyboard. Touch typing is the single highest-leverage skill improvement for any typist.

3. 3

   Prioritize accuracy over speed

   Speed is a byproduct of accuracy. Typing at 60 WPM with 99% accuracy is more effective than 80 WPM with 90% accuracy. Slow down until errors disappear, then build speed gradually.

4. 4

   Practice for 15 minutes daily — not 2 hours once a week

   Typing speed is a motor skill. Short daily sessions build muscle memory far more effectively than long infrequent sessions. 15 focused minutes per day will show measurable improvement within 2 weeks.

5. 5

   Identify and drill your weak keys

   Use the error rate stat in your results to spot patterns. If you consistently miss the same letters, spend 5 minutes drilling words heavy in those characters before your regular test.

6. 6

   Type in rhythm, not bursts

   Experienced typists maintain a steady cadence rather than typing in fast bursts followed by pauses. Focus on consistent rhythm. Your WPM timeline chart in results will show if you're bursting vs. flowing.