Why this test matters
The US has no single standardized typing certification (unlike India's SSC system), but most hiring tests share the same shape: 1-, 3-, or 5-minute timed runs in English against general-purpose text, with WPM and accuracy scored independently. Common targets: data entry roles 40–50 WPM, customer support 35–45 WPM, executive assistants 60–70 WPM, transcription 70+ WPM, court reporting 200+ WPM (via stenotype, not standard keyboards). Federal jobs sometimes require formal assessment via OPM's typing test, which uses a 5-minute format. The defaults below match the most common US hiring formats.