What Is the Average Dictation Speed?

Dictation speeds vary greatly depending on the type of information conveyed and the person giving it. Each year, the National Court Reporters Association holds a National Speed Competition. The speed test consists of three pieces of dictation. A speaker dictates the literary test at 220 words per minute and the legal opinion test at 230 words per minute. The testimony test consists of two people talking at 280 words per minute. The transcripts created by the competitors must display at least 95 percent accuracy.