Sentence typing practice for kids: a free 60-second typing test with ten short sentences such as “The cat sat on a warm mat.” and “Bees make honey in a hive.”, so children practice capital letters, spaces and full stops as well as letters. Type the text as it lights up, and the game shows your words per minute and accuracy when the minute is up. It is a free typing game that needs no sign-up, works with any keyboard, and comes with a printable sheet of the ten sentences and a typing log.
Sentence typing practice: test, sentences and log
Take the sentence typing test above, then print the sheet. The first picture shows the ten sentences in large print with the number of keys in each, and a log for your scores. The other pictures show the game at the start, while you type and on the results screen.
How the sentence typing test works
- Press Start and click in the typing area. The clock begins on your first key.
- Type each character as it lights up, including capital letters, spaces and full stops.
- Keep going for 60 seconds. A wrong key counts as a mistake and does not stop the test.
- See your score: words per minute and accuracy, with your best saved on this device.
The ten sentences are shuffled and joined into a single text, then repeated in another order, so a test has 122 words. Typing sentences is harder than typing single words, because the Shift key, the space bar and the full stop are all used.
The 10 typing sentences in the game
Every sentence in the game is a simple sentence with a capital letter at the start and a full stop at the end. Together they have 61 words and 276 characters, which is 27.6 characters per sentence on average:
| No. | Sentence | Words | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The cat sat on a warm mat. | 7 | 26 |
| 2 | We plant seeds in the spring. | 6 | 29 |
| 3 | A red kite flew over the hill. | 7 | 30 |
| 4 | My dog likes to dig holes. | 6 | 26 |
| 5 | The moon is bright tonight. | 5 | 27 |
| 6 | Please pass the blue crayon. | 5 | 28 |
| 7 | Fish swim in the cool river. | 6 | 28 |
| 8 | I can read a book by myself. | 7 | 28 |
| 9 | The bus stops at the corner. | 6 | 28 |
| 10 | Bees make honey in a hive. | 6 | 26 |
The most used letters are E (29), T (19), S (17), A (16), O (16), I (16). Letters that never appear are J, Q, X and Z, so use the other modes for those keys.
Typing practice sentences: capitals and full stops
Each sentence needs one capital letter and one full stop, so ten capitals and ten full stops are typed on every pass through the list. A capital needs the Shift key, and children should press Shift with the little finger on the side opposite the letter: right Shift for a letter typed with the left hand, left Shift for the right hand. The full stop is typed with the right ring finger.
| Key | Which finger | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Capital letter | Opposite pinky holds Shift | Press Shift, tap the letter, release both |
| Space bar | Either thumb | Use the thumb of the hand that did not just type |
| Full stop | Right ring finger | Tap, then rest on the home row before the capital |
What your score means for sentence typing
A word in a typing test is five characters, so words per minute is correct characters divided by five. With sentences averaging 28.6 characters including the space, you can see how many sentences each speed finishes in a minute:
| Speed | Correct characters in 60 seconds | Sentences finished |
|---|---|---|
| 10 words per minute | 50 correct characters | 1.7 |
| 20 words per minute | 100 correct characters | 3.5 |
| 30 words per minute | 150 correct characters | 5.2 |
| 40 words per minute | 200 correct characters | 7.0 |
| 50 words per minute | 250 correct characters | 8.7 |
A child who types ten words a minute finishes about two sentences, and one who types thirty finishes about five. The aim at this stage is accuracy of 90 percent or more, and then speed will follow.
Typing practice for kids: a sentence typing practice plan
- Warm up with the home row typing practice for one minute.
- Type the printed sheet slowly, one sentence at a time, and check each sentence.
- Run the test and write your words per minute and accuracy in the log.
- Repeat three days in a row, then compare the three scores.
- Move on to your own sentences, such as a diary line or a favorite story sentence.
Typing sentences for kids: tips for smooth typing
- Read ahead: look at the next word while typing the current one, which keeps the rhythm steady.
- Do not stop for mistakes: the test counts them, but going back wastes time. Keep moving and fix the habit, not the key.
- Keep a steady beat: an even speed with a few mistakes beats a fast burst followed by many.
- Use both thumbs for the space bar, and keep the fingers curved over the home row.
A typing test for kids with sentences is a good measure of everyday typing, because homework and emails are made of sentences, and keyboarding practice with them transfers directly to schoolwork.
Where keyboarding fits at school
| Level | What students are expected to do |
|---|---|
| Grade 4 (US) | Show enough command of keyboarding to type a minimum of one page in a single sitting (W.4.6) |
| Grade 5 (US) | Type a minimum of two pages in a single sitting (W.5.6) |
The Common Core grade 4 writing standards expect a page of typing by the end of the year, and full sentences are the first step toward it.
Sentence typing practice: frequently asked questions
What is sentence typing practice?
It is typing whole sentences instead of single letters or words, so you practice capitals, spaces and punctuation as well as letters.
How many sentences are in the test?
There are ten short sentences, shuffled into a new order each time and repeated in a second order.
What is a good score on a sentence typing test?
It depends on age and practice. Aim for 90 percent accuracy first, then beat your own best score a little at a time.
Does the test count capital letters and full stops?
Yes. Every character must match, so a missing capital or a wrong key counts as a mistake.
Is the sentence typing practice free, and do kids need an account?
Yes, it is free, and no account is needed. Best scores are saved only in the browser on this device.
Does it work on phones and tablets?
Yes. Every game is built for touch first and also works with a mouse on a computer.