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Canada government clerk typing test: what 40 WPM looks like
Many clerical and administrative postings in Canadian provincial and health government list a typing speed. In public postings on Job Bank, a figure of 40 words per minute is common for clerk and correspondence roles.
What 40 WPM means
40 WPM is 200 characters per minute, or about three and a third keystrokes every second, held steadily. In a ten-minute test that is about 400 words.
What the work looks like
Clerical postings in this sector often involve correspondence, records, scheduling and data entry, sometimes with specialised vocabulary, for example in health records. Your practice should therefore include numbers, dates, abbreviations and formal wording as well as plain sentences.
Preparing
- Build steady speed first, then raise accuracy to 97 percent or better.
- Practise a mix of letters, numbers and punctuation.
- Do timed runs of the length your employer states.
- Check the posting for how the test is scored.
Other requirements
Many postings also list software skills such as word processing and spreadsheets, and some roles list higher speeds. Read each posting carefully because requirements vary by employer.
TypingNonStop has exam passages with the pass marks of real government and office jobs, net WPM, weak-word drills, lessons and games.
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Frequently asked questions
What typing speed do Canadian clerk jobs ask for?
Public postings commonly list 40 WPM for clerical roles, but some roles ask for more or less.
Is the test timed?
Usually yes. The posting or invitation will say how long.
Is accuracy tested?
Often yes. Practise for net speed and accuracy together.