WPM sounds simple — words per minute — but the actual calculation is more nuanced than it appears. Different tests use different formulas, which is why your score can vary between platforms.
In typing tests, a "word" is standardized to 5 characters (including spaces). This is called the "standard word" and it exists because actual words vary wildly in length — "I" and "internationalization" shouldn't count the same.
Raw WPM counts every keystroke you made, regardless of errors:
Example: You type 350 keystrokes in 1 minute → 350 ÷ 5 = 70 raw WPM.
Adjusted WPM subtracts errors to reflect your actual useful output:
Example: 70 raw WPM with 5 errors in 1 minute → 70 − 5 = 65 adjusted WPM.
TypeForge uses a word-based approach for the main WPM score — only correctly typed words count. The raw WPM uses the keystroke formula. This gives you two useful signals:
The gap between WPM and Raw tells you how much your errors are costing you. A large gap means accuracy work will give you more gains than speed work.
Different platforms handle errors differently:
TypeForge also shows a consistency score — the inverse of the coefficient of variation of your per-second WPM. A score of 90%+ means your speed was very steady throughout the test. Low consistency (under 70%) means you had bursts and crashes, which often indicates you're pushing beyond your comfortable speed.
See Your Stats →