Practice approximation. The rules below are the commonly published figures and have not yet been verified against the latest official notification (check ssc.gov.in). Always follow your own notice.
The stenographer skill test has two parts: you take down a dictation in shorthand, and then you transcribe your notes on a computer. This page does not teach shorthand. It helps with the second half, where many candidates run out of time or lose marks to careless typing errors. You type a long formal passage and get a detailed error count using full and half mistakes, the way transcription is usually judged.
SSC Steno typing test rules (English)
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Speed required | No speed target (accuracy-based) |
| Duration | 50 minutes |
| Backspace | Allowed |
| Permitted errors | 7% |
| Mistakes | Full and half mistakes |
| Scoring | Skill test: 10 minutes of dictation, then transcription on computer (Grade D: about 50 min English; Grade C: about 40 min). Errors are counted as full and half mistakes. |
Posts: Stenographer Grade C, Stenographer Grade D.
Dictation and transcription at a glance
Dictation lasts ten minutes, at about 80 words per minute for Grade D and 100 words per minute for Grade C. You then get a fixed time to transcribe: commonly around 50 minutes in English and 65 minutes in Hindi for Grade D, and around 40 and 55 minutes for Grade C. Hindi gets extra time because each word takes more keystrokes.
The result is not a speed score. What matters is the percentage of errors in your transcript. The permitted percentage differs by grade and category, so check your notification. This page uses 7% as a default target.
Full and half mistakes
Transcripts are usually checked word by word. Omitting a word, adding a word that was not dictated or typing the wrong word counts as a full mistake. Smaller slips, such as wrong capitalisation, a missing punctuation mark or joining two words, are often counted as half mistakes. Our checker follows this pattern as a practice approximation, so you can see which kind of error you make most.
How to use this page
- Pick a duration that matches the transcription time for your grade and language.
- Leave backspace on, because corrections are allowed while transcribing.
- Read the error list after each test and note patterns, such as dropped articles or punctuation.
- For shorthand speed itself, practise with a teacher or dictation recordings; this tool covers the typing half.
Tips to pass the SSC Steno typing test
- Transcription is a reading task as much as a typing task. Go through your outlines quickly before you start.
- Do not stop on a difficult outline. Leave a gap, finish the passage and come back if time allows.
- Proofread for omissions in the last five minutes; omissions are full mistakes.
- Practise typing legal and administrative vocabulary, which appears often in dictation.
- Build up to the full transcription time; a 50- or 65-minute session is tiring without practice.
Frequently asked questions
Does this page test my shorthand?+
No. It checks the transcription typing part only. You type from a printed passage rather than from your own shorthand notes.
How much time is given for transcription?+
Commonly about 50 minutes (English) and 65 minutes (Hindi) for Grade D, and about 40 and 55 minutes for Grade C. Confirm in your notice.
How many errors are allowed?+
It depends on the grade and category. The figure shown here is a default practice target. Use the percentage from your own notification.
What counts as a half mistake?+
In our checker: wrong capitalisation, punctuation-only differences and spacing errors such as two words joined or one word split. Official definitions may differ.
Can I use Remington Gail for Hindi transcription?+
This page supports InScript and Remington Gail. Check which layouts the exam software offers in your year.
Is the score official?+
No. It is a practice approximation to help you prepare.