Typing Speed, Keyboard Layout and Computer Skills for SSC Stenographer: Touch Typing, WPM Calculation, MS Word and Hindi Inscript

In the SSC Stenographer skill test, the candidate has to type the transcript on a computer within the allowed time. Good touch typing, accuracy and knowledge of word processing are essential. This guide on typing speed, keyboard and computer skills for SSC Stenographer covers the keyboard layout, the touch typing method, how speed is calculated, the useful MS Word shortcuts and the Hindi Inscript keyboard, with practice questions and FAQs.

The QWERTY Keyboard

• The QWERTY layout was designed by Christopher Latham Sholes in 1868 for his typewriter; it is named after the first six keys of the top letter row.
• The keyboard has the alphabet keys, number keys, function keys (F1 to F12), control keys (Ctrl, Alt, Shift), navigation keys and the numeric keypad.
• Special keys: Caps Lock, Tab, Enter (Return), Backspace, Delete, Esc, Insert, Home, End, Page Up and Page Down, Print Screen.
• The standard keyboard has 101 or 104 keys.

Home Row and Touch Typing

• Touch typing means typing without looking at the keyboard, using all ten fingers; the fingers rest on the home row (ASDF and JKL;) and move to the other keys and return.
• The F and J keys have small raised marks for the index fingers so that you can find the home row by touch.
• Sit upright with the feet flat, the wrists straight and the screen at the eye level to avoid the strain.
• Rhythm and accuracy come first; speed follows with practice.

Calculation of Typing Speed

Example. If a candidate types 1,500 characters in 5 minutes, the speed is 1500/5 = 300 words (as 5 characters = 1 word), and 300/5 = 60 wpm. If there are 10 errors, the net words = 290 and the net speed = 290/5 = 58 wpm.

Useful MS Word Shortcuts

• Turn off the auto-correct and the auto-format if the test asks for the exact copy of the dictation.
• Use the spell check, but verify it manually because it does not detect the wrong word that is spelt correctly (for example, “form” instead of “from”).
• Use the correct page setup, margins and the spacing as per the instructions.

Hindi Typing: Inscript Keyboard

• Inscript (Indian Script) is the standard keyboard layout for the Indian languages developed by C-DAC and approved by the Government of India; the layout is the same for all the Indian scripts, so that a person who knows it can type in any Indian language.
• The consonants are on the right side and the vowels on the left side of the keyboard; the home row keys have the commonly used letters.
• Hindi is typed in the Unicode (Mangal font) or the Kruti Dev (a non-Unicode font); the SSC test is done in the Unicode Mangal font with the Inscript keyboard.
• The Remington (Gail) layout is another traditional layout used in some courts and offices for the Hindi typing.

Computer Basics for the Skill Test

• Know how to create, save, open and rename a file; the common formats: .docx (Word), .txt (text), .pdf.
• Know the use of the Windows features, such as the Task Manager, the clipboard and the file explorer.
• Remember to save your work at regular intervals (Ctrl + S) and use the file name as per the instruction.
• Do not use the mobile or the unauthorised devices in the test.
• Practise on a similar test interface with a timer.

Tips to Improve Typing Speed

1. Learn the home row first, then the top row and the bottom row; practise the numbers and the symbols.
2. Practise with the online typing tutors and the test passages for 30 minutes a day.
3. Do not look at the keys; look at the text or the screen.
4. Type rhythmically and do not stop to correct each error while typing; do the proofreading at the end.
5. Raise the speed gradually only after you reach a high accuracy (above 97%).
6. Practise the typing of the transcripts of your own shorthand notes.

Quick Tips

• Learn the home row and keep the fingers on it.
• Do not look at the keyboard while typing.
• Remember that 5 keystrokes make one word.
• Turn off auto-correct if the test needs an exact copy.

Quick Revision Points

• QWERTY was designed by Christopher Latham Sholes in 1868.
• The home row is ASDF JKL;.
• Five keystrokes = one word.
• Net speed = (words − errors) / time.
• Inscript is the standard Indian language keyboard by C-DAC.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. Who designed the QWERTY keyboard?
   Answer: Christopher Latham Sholes
2. Which keys form the home row (left hand)?
   Answer: A, S, D and F
3. How many keystrokes make a standard word?
   Answer: 5
4. What is the shortcut for undo?
   Answer: Ctrl + Z
5. What is the shortcut for copy?
   Answer: Ctrl + C
6. What is the shortcut for Find and Replace in Word?
   Answer: Ctrl + H (Find: Ctrl + F)
7. Which keyboard layout is used for the Indian languages by C-DAC?
   Answer: Inscript
8. How is the net speed calculated?
   Answer: (Total words − errors) / time in minutes
9. What font is used for the Hindi Unicode typing?
   Answer: Mangal
10. What does touch typing mean?
    Answer: Typing without looking at the keys

How to Practise This Chapter

Practise 10 questions every day and write the steps on paper. Then attempt timed sets from our practice papers and the previous year papers page. See all topics on the Stenography notes page, read the previous topic Punctuation, Spelling and Proofreading for Transcription.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is touch typing?

Typing without looking at the keyboard using all the fingers.

What is the home row?

The row of keys (ASDF JKL;) on which the fingers rest.

What is a word in typing?

Five keystrokes, including the spaces.

How is typing speed calculated?

Total keystrokes divided by 5 and by the time in minutes.

What is the Inscript keyboard?

The standard keyboard layout for the Indian languages.

Who developed Inscript?

C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing).

Which font is used for Hindi typing in the test?

The Mangal font in Unicode, as per the notification.

Why should I turn off auto-correct?

Because it may change the text from the dictation.

What is accuracy in typing?

The percentage of the correct words out of the total typed.

How can I improve my typing speed?

By regular practice with proper finger placement and increasing the speed gradually.

Is typing asked in the SSC Stenographer exam?

Yes. The transcription is typed on a computer in the skill test.

What is the shortcut for save?

Ctrl + S.