Preparation for Government Typing Exams

Once you reach the halfway point of the 2-minute division, you will need to transition from “practice” to “performance.” Government typing exam preparation is about more than achieving a specific WPM goal; it’s about executing that skill under pressure. Most students do not fail to achieve the required typing speed, but the fall short of success because they do not possess the ability to withstand the “exam hall atmosphere.”

Replicating Distractions

We all know that an exam hall is never quiet. Several factors, such as the repetitive hammering of keyboards, the whispers of the exam supervisors, and the consistent ticking of timers will be present. In order to make your preparation for government typing exams purposeful, you need to practice under such conditions. Use an “office typing sounds” recording while you take the 2-minute test. This will help your brain learn how to ignore annoying sounds and concentrate on what you are typing.

Keyboard Variability

At a government facility, you certainly will not be able to select a keyboard. You may receive a sleek, newer laptop-style keyboard or even an older, more outdated membrane keyboard with ”sticky” keys. To make the situation less stressful, consider practicing on different types of keyboards. In the case that you frequently type on a higher quality, more expensive mechanical keyboard, your fingers may be uncomfortable with the squishiness or mushiness of a standard office keyboard. Ultimately, true keyboard mastery comes down to being able to type consistently over 35 WPM and achieving this on any keyboard or hardware.

Developing A Pre Test Routine

During the exam, you will most likely be given some time to ”warm up” and this time should be used wisely. As you are not attempting to set any new record, consider typing some slow and deliberate perfect practice sentences that will help your fingers adjust to that specific keyboard, and the travel as well as resistance of the exam keyboard. To help with your stamina, consider using the 2 minutes to let you develop what will become your ”Calibration Ritual”. You can adjust your posture, take three deep breaths, and do a quick ”sweep” of the Home Row. A set ritual helps in reducing your cortisol levels and will help to get you in a better mental state to focus when the time comes to begin the test.