Transcription, Typing and Accuracy Notes for SSC Stenographer Skill Test

Transcription is the second half of the SSC Stenographer skill test: after the dictation, the candidate has to read the shorthand notes and type the passage accurately in a fixed time on the computer. Many candidates who write good shorthand fail here because of the slow typing and the small mistakes. These transcription, typing and accuracy notes for the SSC Stenographer skill test explain the time limits, the speed and the accuracy formulas, the types of the mistakes, the rules of the punctuation and the style and a daily practice plan in simple language, followed by 20 practice questions. Read them with the Pitman Shorthand Basics Notes for SSC Stenographer, Shorthand Dictation Practice and Speed Notes and SSC Stenographer Exam Pattern and Syllabus Notes notes.

The Skill Test in Short

The exact time, the speed and the rules of the skill test can change in a new notification, so always read the latest official notice and the instructions of the SSC before your test. The transcription time is generally given for the normal candidates and the extra time is given to the candidates with the benchmark disabilities as per the rules.

Typing Basics: Posture, Home Row and Finger Placement

• Posture: sit straight, the feet flat on the floor, the elbows at about 90 degrees, the wrists straight and the screen at the eye level.
• Home row keys: the left hand rests on A, S, D, F and the right hand on J, K, L and the semicolon; the thumbs rest on the space bar. The index fingers feel the small bumps on F and J.
• Each finger has its own keys: the touch typing means typing without looking at the keyboard; it is the only way to a high speed and a high accuracy.
• The top row (Q W E R T Y U I O P), the bottom row (Z X C V B N M) and the number row are learnt after the home row.
• The Shift key is pressed with the opposite hand to the letter; the Backspace corrects the mistake.
• Use the QWERTY layout and a keyboard in a good condition; practise on the same type of the keyboard (the examination centre keyboard) as far as possible.

Speed and Accuracy: Formulas

• Example: 1000 words are typed in 40 minutes: the gross speed = 1000 / 40 = 25 words per minute.
• Example of the permissible error: if 5 percent mistakes are permitted in 800 words, up to 40 mistakes are permitted (as per the rule of the particular test).
• Aim for a typing speed 2 to 3 times higher than the minimum required (for example 40 words per minute), so that you have the time for the reading of the notes and the proof-reading.
• A good typist types with a rhythm and does not stop at every mistake; the accuracy comes first and then the speed.

Types of Mistakes in the Transcription (As Generally Classified)

Important: The SSC decides the full mistake and the half mistake and the maximum permissible percentage of the mistakes in its notice for the skill test (generally about 5 percent for Grade C and about 10 percent for Grade D). Read the current instructions and practise within these limits.

Punctuation Rules for the Transcription

• The stenographer does not change the language of the passage; the punctuation should be the usual and the correct one.
• If a pause is dictated as "comma" or "full stop", it is typed as the mark and not as the word.
• Do not put a space before the comma and the full stop; put one space after them.

Capital Letters, Numbers and Style

• Capital letters are used for the first word of a sentence, the names of the persons, the places, the months and the days, the titles (the Prime Minister, the President), the names of the organisations (the Staff Selection Commission) and the abbreviations (SSC, RBI).
• Numbers: the figures below ten are generally written in words and the figures above ten in numerals; the figures at the beginning of a sentence are written in words; the dates are written as "12 October 2026" (the British style); the money is written as "Rs 5,000" or "Rs. 5,000" as in the passage.
• Abbreviations are written in the full form at the first use if the passage does so.
• British spelling is used in the Indian official English: colour, honour, organisation (or organization as per the dictation), centre, programme, judgement, defence.
• Homophones are the most common source of the mistakes: there-their-they're, to-too-two, its-it's, affect-effect, principal-principle, stationary-stationery, complement-compliment (see the English notes).
• Hyphenated and compound words: follow the passage and the standard dictionary.
• The official words must be known: memorandum, notification, circular, resolution, ordinance, amendment, committee, secretariat, ministry, department, tender, annexure, reference, compliance, jurisdiction.

The Transcription Process: Step by Step

1. Keep the notes ready: after the dictation, quickly read the whole notes once and mark the doubtful outlines. Do not start typing in a panic.
2. Type in the sequence: start from the first sentence; do not type from the middle.
3. Read a sentence and type it: read the outlines of a full sentence in the mind, then type it. This avoids the word-by-word reading, gives a better flow and helps in the punctuation.
4. Do not stop at the difficult word: leave a gap or write the best guess from the context and come back after the passage is finished.
5. Take care of the figures, names and the dates: they are the full mistakes if they are wrong.
6. Keep the last 5 to 10 minutes for the proof-reading: read the typed text line by line with the shorthand notes; check the omission, the spelling, the punctuation and the paragraphs.
7. Do not use a long time for the format; follow the instructions given in the test for the line spacing and the layout.
8. Save the file as per the instructions and check before the final submission.

Computer Skills Needed for the Skill Test

• Know how to open, type and save a file in a word processor (see the MS Word notes).
• Know the common shortcut keys: Ctrl + S (save), Ctrl + Z (undo), Ctrl + A (select all), Ctrl + B, Ctrl + I and Ctrl + U (format); see the computer shortcut keys note.
• The spell check and the auto-correct may be switched off in the test, so do not depend on them.
• Practise with the mouse and the keyboard of the exam type; check the font and the size given in the test.
• Keep the Caps Lock off and watch for the auto-capitalisation settings.
• Learn the basics from the Computer Knowledge notes if you are not familiar with the computer.

A 30-Day Practice Plan for the Transcription

• Use a mistake diary: write the repeated errors (the same wrong spelling or the missing comma) and revise them daily.
• Practise with a timer and keep a log of the speed and the accuracy.
• Take a 10-minute break after every 50 minutes to avoid the fatigue of the fingers and the eyes.
• Work on the weak keys and the words that you mistype often.
• Read the English newspaper editorial every day for the vocabulary and the style.

Common Reasons for the Failure and the Solutions

Important Questions Explained

Question 1: What is the transcription time for the English passage for Grade C as per the recent notifications?
Answer: 40 minutes (50 minutes for Grade D).

Question 2: How many words are dictated in 10 minutes at 100 words per minute?
Answer: About 1000 words.

Question 3: What typing speed is needed to type 800 words in 50 minutes?
Answer: 800 / 50 = 16 words per minute (the minimum).

Question 4: How is the speed in words per minute calculated?
Answer: Gross WPM = total key strokes / 5 / the time in minutes.

Question 5: What is a substitution mistake?
Answer: A wrong word typed in the place of the dictated word.

Question 6: Is a wrong comma generally a full or a half mistake?
Answer: Generally a half mistake, but follow the SSC instructions.

Question 7: What should be done in the last minutes of the transcription time?
Answer: Proof-read the typed text with the notes.

Quick Tips to Remember

• Learn the touch typing first; it is the base of the speed and the accuracy.
• Aim at a typing speed of 35 to 40 words per minute even if the minimum is 16 to 25.
• Read a full sentence before typing it.
• Keep the last 5 to 10 minutes for the proof-reading.
• Keep a mistake diary and revise the repeated errors.
• Read the latest SSC notice for the exact time, the speed and the permissible mistakes.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Typing before reading the notes.
• Stopping at every difficult outline and losing the time.
• Missing a word (omission), which is the most common full mistake.
• Ignoring the punctuation and the capital letters.
• Depending on the spell check, which may be off in the test.

Quick Revision Points

• Dictation: Grade D 80 wpm and Grade C 100 wpm for 10 minutes.
• Transcription time (English, as per the recent notices): Grade D 50 minutes; Grade C 40 minutes.
• Standard word: 5 key strokes; WPM = key strokes / 5 / time.
• Mistakes: omission, addition, substitution, spelling, punctuation (half), capital letters (half).
• Process: read, type a sentence at a time, leave the doubtful words, proof-read at the end.
• Practice: touch typing, a timer, a mistake diary and the English newspaper.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. What is transcription?
   Answer: Typing the dictated matter in full from the shorthand notes (Skill test).
2. What is the dictation speed for the Grade D?
   Answer: 80 words per minute (10 minutes).
3. What is the dictation speed for the Grade C?
   Answer: 100 words per minute (10 minutes).
4. What is the English transcription time for the Grade C (recent notices)?
   Answer: 40 minutes (Check the notice).
5. What is the English transcription time for the Grade D (recent notices)?
   Answer: 50 minutes (Check the notice).
6. How many key strokes make one standard word?
   Answer: 5 (Including the space).
7. What is the formula of the gross speed in WPM?
   Answer: Total key strokes / 5 / time in minutes (Typing).
8. What is the formula of the accuracy?
   Answer: (Correct words / total words) x 100 (Percent).
9. What is the minimum typing speed to type 1000 words in 40 minutes?
   Answer: 25 words per minute (1000 / 40).
10. What is an omission?
    Answer: A dictated word that is left out (Full mistake).
11. What is a substitution?
    Answer: A wrong word typed in place of the correct one (Full mistake).
12. Which mistakes are generally counted as half mistakes?
    Answer: Punctuation and capital letters (As per the instructions).
13. Which keys are the home row keys of the left hand?
    Answer: A, S, D, F (Right hand: J, K, L, ;).
14. What is touch typing?
    Answer: Typing without looking at the keyboard (Speed and accuracy).
15. What should be done in the last minutes of the transcription?
    Answer: Proof-reading (Check the omissions).
16. Where is the comma placed relative to the space?
    Answer: No space before and one space after (Style rule).
17. Which spelling style is generally used in the Indian official English?
    Answer: British spelling (Colour, centre).
18. Which shortcut key saves a file?
    Answer: Ctrl + S (Computer).
19. Which feature may be switched off in the test?
    Answer: Spell check and auto-correct (Do not depend on it).
20. What is the first step before the transcription starts?
    Answer: Read the whole notes quickly and mark the doubtful outlines (Process).

How to Practise This Topic

1. Practise the touch typing for one hour daily and track your speed and accuracy.
2. Do the transcription of every dictation within the exam time limit.
3. Keep a mistake diary and revise the repeated errors.
4. Attempt the practice questions without looking at the answers.
5. Read the latest SSC notice for the skill test and prepare the written exam with the English, Reasoning and General Awareness notes.

Related Notes and Practice

• Pitman Shorthand Basics Notes for SSC Stenographer
• Shorthand Dictation Practice and Speed Notes
• SSC Stenographer Exam Pattern and Syllabus Notes
• Stenography Notes
• MS Word Notes
• SSC practice papers

Frequently Asked Questions

What is transcription in the SSC Stenographer exam?

Transcription is the typing of the dictated passage in full on the computer from the shorthand notes within the given time, after the dictation is over.

What is the transcription time for Grade C and Grade D?

As per the recent SSC notifications, the English transcription time is 40 minutes for Grade C and 50 minutes for Grade D (55 and 65 minutes for Hindi). Check the latest notice for any change.

What typing speed is needed for the SSC Stenographer skill test?

A minimum of about 25 words per minute for Grade C and 16 words per minute for Grade D is needed to type the passage in the time, but a speed of 35 to 40 words per minute is safer.

How is the typing speed in words per minute calculated?

Words per minute = the total key strokes typed divided by 5 and divided by the time in minutes.

What are the common mistakes in the transcription?

The common mistakes are the omission of words, the substitution of the wrong words, the spelling errors, the punctuation errors and the wrong capital letters.

Are the punctuation mistakes counted?

Yes. The punctuation and the capital letter mistakes are generally counted as half mistakes, but you should follow the instructions given by the SSC.

What are the permissible mistakes in the skill test?

The SSC fixes the permissible percentage of the mistakes in its notice, generally about 5 percent for Grade C and about 10 percent for Grade D. Check the latest instructions.

Is the skill test only qualifying?

Yes. The skill test in the SSC Stenographer exam is qualifying in nature, and the merit is made on the basis of the written examination.

How can I improve my typing speed quickly?

Learn the touch typing, practise for an hour every day with a timer, work on the weak keys and increase the passage length slowly.

Is spell check available in the skill test?

Do not depend on it. The spell check and the auto-correct may be switched off in the test, so the spelling must be correct from your own knowledge.

How should I read the shorthand notes during the transcription?

Read a full sentence in the mind, then type it; do not stop at a difficult outline, leave it and come back at the end.

How can I prepare the written exam along with the skill test?

Make a daily plan: shorthand and typing practice for 2 to 3 hours and the study of English, reasoning and general awareness for 2 to 3 hours.