What is typing consistency?

Consistency is the third number on your result, after speed and accuracy. Speed says how much you typed, accuracy says how cleanly, and consistency says how smoothly.

How it is measured

During a test, whytyping notes how many keys you press in each second. At the end it looks at how far those per-second values stray from their average. If every second is close to the average, consistency is high. If some seconds are very fast and others nearly empty, it is low. The result is shown as a percentage between 0 and 100.

You never need to work this out yourself. The scoring rules for all four figures are listed on how WPM is calculated.

What uneven typing looks like

Open the speed graph on any result. A consistent run draws a fairly flat line. An inconsistent one looks like a row of hills: quick bursts through familiar words, then a dip at a long word, a capital letter or a mistake. Each red marker on the graph is a second in which you made an error, and dips often sit right after one.

Why rhythm matters

• Bursts cause errors. Racing through easy words carries too much momentum into the next hard one.
• Stalls cost more than they seem. A one-second pause in a 30-second test is a noticeable share of the run.
• Steady is sustainable. An even pace is one you can hold for a full document, not just a sprint.

Raising consistency usually raises net speed without your fingers moving any faster at their peak.

How to type more evenly

1. Slow the easy words slightly. Aim for the same beat on every word, as if typing to a metronome.
2. Read ahead. Looking one or two words forward gives your hands time to prepare, which removes most stalls.
3. Drill the stallers. Your slowest letter pairs are listed on the result. Practising them smooths the dips.
4. Do not panic after an error. Fix it calmly and pick the rhythm back up, instead of rushing to make up time.

Using it with the other numbers

Consistency is most useful as a comparison between your own runs.

• High speed, low consistency: you are fast in bursts. Work on rhythm.
• Low speed, high consistency: you are steady and ready to raise the pace a little.
• Low accuracy and low consistency: slow down. Errors are breaking your flow.

Longer runs show rhythm more clearly than short ones, so a five-minute typing test is a good place to watch it. For the relationship between the two speed figures, see raw WPM vs net WPM, and for a tour of the whole result screen, read how to read your typing results.