RRB NTPC Typing Test Guide for Graduate and UG Typist Posts
Shortlisted for a typist post in RRB NTPC? Learn the typing skill test rules, required speed in English and Hindi, and a practical plan to clear it.
If you are aiming for a clerical, data entry or assistant-level job with the Madhya Pradesh government, you will hear one word again and again: CPCT. The Computer Proficiency Certification Test is the certificate many MP departments ask for when they want to verify that a candidate can actually work on a computer, and the typing sections are where most candidates either score comfortably or lose the post.
This guide explains how the CPCT typing test works, what speed you should aim for, how to choose between Hindi layouts, and how to prepare in a way that shows up on your scorecard.
Exam rules change from cycle to cycle. Everything below is based on recent notifications and common practice. Always confirm with the latest official CPCT notification before you plan your preparation.
What is CPCT?
CPCT is conducted for Madhya Pradesh government recruitment. Instead of every department running its own computer and typing test, candidates take CPCT once and use the scorecard while applying for posts that ask for it.
The test broadly has two parts:
- A multiple-choice section covering computer proficiency, reading comprehension, basic mathematics and reasoning, and general awareness.
- Typing sections in English and Hindi, each timed separately.
Many candidates spend weeks on the MCQ part and treat typing as an afterthought. That is a mistake. Most posts that require CPCT also specify a minimum typing speed, and you cannot fake that on the day.
CPCT typing test pattern
As per recent notifications, the typing part has two separate sections on the scorecard.
| Section | Duration | Commonly required net speed | Layout options |
|---|---|---|---|
| English typing | 15 minutes | 30 NWPM (varies by post) | Standard QWERTY |
| Hindi typing | 15 minutes | 20 NWPM (varies by post) | Inscript or Remington (GAIL) |
A few points worth noting:
- The two sections are scored separately. A strong English score does not compensate for a weak Hindi score.
- The required speed is decided by the post you apply for, not by CPCT itself. Some posts ask only for the certificate, others ask for a specific minimum in one or both languages.
- Your speed is reported as net words per minute (NWPM), which means uncorrected errors are deducted from your raw speed.
How your CPCT typing speed is calculated
Typing tests in India commonly follow the standard formula where one word equals five keystrokes, including spaces. If you want a detailed explanation, read our guide on what WPM typing speed means.
The basic calculation looks like this:
- Gross WPM = (total keystrokes / 5) / minutes
- Net WPM = Gross WPM - (uncorrected errors / minutes)
- Accuracy = (correct characters / total characters) x 100
Suppose you type 2,700 keystrokes in 15 minutes. Your gross speed is (2700 / 5) / 15 = 36 WPM. If you leave 45 uncorrected errors, you lose 45 / 15 = 3 WPM, so your net speed is 33 NWPM.
The exact error-counting method used in CPCT is defined by the conducting body, so do not rely on any one formula blindly. The lesson is simple: every mistake you leave behind costs you speed. You can check your own numbers any time with our typing speed calculator.
CPCT Hindi typing - Inscript or Remington?
This is the question most candidates ask first. As per recent CPCT options, Hindi typing can be done in either Inscript or Remington (GAIL) layout. Both lead to the same scorecard, so choose based on what you can type faster and more accurately.
Choose Inscript (Mangal) if
- You are starting Hindi typing from zero.
- You also want to prepare for central government exams, which increasingly use Unicode and Inscript.
- You prefer a logical layout where vowels and matras sit on the left side of the keyboard and consonants on the right.
Choose Remington (GAIL) if
- You already learned Krutidev or Remington typing at an institute or on a typewriter.
- You are also targeting state exams in UP, Rajasthan, MP or Bihar that accept Krutidev or Remington.
- You are comfortable with the typewriter logic where the short i-matra (ि) is typed before the consonant.
Do not switch layouts in the last month before CPCT. If you already type 20+ NWPM in one layout, polish that layout instead of starting over.
For a detailed comparison, see our separate article comparing Krutidev, Mangal Inscript and Remington.
What the CPCT typing passage looks like
CPCT passages are ordinary prose, usually on general topics such as governance, technology, environment, education or social issues. They are not full of rare words, but they do include:
- Full stops, commas and occasional quotation marks.
- Numbers written in digits.
- In Hindi, frequent conjuncts such as क्ष, त्र, ज्ञ, श्र, and half letters like स्, न्, म्.
- In English, a mix of short and long words with normal capitalisation.
Because you have 15 minutes per section, stamina matters more than in a quick 1-minute test. Many candidates start at 35 WPM and drop to 25 WPM by the tenth minute because their fingers and focus get tired.
A 6-week CPCT typing preparation plan
This plan assumes you already know the basic finger positions. If not, start with our lesson on home row keys and touch typing first.
| Week | English focus | Hindi focus | Daily time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accuracy drills, 5-minute tests | Full layout revision, matras and half letters | 45 min |
| 2 | 10-minute tests, target 25 NWPM | Common words and conjuncts, 5-minute tests | 60 min |
| 3 | 15-minute tests, target 30 NWPM | 10-minute tests, target 18 NWPM | 60 min |
| 4 | Punctuation and numbers | 15-minute tests, target 20 NWPM | 75 min |
| 5 | Full mocks, both sections back to back | Full mocks, focus on error reduction | 75 min |
| 6 | 1 full mock daily, light drills | 1 full mock daily, light drills | 60 min |
How to split your daily session
- 10 minutes of warm-up on weak keys or difficult conjuncts.
- 15 minutes of a full-length timed test in one language.
- 10 minutes of reviewing every error from that test and retyping those words five times each.
- 15 minutes of a full-length test in the other language.
- 5 minutes noting your NWPM and accuracy in a notebook.
Use our English typing test and the Hindi typing test for timed practice. For the Hindi section, pick the exact layout you will use on exam day.
Common mistakes CPCT candidates make
Practising only 1-minute tests
A 1-minute score always looks better than a 15-minute score. Train at full length at least four times a week from week three onwards.
Ignoring the backspace habit
Pressing backspace too often wastes time. Not pressing it at all leaves errors that reduce your net speed. The balance is to fix an error immediately if you notice it within the same word, and move on if you have already typed past it.
Practising in the wrong layout
Some candidates practise Krutidev in a word processor and then find that the exam software's Remington option behaves differently for a few keys. Always practise in a proper typing test interface for your chosen layout. Our Hindi typing tests let you pick Remington GAIL or Mangal Inscript for exactly this reason.
Exam day tips
- Arrive early and check that the keyboard feels normal. Report sticky or missing keys before the test starts.
- Read the first line of the passage before you begin so your eyes are ahead of your fingers.
- Keep a steady rhythm. A calm 32 NWPM beats a panicked 38 that falls apart with errors.
- In Hindi, pay extra attention to matras and nukta. Small errors add up fast.
- If you make a mistake in the first minute, forget it. Fifteen minutes is long enough to recover.
FAQs
What is the minimum typing speed required in CPCT?
CPCT reports your speed; the minimum is set by the post you apply for. Commonly required figures are 30 NWPM in English and 20 NWPM in Hindi, but always check the recruitment notification for your post.
Can I give CPCT Hindi typing in Krutidev?
As per recent CPCT options, Hindi typing can be done in Inscript or Remington (GAIL). Remington GAIL follows the Krutidev 010 keyboard layout, so if you learned Krutidev typing you can usually choose the Remington option. Confirm the current options in the official notification.
How long is the CPCT typing test?
As per recent notifications, the English and Hindi typing sections are 15 minutes each and are scored separately on the scorecard.
How long is the CPCT scorecard valid?
The CPCT scorecard is valid for several years, but the exact validity period is defined in the current CPCT rules. Check the latest official information before relying on an older scorecard.
Is CPCT typing harder than other state typing tests?
The passages are general prose and not especially difficult, but the 15-minute duration tests stamina. Candidates who practise full-length tests regularly usually find it manageable.
Ready to see where you stand? Take a timed practice test on our CPCT exam page and check your English and Hindi NWPM in the exact format you will face.