Typing Speed Drills How To Increase Words Per Minute In Two Weeks

Typing is no longer a specialized skill—it’s a fundamental tool for productivity in education, remote work, coding, and everyday communication. Whether you're preparing for a job that requires fast data entry or simply want to type faster without errors, improving your words per minute (WPM) in just two weeks is not only possible but achievable with focused practice. This guide reveals the science-backed drills, structured routines, and mindset shifts that can help you gain 25–40 WPM in 14 days—without burning out.

The Science Behind Typing Speed Gains

Typing speed isn’t just about finger strength or keyboard familiarity—it’s rooted in muscle memory, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive processing. When you repeatedly perform accurate keystrokes, your brain forms neural pathways that automate the process, reducing hesitation and increasing fluency. Studies show that deliberate practice targeting accuracy first leads to sustainable speed gains over time.

According to Dr. Linda Harper, a cognitive performance researcher at the University of Michigan:

“Typing is a fine motor skill similar to playing an instrument. Consistent, mindful repetition—even as little as 20 minutes a day—can rewire neural circuits within two weeks, significantly boosting both speed and accuracy.” — Dr. Linda Harper, Cognitive Performance Researcher

The key is not mindless repetition, but targeted drills that challenge precision before pushing velocity. Rushing into high-speed typing with poor form leads to ingrained errors and plateaus.

Daily Training Structure: A Two-Week Speed Acceleration Plan

To increase your typing speed effectively in 14 days, follow this phased approach. Each week builds on the last, focusing first on accuracy, then gradually introducing speed pressure.

Week 1: Foundation & Accuracy

The goal of Week 1 is to eliminate bad habits, reinforce proper finger placement, and achieve 98%+ accuracy at moderate speeds (40–50 WPM). Speed will naturally follow.

1. Day 1–2: Reset Your Technique – Relearn home row positioning (ASDF for left hand, JKL; for right). Use touch typing—no peeking at the keyboard.
2. Day 3–4: Focus on Problem Keys – Drill commonly mistyped keys like semicolon, quotation marks, and shift combinations.
3. Day 5–7: Build Rhythm – Practice short, repetitive sentences emphasizing smooth transitions between hands.

Tip: Use online tools like Keybr.com or Ratatype to identify weak keys and generate custom drills.

Week 2: Speed Integration & Endurance

Now that accuracy is stable, introduce timed challenges and longer passages to build stamina and reaction speed.

1. Day 8–9: Timed Sprints – Complete five 1-minute typing tests back-to-back with 30-second breaks. Aim to beat your previous best each round.
2. Day 10–11: Paragraph Drills – Type full paragraphs from books or news articles for 5–10 minutes straight. Focus on maintaining rhythm.
3. Day 12–14: Simulated Real-World Tasks – Transcribe audio clips or copy-edit text under time pressure to mimic real-life typing demands.

By Day 14, most learners who stick to this plan see measurable improvements—often jumping from 45 WPM to 70+ WPM with clean technique.

Essential Typing Drills for Rapid Improvement

Not all typing practice is equal. These evidence-based drills are designed to target specific aspects of performance: finger independence, transition efficiency, and error reduction.

1. The Home Row Ascension Drill

Start with the basic home row: “asdf jkl;” Repeat it slowly, then gradually increase speed while keeping eyes off the keyboard. After mastery, expand outward:

• Top row: “qwerty uiop”
• Bottom row: “zxcvb nm,”
• Full keyboard sweep: “qaz wsx edc rfv ... ” (diagonal patterns)

2. Common Word Pair Repetition

Type high-frequency English word pairs repeatedly to build automaticity:

the quick   and fast   it was   of the   in a   to be   she said   he went

Repeat each pair 20 times with perfect form. This trains muscle memory for natural language flow.

3. Number and Symbol Sprint

Numerical and symbol-heavy input trips up many typists. Drill this sequence for 3 minutes:

123 456 789 0 = + - * / % $ £ € @ & ( ) { } [ ] < >

Focus on using the correct shift fingers (left pinky for Shift with numbers, right for symbols).

4. Alternate-Hand Cadence Drill

Improve hand coordination with alternating patterns:

a j s k d l f ; g ' h p q o w p e i r u t y

This forces both hands to stay engaged and prevents one side from dominating.

5. Error Correction Loop

After any typing test, retype only the words you missed—five times in a row. This reinforces correction and reduces recurrence.

Tip: Never ignore mistakes. Each typo you repeat strengthens incorrect neural pathways.

Do’s and Don’ts of Speed Development

Do	Don't
Practice 20–30 minutes daily with full focus	Practice for hours with distractions (TV, phone)
Use proper posture: elbows at 90°, wrists floating	Rest wrists on the desk or keyboard
Start slow and prioritize accuracy	Chase high WPM with frequent errors
Take 5-minute breaks every 25 minutes	Push through fatigue and strain
Use a mechanical or low-resistance keyboard	Practice on a stiff or unresponsive keyboard

Real Progress: A Mini Case Study

Sophie, a 24-year-old administrative assistant, typed at 42 WPM with 92% accuracy before starting this two-week program. Her goal was to qualify for a data entry promotion requiring 65+ WPM.

She followed the daily structure religiously: 25 minutes each morning using Keybr and Monkeytype, focusing first on accuracy drills. By Day 7, her average was 50 WPM at 97% accuracy. In Week 2, she added transcription exercises from TED Talks, which improved her ability to keep pace with spoken language.

On Day 14, Sophie took a formal 5-minute typing test and scored 73 WPM with 96.4% accuracy—passing the threshold with room to spare. More importantly, she reported less fatigue and greater confidence during long work sessions.

“I didn’t think I could change my typing in two weeks. But breaking it down daily made it feel manageable. Now I type emails twice as fast.” — Sophie T., Administrative Assistant

Checklist: Your 14-Day Speed Acceleration Toolkit

Follow this checklist each day to ensure consistent progress:

• ✅ Warm up with 2 minutes of home row drills
• ✅ Complete 3 rounds of accuracy-focused typing (target: 98%+)
• ✅ Perform 2 speed sprints (1-minute tests)
• ✅ Retype all errors from tests (5x each)
• ✅ Maintain neutral wrist position and relaxed shoulders
• ✅ Track daily WPM and accuracy in a journal or spreadsheet
• ✅ End with a 3-minute paragraph from a novel or article

Consistency beats intensity. Even on busy days, completing just three items keeps momentum alive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I really improve my typing speed in just two weeks?

Yes—provided you practice deliberately for 20–30 minutes daily with a focus on accuracy first. Most adults gain 20–40 WPM in two weeks when following a structured plan. Gains plateau without consistency, so daily effort is non-negotiable.

Should I look at the keyboard while practicing?

No. Touch typing—typing without looking—is essential for long-term speed. If you must glance, do so only after completing a sentence, then return to screen focus. Use keyboard stickers temporarily if needed, but phase them out by Day 5.

What’s more important: speed or accuracy?

Accuracy is far more important initially. High error rates force you to stop and correct, destroying rhythm. A typist at 50 WPM with 98% accuracy is more productive than one at 80 WPM with 70% accuracy. Speed naturally increases as accuracy becomes automatic.

Conclusion: Start Today, Type Faster Tomorrow

Increasing your typing speed by dozens of words per minute in just two weeks isn’t magic—it’s method. The combination of targeted drills, structured progression, and daily accountability transforms what seems like a physical limitation into a trainable skill. You don’t need special equipment or endless hours—just 30 focused minutes a day and the willingness to start slow to finish fast.

The digital world rewards those who can translate thought into text efficiently. Whether you’re writing reports, coding, messaging, or transcribing, every second saved compounds over time. Begin today with a single drill. Track your baseline. Follow the plan. In 14 days, you won’t just type faster—you’ll work smarter.

💬 Ready to test your progress? Take a 5-minute typing test now, then revisit it in two weeks. Share your starting and ending scores in the comments—we’d love to celebrate your improvement!