SSC CGL Typing Test
Practise at the pace SSC CGL (Tax Assistant) asks for — in Hindi or English. Typically 15 minutes. English 35 WPM, Hindi 30 WPM.
What SSC CGL expects
| Item | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| Duration | 15 minutes |
| English | 35 WPM |
| Hindi | 30 WPM |
| Key depressions / hour | 8,000 (English) |
| Posts | Tax Assistant (CBDT / CBIC) |
These targets change between notifications. Always confirm the duration and speed in the official SSC CGL notice before relying on them.
How the SSC CGL typing test works
For SSC CGL, only some posts have a skill test — mainly Tax Assistant, which requires a Data Entry Skill Test. SSC states this target as 8,000 key depressions per hour, measured over a 15-minute passage, rather than in words per minute. Because a word is counted as five keystrokes, 8,000 key depressions per hour works out to roughly 27 words per minute of sustained, accurate typing. The test is qualifying only.
How to practise for it
Take a full-length attempt rather than short bursts — the difficulty of these tests is holding a steady pace for the whole 15 minutes, not hitting a high speed for thirty seconds. Type the passage as it appears, including punctuation and capitals, because errors are deducted from your effective speed.
- Aim slightly above the target. If the requirement is 35 WPM, practise until you sit comfortably 5 WPM above it. Exam-day nerves cost speed.
- Don't look at the keyboard. Every glance down loses rhythm, and rhythm is what carries you through a long passage.
- Fix mistakes as they happen. Backspacing costs time, but leaving errors costs more, because accuracy is folded into the score.
- Practise in the same layout you will use in the exam — especially for Hindi, where InScript and Remington are completely different.
Typing in Hindi
Hindi typing tests are usually taken in the Mangal font with the InScript layout. Switch your computer's keyboard to Hindi (or install Google Input Tools) before starting, so your practice matches the real exam. This tool accepts whatever your keyboard produces.
Frequently asked questions
How many words per minute are required for SSC CGL?
SSC states the CGL Data Entry Skill Test as 8,000 key depressions per hour rather than in words per minute. Since a word is counted as five keystrokes, that is roughly 27 WPM held steadily for 15 minutes. Aiming for 30–35 WPM in practice gives you comfortable headroom on the day.
Is there a typing test in SSC CGL for every post?
No. Most CGL posts have no skill test at all. The Data Entry Skill Test applies mainly to Tax Assistant in CBDT and CBIC. Check the post preferences in your notice to see whether it applies to you.
What are key depressions per hour?
It is simply a count of keystrokes, including spaces and punctuation, scaled to an hour. To convert to words per minute, divide by 5 (keystrokes per word) and then by 60. So 8,000 key depressions per hour is about 27 WPM, and 10,500 is about 35 WPM.