District court clerk and stenographer typing tests: format and free practice
District courts recruit clerks, typists and stenographers through typing and shorthand skill tests. Common formats, speeds and a practice plan.
Also searched as: court clerk typing test, stenographer typing test, court steno skill test
| Rule | Widely published figure |
|---|---|
| Who runs it | District courts and state high courts, often under the state recruitment board |
| Typist / clerk typing speed commonly published | 30 to 40 WPM English, 10 minutes |
| Stenographer shorthand speed commonly published | 80 to 100 WPM dictation, English |
| Stenographer transcription | Dictation typed on a computer within a fixed time, commonly 40 to 50 minutes |
| Nature | Qualifying in some courts, marks-based in others |
| Verify | Each court or state publishes its own rules |
Verify every figure in the current official notification; exam bodies change rules between cycles.
Practise in the same format
The 10-minute government-exam typing format below uses passages of the same style. Finish once a day and watch net WPM and accuracy.
Government exam format
600sTarget: 35 WPM net · backspace allowed · paste off
Start the government exam format testDistrict and subordinate courts across India recruit Junior Clerks, Typists, Copyists and Stenographers in large numbers, usually through the state high court or a state-level board. These posts are built around producing accurate documents, so the typing test carries real weight. Each court sets its own standards; the figures below are the ones most commonly published, and you should verify them in your own notification.
Format
Clerk, typist and copyist posts: a 10-minute typing test, commonly in English, sometimes with the option or requirement of the state language. Published speeds commonly fall between 30 and 40 WPM. Many courts hold the test on a computer; a few still use typewriters, and the notification will say which.
Stenographer posts: a two-part skill test. First, a dictation in English at a published speed, commonly 80 to 100 WPM, lasting a few minutes. Second, the candidate transcribes the shorthand notes on a computer within a published time, commonly 40 to 50 minutes. A separate typing-speed check at 30 to 40 WPM is sometimes added. Some courts also test on a legal passage, so candidates meet terms such as "petitioner", "hereinafter" and "affidavit".
How it is scored
Typing tests for clerks are commonly qualifying, with the written exam deciding merit. In some courts the typing test carries marks, and the candidate with the higher net speed ranks higher. Stenographer transcription is scored on errors: the notification commonly states a maximum error percentage, and transcripts above it are not qualified. Mistakes in legal terms and names are counted exactly like any other mistake.
Common mistakes
- Practising on general prose when the court passage uses legal vocabulary, long sentences and bracketed references.
- Not checking whether the test is on a computer or a typewriter.
- For stenographers, drilling shorthand speed while neglecting transcription typing speed; the second part is where time runs out.
- Ignoring capitalisation rules for names, courts and sections, which are counted as errors.
- Assuming the rules are the same as the neighbouring district's.
Two-week practice plan
Our government-exam typing format runs a 10-minute test on formal passages and reports gross, net and error percentage. Stenographer candidates can use it for the transcription half of their test.
- Days 1 to 3: one 10-minute test a day as a baseline. Read your court's notification and note speed, language, machine and scoring.
- Days 4 to 7: two tests a day. Add formal and legal-style passages. Target errors under 3 percent.
- Days 8 to 11: one test a day plus practice on capitals, brackets and numbers. Stenographers add daily dictation at your target speed and transcribe it under time.
- Days 12 to 14: one test a day under exam conditions. Aim for 5 WPM above the published figure, or a clean transcript inside the time limit.
Note: the figures on this page are the widely published rules; verify every one of them in the current official notification before you sit the test.
Questions
Is the court clerk typing test on a computer or a typewriter?
Most courts now use computers, but some notifications still specify a typewriter. The notification states which.
What shorthand speed do court stenographers need?
Published figures commonly range from 80 to 100 WPM dictation, with transcription on a computer within a fixed time. Check your court's notification.
Does the typing test carry marks?
In many courts it is qualifying only; in some it carries marks and affects rank. The notification's selection section tells you which applies.
Guides describe commonly reported formats. They are not official material, contain no real test questions, and HomebaseWorks is not affiliated with any employer or exam body named.