Gross WPM vs Net WPM: How Typing Speed Is Calculated
Updated 2026-10-16
Typing speed is measured in words per minute (WPM), where one “word” is a fixed 5 characters (including spaces and punctuation). This makes results comparable regardless of word length.
Gross WPM
Gross WPM = (characters typed ÷ 5) ÷ minutes
Example: 1,800 characters in 10 minutes → 1,800 ÷ 5 = 360 words → 360 ÷ 10 = 36 gross WPM.
Net WPM
Net WPM accounts for mistakes. Different tests use different formulas. On this site’s general tests:
Net WPM = Gross WPM − (uncorrected mistakes ÷ minutes)
With 12 mistakes in the example above: 36 − 12 ÷ 10 = 34.8 net WPM.
Exam formulas differ
- Allowance formulas (CSIR JSA, SSC-style): a percentage of words (for example 5%) is ignorable; only mistakes beyond it are deducted.
- Heavy deduction (CRPF HCM): beyond 5% mistakes, 10 words are deducted per extra mistake.
- Accuracy threshold (PSSSB Clerk): gross speed must reach 30 WPM and accuracy must be at least 92%, where each full mistake counts as 5 error characters.
That is why the site never compares an exam mock score with a general test score as if they were the same — each exam page states its formula and source.
Accuracy
Accuracy = characters in correctly typed words ÷ characters typed × 100
KDPH (key depressions per hour)
Data entry posts often specify KDPH. KDPH = characters typed ÷ hours. For example, 2,000 key depressions in 15 minutes = 8,000 KDPH. Officially, 35 WPM is treated as 10,500 KDPH and 30 WPM as 9,000 KDPH (35 × 5 × 60 = 10,500).
What counts as a mistake?
Our engine compares your text with the passage word by word and detects wrong words, omitted words, extra and repeated words, capitalisation, punctuation and spacing errors. Words you never reached are not counted as omissions. See full and half mistakes.