120 WPM
120 WPM Shorthand Dictation Practice
120 words per minute is the Grade C target in English stenographer recruitment. Reaching it depends far more on phrasing and transcription discipline than on raw writing speed.
Preparing for 120 WPM
- Hold 100 WPM at high accuracy on full-length passages first
- Practise phrasing so common word groups become one outline
- Time the transcription phase — many marks are lost after the dictation ends
- Use mock tests to rehearse the full exam shape, not just the dictation
Reading back is the real skill
At 120 WPM outlines get rougher. The stenographers who pass are the ones who can still read their own notes under time pressure, which is why StenoPro scores the transcription phase and not just the listening.
Start practising in StenoPro
Open the dictation library, set your speed and check your transcript in the same session.
Open StenoProFrequently asked questions
- Is 120 WPM realistic without a coach?
- Many candidates reach it through disciplined self-practice, but progress is much faster when each attempt is checked for accuracy rather than only for speed.