What is the best age to learn to type?

We aim to teach students to touch type before they start to study for formal external exams (i.e. before they start year 10 in the UK).

While we will happily teach older students, we strongly recommend that students learn to touch type before the pressure of school work increases.

Dexterity often improves in teen years, nevertheless the advantages of learning to touch type before students leave primary school are significant.

Starting secondary school with typing as a normal way of working should greatly reduce the amount of evidence required to justify being a laptop user in formal exams.

While a student’s ability to type improves in the teenage years, the motivation to practice can significantly decrease due to peer pressure and increased school workload.

This is a difficult question to answer succinctly. Hence, I have created this video to explain the dangers of starting too young and leaving it too late.

Be warned

  • Having shared the frustration of parents whose teenagers simply refuse to put in the practice required to learn to type, I would strongly recommend starting early.

  • Younger children when motivated properly often enjoy learning to touch type.

  • If a child starts learning to type at eleven years of age, they can due a refresher course when they are older to improve their speed before taking formal exams.

    The risks of leaving it too late should NOT be underestimated

It’s never too late…

Ideally, students would learn before they start formal exam courses however, it would be wise to invest precious time in improving typing speed so candidates are typing as fast as possible when taking exams.

If a student: is a laptop user in exams; types slowly; and has exams imminently, I consider this an ‘emergency’ situation and will provide one-to-one tuition.

Older students can often learn very quickly. Once students understand that all exams are a test of speed as well as knowledge they can be highly motivated to practise.

… but can be too early!

A child can be too young to learn to type. Learning to touch-type required attention, discipline and maturity.

If a child does not have the maturity to appreciate the benefits nor the required dexterity they can HATE typing. If this is the case, forcing them to learn can be detrimental. In which case I would advise waiting and using other strategies at school.

I would not recommend any child learn before their school requires them to write essays. Without practising their typing skills regularly, students are in danger of losing their muscle memory and needing to do the course again.

I have had great success teaching younger girls to type but more mixed results with boys.

If a primary-aged child cannot master typing during the supervised section, I recommend they transfer their place to a future course.

If you are unsure if your child is old enough, get in touch and we can discuss your particular circumstances..