At a glance
| Factor | Exam | Target WPM |
|---|---|---|
| Casper | 5 min × 180-240 words | 55-65 WPM |
| Kira Talent | 3-4 min × 160-200 words | 50-60 WPM |
| GRE AWA | 30 min × 500-600 words | 50 WPM |
| LSAT Writing | 35 min × 450-600 words | 45-55 WPM |
| Duet rationale | 1-2 min × 110-180 words | 55-65 WPM |
| Coding assessments | 45-90 min × 2-4 problems | 50+ WPM on real code |
How These Benchmarks Were Derived
Each benchmark is a practical target, not an official one. It is derived by taking the typical word-count expectation for a strong response and working backward through realistic thinking pauses, planning time, and a safety margin for re-reading the opening. None of the testing bodies publish official typing-speed targets, and most candidates do better to aim for a specific number than to train without a target at all.
The 'minimum' is the speed below which you will frequently run out of time. The 'comfortable target' is where typing stops being the bottleneck. The 'ideal' is where typing is effectively invisible and you are limited only by how fast you can think.
Casper Test Benchmarks
Casper gives you about five minutes per written response with an expected word count of 180 to 240 words. Working backward: 25 seconds planning, 4 minutes 35 seconds typing. At 40 WPM effective speed (net of thinking pauses) you get 160 words; at 55 WPM you get 220; at 70 WPM you get 280.
Minimum: 40 WPM. Target: 55 to 65 WPM. Ideal: 70+ WPM. See the Casper Test Typing Prep track and the full post on Casper typing speed targets.
Kira Talent Benchmarks
Kira written responses typically run three to five minutes. For a four-minute window with 30 seconds of planning, the useful typing time is about 3 minutes 30 seconds. A response of 160 to 200 words is strong. That translates to an effective typing speed of about 45 to 55 WPM.
Minimum: 40 WPM. Target: 50 to 60 WPM. Ideal: 65+ WPM. See the Kira Talent typing prep track.
GRE AWA Benchmarks
The GRE Analytical Writing essay gives you 30 minutes for one essay of 500 to 600 words. Planning plus polishing eats about 8 minutes, leaving 22 minutes of typing. 550 words in 22 minutes is 25 WPM of useful output, which translates to about 35 to 40 WPM raw.
Minimum: 35 WPM. Target: 50 WPM. Ideal: 65+ WPM. See the GRE AWA typing prep track.
LSAT Writing Sample Benchmarks
The LSAT Writing Sample gives you 35 minutes for an argumentative essay of typically 450 to 600 words. The time pressure is moderate but the endurance requirement is real. 500 words in 25 minutes of useful typing is 20 WPM of effective output, or about 30 to 35 WPM raw.
Minimum: 35 WPM. Target: 45 to 55 WPM. Ideal: 60+ WPM. See the LSAT Writing typing prep track and the guide on training typing stamina for long written exams.
Duet Benchmarks
Duet rationale windows are tight — typically one to two minutes per item for 110 to 180 words. That is a higher typing-speed requirement per minute than any other test on this list. At 40 WPM you get around 70 to 80 words; at 60 WPM you get 115 to 125; at 70 WPM you get 135 to 145.
Minimum: 45 WPM. Target: 55 to 65 WPM. Ideal: 70+ WPM. See the Duet typing prep track.
Coding Assessment Benchmarks
Coding assessments are different from written tests — the word-count-per-minute target is not the right metric. What matters is how fluent you are with the specific code patterns the language uses. For Python, 50+ WPM on real code is comfortable. For Rust or C++, aim for 40+ on real code because the symbol density is higher.
See the coding assessment typing prep track and the post on why programmers should practice typing code, not prose.