Story lines, then whole stories. The sight words lap builds speed on the short words typed most.
Where to start in 5th grade
The choices above the game are a starting point for 5th grade: story lines, little stories, two stories and sight words. They are not a rule. Children start typing at different times, so pick the one that feels comfortable and move on when a lap feels easy. Every other skill is on the practice page.
The focus at this stage: Whole paragraphs with capitals and punctuation, at a steady pace.
What schools publish for 5th grade
The Common Core writing standards for grade 5 ask for enough keyboarding skill to type "a minimum of two pages in a single sitting." A keyboarding pacing guide from Omaha Public Schools in Nebraska, revised in 2016, lists a minimum of 15 to 18 words a minute at 88 to 90% accuracy for grades 5 and 6. The New York State Education Department says speed joins accuracy as a focus in grades 5 and 6, with each district setting its own goal.
Schools set their own goals, and they differ. Our guide to average typing speed by age and grade puts the published targets side by side with their sources.
A typing test for 5th grade
A fair starting point at this stage is the typing test for kids on Sentences, for 2 minutes. It shows keys right and words a minute. If that choice is a struggle, drop back to Home row. Compare a child with their own last month, never with a classmate.
For teachers
Every page here runs in a browser with no accounts, so a whole class can use it on Chromebooks or iPads. Teachers can request free classroom codes for the full game.
Other grades
Kindergarten · 1st grade · 2nd grade · 3rd grade · 4th grade
Questions
How fast should 5th graders type?
There is no national rule. Omaha Public Schools lists a minimum of 15 to 18 words a minute at 88 to 90% accuracy for grades 5 and 6. The Common Core asks 5th graders to type at least two pages in a single sitting.
Is this free?
Yes. There are no ads and nothing to sign up for.
My child is in 5th grade and has never typed. Where should they start?
At the beginning, with F and J on the home row. The first lessons go quickly, and nothing is lost by starting there.