You can actually set the timer for any amount you want. However, 1 minute gives you words per minute without dividing out the time, so you don’t need to do extra math besides calculating the number of words. [5] X Research source For instance, you can set it for 3 to 5 minutes so you can be sure to hit your rhythm. In that case, you’ll need more text. [6] X Research source
In your word processing software, highlight the text you typed. Find the “word count” tool. Usually, you can click in the bottom left-hand corner. Locate the number of characters you typed. [9] X Research source Divide the number of characters you typed by 5. You don’t just use the word count because some words are much longer. Therefore, you use an average of 5 characters per word. [10] X Research source For instance, if you have 225 characters, divide that by 5 to get 45 words.
