Raw WPM measures entered characters
Divide typed character count by five, then divide by elapsed minutes.
Net WPM accounts for errors
A transparent test reports both raw pace and a penalty-adjusted or correct-character pace instead of hiding the formula.
Accuracy measures correct positions
Compare the typed stream with the target and divide correct characters by total typed characters.
Duration affects stability
A 15-second sprint is sensitive to one burst. One to five minutes better reflects sustained speed and rhythm.
Read the formulas with a concrete example
Suppose a typist enters 300 characters in one minute. Raw speed is 300 divided by five, or 60 WPM. If 285 character positions match the target, correct-character speed is 57 net WPM and positional accuracy is 95 percent. Corrections are reported separately because a final clean line can hide substantial editing. This tester measures elapsed time from the first input, stops at the selected limit, and uses the actual elapsed milliseconds when a test is ended early.
Know what positional comparison can miss
A character-level comparison is intentionally literal. One omitted character can make later positions appear wrong even when the remaining words are familiar, and an alternative punctuation mark is still an error against the displayed target. The review therefore helps locate where divergence began; it does not diagnose typing ability by itself. Compare tests with the same duration and difficulty, and treat very short results, interrupted runs, pasted text, or a changed keyboard layout as unsuitable for progress tracking.