If you're new to French typing, start with a short 30-second test in Mots (word) mode, with lenient accents on, just to see where you currently stand — don't worry about your first score, since it's only useful as a starting point to measure progress against, not a benchmark to judge yourself by.
What Is a French Typing Test, and Who Is It For?
A French typing test measures how fast and accurately you can type real French text — including accents — within a fixed time limit. It's useful for anyone learning French, but especially for exam candidates, since computer-based tests like TCF Canada leave no room for hunting-and-pecking through accented words under time pressure. It's also simply a fast, low-stakes way to see how comfortable you actually are with a French keyboard, before that comfort level matters somewhere higher-pressure.
Getting Started: Your First Test
Open the free French Typing Test, choose a 30-second timer to keep the first attempt short, and select Mots mode — random single words are the gentlest starting point because there's no sentence structure to keep track of, just letters and accents. Press any key to start the countdown, then type what's shown; a blinking cursor marks your position, and errors turn red so you can see immediately where accuracy is slipping.
Choosing the Right Settings as a Beginner
The Accents toggle in the top corner has two settings: Laxiste, which treats e and é as equivalent, and Stricts, which requires the exact accented character. Start in Laxiste mode to build raw speed and comfort with the keyboard, then switch to Stricts once typing feels natural — that's the mode that actually builds the accent habits you'll need for real French writing. For the exact keystrokes to produce each accent on your keyboard, see French Accent Marks: Complete Guide.
What a Beginner's Score Actually Looks Like
Most true beginners land somewhere between 10 and 25 net WPM on their first few tests, often lower in strict accent mode until the accent keystrokes settle in. That's completely normal — it's the same range any new typist starts in, French or otherwise. Don't compare your first score to an intermediate or advanced benchmark; compare it only to your own score from a week ago. For the full range of benchmarks from beginner through advanced, see What Is a Good French Typing WPM?
What If You Keep Making the Same Mistakes?
If errors keep clustering around the same letters, that's a sign to isolate the problem rather than repeat the same full test over and over. Notice which accented characters trip you up most, then spend a few word-mode sessions specifically noticing those letters as they come up. Most beginners find that one or two specific accents — often é or ç depending on the keyboard — account for most of their errors, and fixing those two moves the overall score more than general repetition does.
Building a Simple Practice Habit
Consistency beats intensity here: five to ten minutes a day in short bursts builds speed faster than one long session on the weekend. Once Mots mode starts feeling easy, move on to Phrases for sentence rhythm, then Citations and Littéraire as your comfort grows — the same progression the test itself is built around, and one that naturally keeps pace with how quickly you're actually improving.
There's no need to rush through the stages either. Staying in Mots or Phrases mode for a couple of extra weeks isn't wasted time if accuracy is still climbing — a slower, steadier path through the four modes tends to produce a more durable skill than jumping ahead before the basics are solid.
