The formulas Typing Gauge uses
- Gross WPM = (total typed characters ÷ 5) ÷ minutes elapsed
- Net WPM = ((characters in your final text ÷ 5) − uncorrected errors) ÷ minutes elapsed
- Accuracy = correct characters ÷ total typed characters × 100
A "word" is standardised as five characters, including spaces and punctuation, so long and short words are treated fairly.
Why net WPM is lower than gross WPM
Every character you type counts toward gross WPM, even if you later delete it. Net WPM only credits the text you actually left on the page and removes a word for each mistake you didn't fix. That is why going back to correct errors can raise your net score even though it feels slower.
Keystrokes you delete still count toward accuracy
If you type a wrong letter and fix it, that mistake still appears in your accuracy and in your corrected error count. It won't reduce your net WPM, but it does show up in your Job Readiness Score.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is a word counted as five characters?
- Using a fixed five-character word makes results comparable between passages with different word lengths. It is the standard convention in typing assessment.
- Do spaces count as characters?
- Yes. Spaces and punctuation are characters you have to type, so they count toward your WPM.
- Does fixing mistakes lower my WPM?
- Fixing a mistake takes time, but it avoids the net WPM penalty for uncorrected errors. For most people, correcting errors quickly leads to a higher net score.