French Typing Test Online
Certify your WPM for bilingual roles. Practice typing French accents (é, à, è, ç, œ) accurately.
Test Your Speed in Other Languages
Preparing for a bilingual job interview or government exam? Certify your typing WPM and accuracy in specific languages with our dedicated text banks.
Why Take a French Typing Test?
Fluency in French is a massive asset in the North American and European job markets. However, proving you can speak French is not enough for modern data entry, customer support, or translation jobs. Employers need to know you can type accurately. A standard English typing test ignores the most difficult aspect of typing in French: the heavy reliance on accent marks (é, à, è, ç, ù), frequent apostrophes (e.g., l'arbre), and special ligatures (œ).
Keyboard Layouts: AZERTY vs. Canadian Multilingual
If you live in France or Belgium, the AZERTY layout is standard. However, if you are applying for bilingual remote jobs in the US or Canada, you will likely use the Canadian Multilingual Standard (CSA) or the Canadian French (QWERTY) layout. These allow you to keep the familiar QWERTY setup while providing dedicated keys for French accents, making them vastly superior for North American bilingual typists.
How to Type French Accents on a US Keyboard
If you don't have a Canadian French keyboard, you must build muscle memory using the US-International layout (Windows) or native Option keys (Mac). Below is the ultimate cheat sheet for typing French special characters quickly:
| French Character | Windows (US-Intl) | Mac (Shortcut) |
|---|---|---|
| Acute (é) | Press ' then e | Press Option + e then e |
| Grave (à, è, ù) | Press ` then the vowel | Press Option + ` then the vowel |
| Cedilla (ç) | Press ' then c | Press Option + c |
| Circumflex (ê, î, ô) | Press Shift + 6 (^) then vowel | Press Option + i then vowel |
| Ligature (œ) | Press Right-Alt + z | Press Option + q |
Check Your Hardware Before Practicing
Because typing in French constantly forces your fingers to use the apostrophe key and modifier keys for accents, your keyboard must be in perfect condition. Run a diagnostic using our main Keyboard Test to ensure your hardware isn't suffering from switch chattering or ghosting.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a good WPM for a French typing test?
For bilingual administrative roles in Canada or the US, a French typing speed of 40 to 50 WPM is considered good. Professional translators should aim for 60+ WPM with over 95% accuracy.
How do I type the œ (oe ligature) on an English keyboard?
The œ is common in words like 'sœur' and 'cœur'. On Windows (US-International), press Right-Alt + z. On Mac, simply press Option + q. Alternatively, you can use the Alt code: Alt + 0156.
Should I use QWERTY or AZERTY for French typing?
If you are in Europe, AZERTY is standard. If you are in North America, use the Canadian French QWERTY layout. It retains the QWERTY format you are used to but adds easy access to é, à, è, and ç.
Why does my WPM drop when typing in French?
French utilizes frequent apostrophes and accented vowels. These require multiple keystrokes or reaching out of the home row, which naturally lowers your base WPM compared to English.
How is the French WPM calculated?
It uses the international standard: (Total characters typed / 5) - Uncorrected Errors, divided by the time in minutes. Spaces and punctuation, including accents and apostrophes, count as characters.