If your typing speed has been sitting around 45–55 WPM for a while, reaching 70 WPM can feel surprisingly difficult.

You may already know where the keys are.

You probably do not hunt for every letter.

You can type emails, messages, documents, and search queries comfortably.

Yet when you start a typing test, your results keep looking something like:

48 WPM
52 WPM
49 WPM
54 WPM

and 70 WPM still feels far away.

The problem is that going from 50 WPM to 70 WPM usually requires something different from what helped you reach 50 WPM in the first place.

At this level, improvement is less about learning the keyboard and more about making your movements faster, smoother, more accurate, and more automatic.

The good news is that 70 WPM is a realistic target for many typists with consistent, focused practice.

Is 50 WPM Already a Good Typing Speed?

Yes.

A typing speed around 50 WPM is perfectly usable for most everyday computer tasks.

At 50 WPM, you can usually:

  • write emails comfortably,
  • chat without feeling slow,
  • create documents efficiently,
  • browse and search quickly,
  • complete many office tasks without typing becoming a major limitation.

So reaching 70 WPM is not about fixing “bad” typing.

It is about becoming more efficient.

The difference between 50 and 70 WPM is roughly:

20 additional words every minute.

Over longer writing sessions, that difference can become noticeable.

Why Is Going From 50 WPM to 70 WPM Harder Than Expected?

When you first start learning to type, improvements can happen quickly.

You might go from:

20 WPM → 30 WPM

and then:

30 WPM → 40 WPM

relatively fast.

But as your speed increases, weaknesses that barely mattered before start becoming more important.

At 50 WPM, small pauses may not seem significant.

At 70 WPM, they matter much more.

These pauses can happen when:

  • you reach for a difficult letter,
  • you correct a typo,
  • you encounter an unfamiliar word,
  • your fingers move too far from the home position,
  • you lose rhythm,
  • you look down at the keyboard,
  • you hesitate before a difficult key combination.

A fraction of a second repeated dozens of times can significantly reduce your final WPM.

Step 1: Stop Trying to Type 70 WPM Immediately

One of the most common mistakes is simply trying to force your fingers to move faster.

If your normal comfortable speed is 50 WPM and you suddenly attempt 75–80 WPM, your result may look like:

68 WPM / 87% accuracy

That may look faster on the surface, but it is usually not sustainable.

You may:

  • make more mistakes,
  • hit Backspace constantly,
  • tense your hands,
  • lose your rhythm,
  • slow down dramatically on difficult words.

Instead of immediately chasing 70 WPM, build intermediate targets.

For example:

50 WPM → 55 WPM
55 WPM → 60 WPM
60 WPM → 65 WPM
65 WPM → 70 WPM

Small improvements are easier to control and repeat.

Step 2: Keep Your Accuracy High

Speed and accuracy should grow together.

Suppose you have two results:

Result A

64 WPM
91% accuracy

Result B

59 WPM
98% accuracy

Result A is technically faster, but Result B may be a much better foundation for reaching 70 WPM consistently.

Why?

Because correcting mistakes costs time.

Every mistake can involve:

  1. noticing the error,
  2. stopping your rhythm,
  3. pressing Backspace,
  4. typing the correct character,
  5. rebuilding your speed.

One mistake may only cost a fraction of a second.

Twenty mistakes can completely change your final score.

A useful target while improving is to keep your accuracy around:

96–98% or higher

while gradually increasing speed.

Step 3: Find Out What Is Actually Slowing You Down

Typing faster does not necessarily mean moving every finger faster.

Sometimes your overall speed is being limited by only a few weak areas.

For example, you may type common words very quickly:

the

and

you

with

from

but slow down on words like:

through

development

particularly

performance

environment

If one difficult word causes a one-second pause, it can significantly affect a 60-second typing test.

Start paying attention to the exact moments where your rhythm breaks.

Ask yourself:

  • Which letters make me hesitate?
  • Which words cause repeated mistakes?
  • Do I struggle with punctuation?
  • Do I slow down when using Shift?
  • Do certain letter combinations feel awkward?

These are often better training targets than simply completing more random tests.

Step 4: Practice Difficult Letter Combinations

Typing happens through combinations, not isolated letters.

You rarely type:

r

by itself.

You type combinations such as:

tr

er

re

ing

tion

str

ght

Over time, skilled typists become faster because common combinations begin to feel like single movements.

For English typing, useful combinations to practice may include:

th

he

ing

tion

ou

str

ght

ment

ence

Instead of repeatedly typing one letter:

rrrrrrrr

practice real patterns:

there

three

through

rather

another

The goal is to make the transition between letters smoother.

Step 5: Type Words, Not Individual Letters

Beginners often process a word like this:

t → y → p → i → n → g

As you improve, your brain begins to recognize familiar patterns.

Instead of consciously thinking about six separate letters, the entire word:

typing

starts to feel like one familiar movement sequence.

This is one reason experienced typists can maintain high speeds.

Try to develop this by practicing common words instead of random letters.

For example:

typing

because

people

different

without

another

important

between

The more familiar these movement sequences become, the less mental effort they require.

Step 6: Reduce Unnecessary Finger Movement

At higher speeds, efficiency matters.

If your hands constantly move across the keyboard, your fingers travel farther than necessary.

Small unnecessary movements repeated hundreds of times slow you down.

Try to keep your hands relatively stable.

Your fingers should perform most of the movement.

Avoid:

  • lifting your fingers very high,
  • moving your entire hand for nearby keys,
  • hitting keys harder than necessary,
  • constantly repositioning your wrists.

The goal is not to keep your hands completely frozen.

It is to make each movement small and efficient.

Step 7: Stop Looking at the Keyboard

If you still occasionally look down when reaching for a difficult key, this can become a major barrier between 50 and 70 WPM.

Even a quick glance creates a sequence:

keyboard → find key → press key → look back at screen → find your position again.

That interruption damages rhythm.

At first, forcing yourself not to look may make you slower.

You might temporarily drop from:

50 WPM

to:

42 WPM.

That is normal.

You are replacing visual searching with muscle memory.

Once the keyboard becomes automatic again, your speed can recover and eventually exceed your old level.

Step 8: Develop a Consistent Typing Rhythm

High-speed typing is not simply about hitting individual keys quickly.

It is about maintaining momentum.

Imagine these two typists.

Typist A

Types very quickly for several words, stops, types quickly again, makes an error, pauses, then accelerates.

Typist B

Types slightly slower but maintains nearly the same tempo throughout the test.

Typist B may finish with a higher WPM.

Try to avoid the pattern:

fast → pause → fast → mistake → pause → fast

Instead aim for:

steady → steady → steady → steady

Smoothness becomes increasingly important as your speed improves.

Step 9: Don't Panic When You See a Difficult Word

A long or unfamiliar word often causes typists to mentally slow down before they even start typing it.

Imagine seeing:

misunderstanding

You may subconsciously think:

“That word is going to slow me down.”

That hesitation can be more damaging than the word itself.

Instead, maintain your rhythm and break the word into familiar chunks:

mis

under

stand

ing

The same technique works with many longer English words.

Step 10: Use Short Typing Tests for Speed Practice

Different test lengths train different skills.

A 15-second test can be useful for exploring your maximum speed.

A 30-second test helps with short bursts of speed.

A 60-second test provides a better balance between speed and consistency.

Longer tests can help measure endurance.

If your target is 70 WPM, you might combine them.

For example:

2 × 15-second tests
2 × 30-second tests
2 × 60-second tests

Do not complete twenty tests in a row just because your score is not high enough.

Quality matters more than endless attempts.

Step 11: Practice Slightly Above Your Comfortable Speed

Suppose your comfortable typing speed is:

52 WPM

You do not need to immediately force yourself to 75 WPM.

Instead, practice short bursts around:

57–60 WPM

This slightly faster pace challenges your current limit without completely destroying your accuracy.

Once 58 WPM begins to feel comfortable, move toward:

62 WPM.

Then:

65 WPM.

Eventually 70 WPM will feel less like a sprint and more like your normal pace.

Step 12: Practice Accuracy Separately

Not every practice session should be about speed.

Try completing some tests where your only goal is:

99–100% accuracy.

Ignore WPM temporarily.

Slow down enough to avoid mistakes.

This teaches your fingers cleaner movement patterns.

Later, increase speed while trying to preserve that control.

A useful cycle can be:

Accuracy session → Normal session → Speed session

This prevents you from developing sloppy habits.

Step 13: Use Your Mistakes as Training Material

Suppose you complete a test and repeatedly mistype:

government

something

different

through

Instead of immediately starting another random test, practice those words.

For example:

government government government

something something something

different different different

through through through

Then put them into sentences.

This turns mistakes into useful training data.

Random practice is good for general performance.

Targeted practice is better for removing specific weaknesses.

Step 14: Be Careful With Backspace

Backspace is useful, but excessive correction can destroy rhythm.

Some users develop a habit where every tiny mistake triggers:

stop → Backspace → correction → restart.

This can make typing feel jerky.

Accuracy should still matter.

But the better long-term solution is not becoming faster at pressing Backspace.

It is making fewer mistakes in the first place.

When practicing, observe how often you use Backspace.

If it happens constantly, reduce your speed slightly.

Step 15: Relax Your Hands

Tension is one of the easiest ways to lose speed.

When trying to break a personal record, some users begin:

  • pressing keys harder,
  • tightening their fingers,
  • raising their shoulders,
  • bending their wrists,
  • gripping the keyboard area with tension.

This usually does not make you faster.

Efficient typing should feel relatively light.

If your fingers become stiff after a few tests, pause.

Shake your hands gently, reset your position, and start again later.

Step 16: Don't Practice at Maximum Speed All the Time

Trying to break your personal record every session can become counterproductive.

Suppose your normal speed is:

55 WPM

and your personal best is:

66 WPM.

If every test becomes an attempt to reach 70+, you may develop poor accuracy and inconsistent rhythm.

Instead, vary your training.

One session:

accuracy

Another:

rhythm

Another:

difficult words

Another:

maximum speed

Improvement comes from combining these skills.

Step 17: Use a Simple Daily Practice Routine

You do not necessarily need one hour every day.

A focused 10–15 minute session can be useful.

For example:

Minute 1–2: Warm Up

Type comfortably without worrying about your score.

Minute 3–5: Accuracy

Aim for at least 98% accuracy.

Minute 6–8: Weak Words

Practice words or combinations that usually slow you down.

Minute 9–11: Normal Test

Complete one or two 60-second tests at your normal pace.

Minute 12–13: Speed Attempt

Try a short faster test.

Minute 14–15: Review

Look at:

  • WPM,
  • accuracy,
  • mistakes,
  • difficult words.

This gives your practice structure instead of turning it into endless random testing.

Step 18: Track Your Average, Not Only Your Personal Best

Suppose your results are:

58 WPM
59 WPM
61 WPM
60 WPM
72 WPM
59 WPM

It may be tempting to say:

“I type at 72 WPM.”

But 72 WPM is currently your peak, not your normal level.

A better way to measure improvement is to track your average.

For example:

Week 1

Average: 52 WPM

Week 2

Average: 56 WPM

Week 3

Average: 60 WPM

Week 4

Average: 64 WPM

That is clear progress even if you have not yet reached 70 consistently.

Your goal should eventually be:

70 WPM becomes normal, not exceptional.

Step 19: Expect Your WPM to Fluctuate

Your typing speed will not increase every day.

You may see:

Monday: 61 WPM
Tuesday: 64 WPM
Wednesday: 59 WPM
Thursday: 65 WPM
Friday: 63 WPM

That does not mean your skills disappeared on Wednesday.

Typing performance can be affected by:

  • sleep,
  • fatigue,
  • concentration,
  • stress,
  • keyboard,
  • time of day,
  • difficulty of the text.

Look at trends over several days or weeks instead of reacting to one low score.

Step 20: Avoid Switching Keyboards Constantly

Different keyboards can feel surprisingly different.

A laptop keyboard may have short key travel.

A mechanical keyboard may have deeper movement.

A low-profile keyboard may feel somewhere between the two.

If you constantly switch keyboards, your fingers may need time to adjust.

You do not need to use only one keyboard forever.

But when actively trying to build speed, consistency can help.

How Long Can It Take to Go From 50 WPM to 70 WPM?

There is no universal timeline.

One person may progress quickly because they already have good technique but lack practice.

Another may need much longer because they:

  • look at the keyboard,
  • use inefficient finger movements,
  • make many mistakes,
  • rarely practice.

You should be skeptical of claims such as:

“Reach 70 WPM in exactly seven days.”

Typing improvement is individual.

A better goal is consistent improvement.

For example:

50 → 54 WPM
54 → 58 WPM
58 → 62 WPM
62 → 66 WPM
66 → 70 WPM

Even a few additional WPM while maintaining high accuracy is meaningful progress.

What Should 70 WPM Feel Like?

When 70 WPM becomes your real typing level, it should not feel like you are desperately racing.

You should be able to maintain it with:

  • controlled breathing,
  • relaxed hands,
  • good accuracy,
  • relatively stable rhythm.

If you can hit 70 WPM only for five seconds before making many mistakes, you are approaching the speed but have not fully mastered it yet.

A more meaningful milestone might be:

70 WPM at 97–99% accuracy for a full 60-second test.

Then repeat it.

That shows consistency.

A Simple 4-Week 50-to-70 WPM Framework

This is not a guarantee, but you can use it as a structure.

Week 1 — Accuracy and Weaknesses

Focus on:

  • 97–99% accuracy,
  • difficult keys,
  • common mistakes,
  • avoiding keyboard glances.

Do not obsess over speed.

Week 2 — Rhythm

Focus on:

  • smooth typing,
  • fewer pauses,
  • common word patterns,
  • consistent 60-second tests.

Week 3 — Controlled Speed

Add:

  • short high-speed attempts,
  • slightly faster-than-normal practice,
  • difficult word drills.

Keep accuracy under control.

Week 4 — Consistency

Try to make your improved speed repeatable.

Instead of chasing one 70 WPM score, aim for results such as:

67
69
68
71
70

That is much stronger evidence of improvement than:

52
53
74
51
55

Use Keyzira to Measure Your Progress

Start with a normal Typing Speed Test and record:

  • WPM,
  • accuracy,
  • mistakes.

Then use focused practice for the areas that slow you down.

After several days, repeat the same test format.

Do not compare only your personal best.

Compare:

average WPM
accuracy
mistake frequency
consistency

If your average speed rises while your accuracy stays high, your training is working.

Final Thoughts: From 50 WPM to 70 WPM

Going from 50 WPM to 70 WPM is not mainly about learning how to move your fingers as fast as possible.

It is about removing the things that interrupt your speed.

That means:

fewer pauses
fewer mistakes
better rhythm
smaller movements
stronger muscle memory
more consistent practice

Do not try to jump from 50 to 70 overnight.

Build your speed in controlled stages.

First make 55 comfortable.

Then 60.

Then 65.

Eventually, 70 WPM can become your normal typing speed instead of a lucky personal record.