# Typing vs speaking speed test

A free, private exercise to compare your own typing and speaking rates. Time each attempt, enter the text, and calculate words per minute in your browser.

Canonical: https://www.talkie.to/tools/typing-vs-speaking

Compare two attempts at the same passage. No app or microphone needed.

To time dictation, install Talkie for Mac before you start, then return here. You can also use built-in dictation. [Get Talkie for Mac](https://www.talkie.to/download).

## Use the same passage

Type the passage once, then speak it once. Use the sample passage or your own non-sensitive text. Keep the material and stopping rule the same for both attempts.

## Choose what the clock includes

For raw speaking rate, stop when you finish speaking. For usable dictation, include transcription waiting and corrections before you stop. State which method you used; the two measurements answer different questions.

## Enter text and elapsed time

Use the timers here, or enter seconds measured elsewhere. If you read the sample as written, select “Use sample as spoken text” after you stop. If you changed any words, enter what you said. To time usable dictation, use your device’s built-in dictation or any dictation app in the speaking text field.

## Read the result in context

Words per minute equals counted words divided by elapsed seconds, multiplied by 60. A word is a whitespace-separated group containing a letter or number. Contractions and hyphenated groups count as one word. This method suits text with spaces between words; it is not a language-independent tokenizer.

## Sample passage

Before the next meeting, write down the decision we need to make. Add the context that someone joining today would need, then name the smallest useful next step. A clear note should help the next person act without asking you to explain the whole conversation again. Read the result once and fix anything that changes its meaning.

## Calculate without the interactive page

1. Record the elapsed seconds for each attempt.
2. If you read the sample as written, count the words in the sample for your speaking attempt. Otherwise count the words you actually said. Count whitespace-separated groups containing a letter or number. Ignore punctuation-only groups.
3. For each attempt, calculate: counted words × 60 ÷ elapsed seconds.
4. Review both texts for omissions and meaning changes. The calculation does not check either.

## What the result means

The rates describe the text and time you entered. They do not measure transcription accuracy, compare apps, or establish your usual speed. Different passages, practice, pauses, corrections, and the stopping rule can change the result. Repeat with representative work before drawing conclusions.

## Privacy

The interactive exercise runs in your browser. It does not request microphone access, upload your text or results, or save exercise entries. A dictation tool you choose to use has its own processing and privacy settings.

## Explore dictation

[Try the interactive exercise](https://www.talkie.to/tools/typing-vs-speaking) or [read the Mac dictation guide](https://www.talkie.to/mac-dictation).