Shorthand Dictation Practice and Speed Building Notes for SSC Stenographer

The skill test is the most difficult part of the SSC Stenographer exam, because speed and accuracy in shorthand come only from regular dictation practice. Most students either increase their speed too fast and lose accuracy, or they practise without a plan and stay at the same speed for months. These shorthand dictation practice notes for SSC Stenographer give a step-by-step plan, a simple way to calculate your speed and the common mistakes to avoid.

What Is Words Per Minute (WPM)?

• WPM shows how many words are dictated in one minute.
• In shorthand, a standard word is counted as 1.4 syllables, and a passage is counted on this basis.
• Speed in WPM = total words in the passage / time in minutes.

Example. A passage of 800 words that is dictated in 10 minutes has a speed of 80 words per minute. For 100 wpm, a 10-minute passage must have about 1000 words.

Speed Levels and Targets

Step-by-Step Practice Plan

1. Learn the basic strokes, vowels and joining rules, and write each one until it is automatic.
2. Memorise the outlines of the most common words, prefixes and suffixes.
3. Learn the short forms of common phrases to save time.
4. Start dictation at a slow speed, such as 40 to 60 wpm, and write clearly.
5. Increase the speed by only 10 wpm when you can transcribe the old speed correctly.
6. In the last two months, practise at a speed 10 to 20 wpm above the exam speed.

Daily Routine of 2 Hours

Weekly Plan Example

Common Mistakes in Dictation

• Increasing the speed too fast and writing untidy outlines that cannot be read later.
• Writing every word in full instead of using the short forms and phrases.
• Not practising typing, which is half of the skill test.
• Practising only easy passages and not the legal, official and technical passages.
• Not revising the old outlines and mistakes.

Transcription Tips

• Read the notes quickly before you type, and fill the doubtful words from the meaning of the sentence.
• Do not stop for a long time on one word, because you will lose the next lines.
• Check the spelling, the punctuation and the capital letters after typing.
• Use the proofreading time, if given, to correct small mistakes.
• Practise typing daily with a comfortable and accurate speed.

How to Practise Without a Teacher

• Use a recorded passage at a fixed speed and play it with a timer.
• Write the passage in shorthand, then type it, and compare it with the original text.
• Keep a record of your speed and the number of mistakes for every passage.
• Practise with newspaper editorials, government letters and official notices to learn common words.

Quick Tips

• Practise a little every day, because shorthand speed falls quickly when you stop.
• Increase the speed in small steps and keep the accuracy first.
• Keep a notebook of difficult outlines and revise it daily.
• Take a mock skill test once a week in the same time as the exam.

Quick Revision Points

• WPM = total words / time in minutes.
• Grade C needs 100 wpm and Grade D needs 80 wpm, as per the earlier notifications.
• Increase the speed by 10 wpm at a time.
• Practise 10 to 20 wpm above the exam speed in the last two months.
• Typing practice is as important as shorthand writing.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. How do you find the dictation speed in WPM?
   Answer: Total number of words divided by the time in minutes
2. A passage of 900 words is dictated in 10 minutes. What is the speed?
   Answer: 90 wpm
3. How many words are needed in a 10-minute passage at 100 wpm?
   Answer: About 1000 words
4. How much should you increase the speed at a time?
   Answer: About 10 wpm
5. What speed should you practise at before the exam?
   Answer: 10 to 20 wpm above the exam speed
6. What is the first step in learning shorthand?
   Answer: Learn the basic strokes, vowels and joining rules
7. Why should you learn phrases?
   Answer: To save time and write faster
8. Which skill is as important as shorthand writing?
   Answer: Typing the transcript
9. How much time per day is a good plan for shorthand practice?
   Answer: About 2 hours
10. What should you do with the wrongly written outlines?
    Answer: Write them again several times and revise them

How to Practise This Chapter

Follow the daily routine for one week and note your speed and mistakes every day. Then take weekly mock tests and solve the written test sets from our practice papers and the previous year papers page. Read the previous chapter, SSC Stenographer Exam Pattern and Syllabus, and see all topics on the Stenography notes page. Improve your typing and computer basics with the Computer Knowledge notes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I increase my shorthand speed?

Practise daily, learn the outlines and phrases, start at a slow speed and increase it by 10 wpm only when you can transcribe the old speed correctly.

How long does it take to reach 80 or 100 wpm?

With 2 to 3 hours of daily practice, most students take 6 to 10 months, but it depends on the starting level and the practice.

What does WPM mean in shorthand?

WPM means words per minute. It is the number of words dictated or written in one minute.

How is the speed calculated?

Speed is the total number of words in the passage divided by the time of the dictation in minutes.

How many hours should I practise every day?

Practise about 2 hours a day, with 1 hour of dictation and the rest for transcription and revision.

Should I practise at a higher speed than the exam speed?

Yes. In the last two months, practise at 10 to 20 wpm above the exam speed, so that the exam speed feels easy.

What is the biggest mistake in shorthand practice?

The biggest mistake is to increase the speed too fast and write untidy outlines that cannot be read later.

How important is typing in the skill test?

Typing is very important, because you must type the dictated passage correctly in the given time.

Can I practise shorthand without a teacher?

Yes, if you use a recorded passage at a fixed speed, then type it and compare it with the original and note the mistakes.

How do I improve my transcription accuracy?

Write clear outlines, read your notes before typing, check the spelling and the punctuation and practise full passages regularly.

Does shorthand speed fall if I stop practising?

Yes. Shorthand is a skill, and the speed falls quickly if you stop the daily practice.

What is the dictation speed required in SSC Stenographer?

As per the earlier notifications, it is 100 wpm for Grade C and 80 wpm for Grade D. Check the latest notification.