Typewriting examination are available at three levels, Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced.

These examinations may be taken on any form of typewriter or computer linked keyboard.

The examinations are intended to test successive levels of general ability in the skill of typewriting. They are essentially output tests in which candidates are required to show how much they can do in a given time. This is done with exercises of various kinds graded in terms of length and difficulty. The production work required includes the typing and display material, statistical tabulation lists, invoices, statements, reports and committee documents.

Any recognized system of spacing after punctuation marks is accepted, provided it is consistently used throughout the exercise. Similarly, any recognized and consistently used practices of display will be accepted. Ruling may be done using the underscore, pen and ink or ballpoint. A combination of underscore and hand ruling is acceptable provided the ruling matches in colour. Well-executed corrections will not be penalized, and any form of correcting is allowed in all exercises at all three grades.

In this examination, the candidate will be expected to have mastered the keyboard and be familiar with the various parts of the typewriter and their uses, including the tabulator, margin stops, regulation of line space and margin scale.

The examination consists of three exercises in which erasures and corrections are permitted.

Candidates will be expected to complete the following.

• Copy-type from printed text.

• Type and display, ready for signature, a simple business letter from clearly written manuscript (without abbreviations) and with paragraphing indicated; address envelopes or envelope shapes, including post codes.

• Type an easy piece of tabulation from print or manuscript.

• Display a notice, a menu, an advertisement or similar material as attractively as possible.

• Type a memorandum.

Candidates will need to be able to type at a minimum copying speed 25 wpm to complete the paper.

In this examination, the candidate will be expected to produce neat, well-displayed work in all aspects of typewriting likely to be encountered in a general office or junior secretarial position.

The examination consists of three exercises in which erasures and corrections are permitted.

The candidate will be expected to complete the following.

• Copy-type from printed text.

• Type letters ready for signature, from unarranged material in draft or in manuscript. The manuscript will be clearly written but may contain abbreviations, amendments and alterations. The letter may include lists, displayed matter, numbered paragraphs, subject headings.

• Type from manuscripts which have been altered and amended, and will include the standard printers' correction signs; type, with appropriate display, material of various kinds, including invoices, statements, lists, forms, memoranda, notices, advertisements, and prepare alphabetical, chronological and numerical lists. Leader dots may be required.

• Type a piece of tabulation from print or manuscript, which may or may not require ruling.

• Proof-read a short passage and type a corrected version.

Candidates will need to be able to type at a minimum copying speed of 35 wpm to complete the paper.

At this level, the candidate will be expected to cope with work of a more complex nature quickly and efficiently. The aspects of typewriting likely to be met with in any secretarial position should be covered in preparing for this examination. The production tests set will require the exercise of intelligence and judgement. Continuous technical or mathematical matter may appear in the examination. Manipulative (e.g. combination characters, superior and inferior characters) may also be required.

• Copy-type from printed text.

• Type exercises similar to those set in the Intermediate examination but of a more difficult kind. Candidates will be expected to type letters from revised manuscript which may contain abbreviations, amendments and alterations.

• Type the following items in accordance with the accepted methods of presentation: legal material; committee documents, including agenda, Chairman's agenda, minutes; bibliographical material; footnotes; itineraries.

• Collate and select material from draft documents, following given instructions, or type from copy in a foreign language.

• Type short reports with sub-headings from manuscript.

• Proof-read text or tabulated material and type a corrected version.

  Candidates will need to be able to type at a minimum copying speed of 45 wpm to complete the paper.

Candidates' performance will be assessed on the criteria of accuracy, presentation and production rate.

Accuracy marks will be deducted for

• spelling and typographical errors
  
• missing or additional words and spaces
  
• grammatically incorrect capitalisation
  
• abbreviations not expanded correctly
  

• incorrect movement of text and alphabetical/numerical sorts
  
• incorrect capitalisation or style
  
• incorrect line spacing
  
• incorrect or inconsistent layout, underscore
  
• incorrect typing conventions
  
• incorrect centring
  
• inconsistent spacing between columns in a table
  
• poor pagination
  
• incorrect margins and insufficient margins
  
• poor layout of forms of displays
  
• badly corrected errors and general non mailable copy.