BIS CPT Skill Test (NSQF Level 5 & 6): Typing Test Guide
The Bureau of Indian Standards runs a Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) framed on NSQF Level 5 and Level 6 for its clerical and secretarial posts. The exact typing standard and task breakdown differ by post — this guide covers all five.
Updated for the current recruitment cycle · Reading time ~7 min · By the TypingTestExam team
35/30 WPM
JSA (Eng/Hindi)
2000 KD/15min
SSA Word Proc.
100/80 WPM
PA/Steno shorthand
NSQF 5 & 6
Framework
Qualifying
Nature
Start with the Junior Secretariat Assistant typing test
JSA's typing standard (35 WPM English / 30 WPM Hindi) is the most directly confirmed BIS figure and the closest match to a standard copy-typing test. Scroll down to pick a different post if you're not preparing for JSA.
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The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) — under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs — recruits Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), Senior Secretariat Assistant (SSA), Assistant Section Officer (ASO), Personal Assistant (PA), Stenographer, Technical Assistant and Senior Technician. For these posts, the selection includes a Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) framed on the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), Level 5 and Level 6. The CPT is qualifying in nature.
NSQF Level 5 vs Level 6. Level 5 applies to posts like JSA, SSA and Stenographer; Level 6 applies to higher secretarial posts like Personal Assistant and ASO. The Level 5 syllabus is a subset of Level 6 — so Level 6 candidates must cover everything in Level 5 plus additional advanced topics.
Junior Secretariat Assistant: the typing speed test
JSA's CPT includes a straightforward typing speed test:
Language
Speed
KDPH
Time
English
35 WPM
10,500
10 minutes
Hindi
30 WPM
9,000
10 minutes
Based on 5 key depressions per word, 35 WPM English = 10,500 KDPH and 30 WPM Hindi = 9,000 KDPH. The typing test is qualifying — you must clear it, but marks are not added to merit.
Senior Secretariat Assistant: the three-part CPT
SSA's Qualifying Skill Test in Computer Proficiency is not a simple typing-speed test — it's three separate, timed components:
Component
Target
Time
Word Processing
2,000 key depressions
15 minutes
Spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel)
Task-based
15 minutes
PowerPoint
Task-based
15 minutes
2,000 key depressions in 15 minutes works out to roughly 27 WPM at 5 depressions per word — a slower, steadier pace than JSA's test. We can simulate the Word Processing component here; the Excel and PowerPoint components are practical, non-typing tasks that need separate preparation.
Assistant Section Officer: typing test + separate CPT
ASO's Skill Test has two qualifying components, both confirmed from the official advertisement:
Component
Standard
Time
Typing Speed Test
35 WPM English / 30 WPM Hindi (10,500 / 9,000 KDPH)
10 minutes
Computer Proficiency Test
NSQF Level 6 (task breakdown not itemized in the advertisement)
Not specified
We can simulate the Typing Speed Test component here — it uses the identical standard to JSA. The separate NSQF Level 6 Computer Proficiency Test is not simulated.
Shorthand (for PA and Stenographer)
Personal Assistant and Stenographer posts add a shorthand dictation test transcribed on computer:
Personal Assistant (NSQF Level 6): shorthand at 100 WPM (7-minute dictation), transcribed in 45 min (English) or 60 min (Hindi).
Stenographer (NSQF Level 5): shorthand at 80 WPM, transcribed in 50 min (English) or 65 min (Hindi). Permissible mistakes: 5% (relaxable to 10%).
Which BIS post are you preparing for?
The typing standard and CPT structure differ materially by post — pick yours below.
Junior Secretariat Assistant and Assistant Section Officer both use the same 35 WPM English / 30 WPM Hindi typing standard — confirmed directly from the official BIS Advertisement No. 01/2024/ESTT. ASO additionally has a separate, qualifying Computer Proficiency Test at NSQF Level 6 that isn't itemized in the advertisement beyond that and isn't simulated here. Senior Secretariat Assistant's CPT is a genuinely different 3-part test (Word Processing, Excel, PowerPoint) — we can only simulate the Word Processing component; Excel and PowerPoint need separate practice. Personal Assistant and Stenographer add a shorthand dictation stage (100 WPM and 80 WPM respectively, both confirmed from the same official advertisement, including the 5%-relaxable-to-10% permissible mistake rule) on top of their own CPT — dictation-and-transcription needs dedicated shorthand training, not a copy-typing test, so use Steno Academy for that component.
What the CPT syllabus covers
The BIS CPT is broader than a typing-only test. Framed on NSQF Levels 5 and 6, it assesses computer proficiency through both MCQs and practical tasks across four areas:
Typing test — speed and accuracy as above.
MS Word proficiency — formatting, tables, styles, document preparation.
MS Excel proficiency — formulas, functions, data handling, charts.
MS PowerPoint proficiency — slide creation and presentation.
Level 6 adds more advanced topics on top of the Level 5 base — input/output devices, email handling, and deeper application skills.
How to prepare
Build typing to 40+ WPM English (or 33+ Hindi) so the 35/30 bar is comfortable.
Master MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint hands-on — the CPT is practical, not just typing.
PA/Steno aspirants: add shorthand dictation and read-back practice at 100/80 WPM.
Cover the full NSQF Level 5 (and Level 6) syllabus — theory MCQs and practical tasks both count.
Confirm the exact pattern from the official BIS advertisement for your recruitment year.
Prepare the full CPT with expert guidance. Nishant eAcademy offers dedicated BIS CPT skill-test courses based on NSQF Level 5 and Level 6, covering typing, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and the theory syllabus. Tap the WhatsApp button or the Courses section for details.
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This differs by post. Junior Secretariat Assistant and Assistant Section Officer both require 35 WPM English / 30 WPM Hindi (10,500 / 9,000 key depressions per hour) in a 10-minute test, qualifying in nature — confirmed from the official BIS advertisement. Senior Secretariat Assistant's Word Processing component requires 2,000 key depressions in 15 minutes instead (a different, slower rate, and stated as key depressions rather than WPM in the official advertisement).
What are NSQF Level 5 and Level 6 in the BIS CPT?
NSQF levels define the computer-proficiency standard by post. Level 5 applies to JSA, SSA and Stenographer; Level 6 applies to higher secretarial posts like PA and ASO. Level 5 topics are a subset of Level 6.
Is the BIS CPT only a typing test?
No, and the exact shape differs by post. For Senior Secretariat Assistant, the official CPT is explicitly three separate components — Word Processing (2,000 key depressions/15 min), a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet task (15 min), and a PowerPoint task (15 min). We can only simulate the Word Processing component here; Excel and PowerPoint need separate, non-typing practice. Assistant Section Officer has a Typing Speed Test (which we do simulate) plus a separate NSQF Level 6 Computer Proficiency Test that isn't itemized in the advertisement beyond its qualifying nature. PA and Stenographer posts add a shorthand dictation stage on top of their CPT.
What is the shorthand speed for BIS Personal Assistant and Stenographer?
Personal Assistant requires 100 WPM shorthand, 7-minute dictation, transcribed in 45 minutes (English) or 60 minutes (Hindi) — NSQF Level 6. Stenographer requires 80 WPM shorthand, transcribed in 50 minutes (English) or 65 minutes (Hindi) — NSQF Level 5. Both cite permissible mistakes of 5%, relaxable to 10% if an adequate number of qualified candidates aren't otherwise available — all confirmed directly from the official BIS advertisement.
Is the BIS CPT qualifying or marks-bearing?
The Computer Proficiency Test is qualifying in nature — you must clear it, but its marks are not added to the final merit.
Which posts require the BIS CPT?
JSA, SSA, ASO, Personal Assistant, Stenographer, Technical Assistant and Senior Technician posts include the CPT, framed on NSQF Level 5 or Level 6 depending on the post.
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