1. Sit so your hands can relax
Elbows roughly level with the keyboard, wrists floating rather than resting on the desk edge. Tense hands are slow hands.
2. Live on the home row
Rest your fingers on ASDF and JKL; (the bumps on F and J tell you where you are without looking). Every other key is a short reach from there and back.
3. Stop looking at the keyboard
It feels slower for a week or two, then much faster. Cover your hands with a cloth if you can't resist peeking.
4. Accuracy before speed
A mistake costs the wrong letter, the backspace and the right letter. Slow down until you're at 95% accuracy or better; the speed follows.
5. Type in a steady rhythm
Even keystrokes beat bursts and stalls. If one key keeps tripping you up, drill it on its own: typeflow's practice mode finds your slowest letters and builds a drill from them.
6. Read a word ahead
Fast typists look at the next word while their fingers finish the current one. Let your eyes lead.
7. Little and often
Ten minutes a day beats an hour once a week. A daily habit like the Daily test is enough to keep improving.
Questions
How long does it take to type faster?
Most people see a clear improvement within a few weeks of short daily practice, especially once they stop looking at the keyboard.
Should I learn touch typing?
Yes, if you still look at the keys. It's the single biggest jump most people make.
Is this typing test free?
Yes. You can take as many tests as you like without signing up. A free account saves your results, tracks your progress and lets you race friends.
Do I need to install anything?
No — it runs in your browser on any computer with a keyboard.