How Is WPM Calculated?
In WPM (words per minute), a 'word' is standardized to 5 characters, and RaceKeys reports net WPM: only words typed with no mistakes are counted, because an error-laden word is invalid in most exam scoring too. So the number you see is the speed you actually type cleanly.
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Why is a 'word' 5 characters?
The universal standard in typing tests is to count a word as 5 characters (spaces included). Real words vary in length; a fixed 5-character unit balances short and long words and produces a fair, comparable score across different texts and different tools.
So if you type 300 characters, your raw word count is 300 ÷ 5 = 60 words, divided by time. RaceKeys uses this universal method so your score stays comparable with other tools like 10fastfingers.
Net WPM: how errors are handled
RaceKeys reports net WPM: a word counts as correct only if it was completed without a single wrong key. Even if you fix a typo with backspace, that word is usually not added to the correct count — the same rule most assessments use.
The reason is simple: raw speed is misleading. Someone typing 90 words a minute but leaving half wrong effectively produces 45 words of work. Net WPM brings the on-screen number closer to your real output.
How accuracy (%) is measured
Accuracy is the ratio of correct keystrokes to total keystrokes: correct characters ÷ total characters × 100. 100% accuracy means you typed with no errors (or corrected each one instantly).
A good target is usually 95%+. Speed and accuracy are a trade-off; for most typing, getting faster without dropping accuracy beats forcing speed and making many mistakes.
How time and text are chosen
Tests are fixed-duration (1, 3 or 5 minutes). The word stream is drawn at random from that language's common words — there is no fixed text to memorize, so every attempt is different and reflects real skill.
The timer starts on your first keystroke (idle seconds are not penalized) and WPM and accuracy are computed instantly when time runs out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does RaceKeys show raw WPM or net WPM?
Net WPM. Only words completed without errors are counted, keeping the score close to your real clean output and to exam-style scoring.
Does a word count if I fix it with backspace?
Usually not — a word that had a mistake during typing is not counted as correct in net WPM, even if corrected. This is a deliberate, realistic rule.