Colemak Typing Test
Type on Colemak, check your WPM and accuracy and see which keys still need work.
Colemak is a keyboard layout designed by Shai Coleman in 2006 as a gentler alternative to Dvorak: it changes only 17 keys, leaves Z, X, C and V where they are so the usual undo, cut, copy and paste shortcuts stay in place, and puts the most frequent English letters on the home row. This test works with any layout your system is set to, so switch to Colemak in your settings and take the test as usual.
Because most keys stay put, the first days feel different from a move to Dvorak — your fingers still know where many letters are, and the changed ones are the ones that trip you up. Take a short test each day, look at the error map to see which letters you still reach for in the wrong place, and compare your WPM with the numbers you had on QWERTY. The 30-second and 1-minute tests are the quickest way to track progress.
Colemak typing test — frequently asked questions
Is Colemak easier to learn than Dvorak?
Many people find the switch gentler because fewer keys change and Z, X, C and V stay put, but ease is personal. Both layouts take weeks of practice to get back to your old speed.
Do I need a Colemak keyboard?
No. Colemak is built into macOS and most Linux systems and can be installed on Windows. Set it as an input source and keep your physical keyboard — the test scores what appears on screen.
Does the test score Colemak differently?
No. WPM is the number of correct characters divided by five, per minute, and accuracy is correct keystrokes over all keystrokes — exactly as on every test here — so Colemak and QWERTY results are directly comparable.
What is Colemak-DH?
A popular variant that moves the D and H keys to more comfortable positions. It works the same way here: the test only sees the characters you type, so any Colemak variant can be tested.