A slow first race
If you are new to typing, a race against fast cars is no fun. This version uses the slowest settings on the site. Your opponents are a Turtle at 10 WPM, a Bicycle at 16 WPM and a Scooter at 22 WPM, and the text is just two short, simple sentences. It was built with children in mind, but it suits adult beginners just as well.
Press Start race, wait for the countdown and type the sentences. Your car moves with each correct letter.
Start with accuracy
Beginners often try to type fast and end up fixing half of what they type. In this race that does not work. A wrong letter stops your car until you press Backspace and correct it, while the other cars keep going. Slow, correct typing wins more races than fast, messy typing.
Look at the accuracy figure on the result screen after every race. If it is low, slow down on the next one until it climbs. Speed will follow once your fingers stop hunting for keys.
Learn the home row
The home row is the resting place for your fingers: left hand on A S D F, right hand on J K L and the semicolon key. Most keyboards have a small bump on F and J so you can find them without looking. From there, each finger reaches up or down for the keys nearest it.
Try to keep your eyes on the screen instead of your hands. It will feel slower at first. If you want guided drills for this, use touch typing practice before a race.
Goals for your first week
- Finish a race without giving up.
- Beat the Turtle.
- Beat the Bicycle with few red letters.
- Beat the Scooter while looking at the screen, not the keys.
- Try the standard typing games race, where the Easy car drives at 25 WPM.
Between races, gentle drills on the typing practice page will help you build the habits that make each goal easier.