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US civil service clerk typist tests: 40 WPM, 5-minute tests and error limits
Typing tests for US civil-service clerical jobs are shorter than many South Asian tests, and they often add a strict accuracy rule.
What public postings ask for
- State and county Clerk Typist titles commonly ask for 40 WPM (for example New Jersey and Los Angeles County).
- An Index Clerk/Typist posting in Ulster County, New York asks for 35 WPM.
- The Bureau of Indian Education lists 40 WPM in a 5-minute test with 3 or fewer errors.
- California state civil service typing certification uses a 5-minute test at 40 WPM.
- New York State Office Assistant (Keyboarding) postings ask for 30 WPM with 96 percent accuracy, and some titles 35.
Why short tests need accuracy
In a five-minute test every error counts a lot. At 40 WPM you type about 200 words, so three errors is about 98.5 percent accuracy. Practise short tests of exactly five minutes and check your mistakes after each one.
How to prepare
Practise on business correspondence: memos, notices, letters, with dates like March 1 and amounts like $1,275.50. Drill the symbols that cost you accuracy: the dollar sign, percent sign, parentheses and the apostrophe.
Before the test
Check the posting for the exact rule: words per minute, test length, whether errors are penalised, and whether you may use backspace. Different counties and states set different rules.
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 US clerk typist jobs need?
Many public postings list 40 WPM, but some list 25, 30 or 35. Always check the posting.
How long is the typing test?
Many are 5 minutes, but this depends on the employer.
What accuracy is required?
It varies. Some postings say 96 percent; others limit the number of errors, such as 3 in five minutes.