US Federal Typing Tests — OPM Standards
US federal civil service hiring uses Office of Personnel Management (OPM) standards for clerical and data-entry positions. The General Schedule (GS) classification system covers Data Transcribers (GS-0356), Mail and File Clerks (GS-0305), and specialist roles. Typing assessments at 40 WPM English are the standard baseline for entry-level GS-3/GS-4 positions, with veterans' preference and KSA narratives playing significant roles in final selection.
- Authority
- OPM · USAJobs
- Classifications
- GS-0356 · GS-0305
- Speed
- 40 WPM English
- Court reporter
- 200+ WPM NCRA stenotype
Available typing tests
Each tile links to a dedicated practice page with full passage simulator, scoring, and a four-week prep plan.
Federal Data Entry Operator
Core federal data-entry classification. OPM-standard 40 WPM English at 5 minutes with 95% accuracy threshold.
Mail and File Clerk
Federal clerical with file management plus light data entry. 40 WPM expectation plus brief written assessment.
USAOUSC Court Reporter
Federal court verbatim reporting via NCRA-certified stenotype. Selection by certification, not generic typing test.
Federal medical/legal transcription
Specialty federal transcription roles. AAMT or AAERT certification preferred. Speed plus subject-matter accuracy.
Frequently asked questions
40 WPM English at 5 minutes with 95% accuracy. This is the entry-level Data Transcriber benchmark. Many agencies set a higher practical threshold (50 WPM with 98% accuracy) at the assessment-centre stage, but OPM's formal standard is 40 WPM.
Veterans' preference points are added to the overall application score after typing speed eligibility is established. Typing speed gets you into the eligible pool; the application narrative, KSAs, and veterans' preference points determine ranking within that pool.
US federal court reporters use NCRA-certified stenotype machines at speeds of 200+ WPM. This is a specialty profession with its own training pathway and certification — distinct from generic GS-clerical typing assessments. Selection is by NCRA RPR/RMR/CRR certification plus interview.
State and local civil service hiring varies by state and follows local Civil Service Commission standards. Most states use OPM-equivalent standards (35-45 WPM) but specifics differ. For state-specific preparation, check individual state Civil Service Commission websites.
Our US Federal Data Entry typing test page provides administrative English passages at the 40 WPM OPM target. Standard QWERTY only; no specialty layouts needed.
US federal candidates often prepare alongside Canada CR-04 and UK Civil Service AO applications — English-medium federal clerical patterns with similar OPM-aligned standards. Veterans pursuing federal employment also benefit from OPM's USAJobs.gov for veterans' resources.