TypeTez

Choosing a keyboard for typing practice

You do not need a special keyboard to get faster. You need one that is comfortable, standard enough to match the computers you will be tested on, and set at the right height. These are the product types we think are worth considering, with what to check in each.

Full-size wired keyboard

A full-size board has the number pad and the usual key positions. In our view it is the safest match if you do not know what keyboard your exam centre uses; CPCT, for example, tells candidates that the keyboard models at its exam centres may vary. A cable means no batteries or pairing to think about during practice.

What to check

  • A standard layout with a full-width Shift key on both sides and a normal-sized Enter key.
  • Keys that register without pressing hard. CCOHS advises choosing a keyboard that does not need forceful key presses.
  • Feet or a stand that let you change the slope, so you can keep your wrists straight.

Avoid: Unusual key arrangements, such as a half-width left Shift, if you are training muscle memory for a standard keyboard.

Source: Office Ergonomics - Keyboard Selection and Use, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). Checked 26 October 2026.

Source: Computer Proficiency Certification Test (CPCT) home page, CPCT, Government of Madhya Pradesh. Checked 26 October 2026.

Shop: search Amazon India for full-size wired keyboard

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Keyboard with printed Hindi (Inscript) labels

If you are learning Hindi Inscript typing, printed Devanagari labels can help in the first weeks, before you know the layout by touch.

What to check

  • That the printed Hindi layout is Inscript, the layout built into Windows as "Hindi Traditional" and "Devanagari - INSCRIPT". A Remington chart printed on keys will not match those Windows layouts.
  • Print that is clear and does not crowd out the English letters.
  • A standard full-size or tenkeyless layout, so the key positions match an ordinary keyboard.

Avoid: Relying on the labels for ever. Exams are typed by touch, so plan to stop looking at the keys.

Source: Windows keyboard layouts, Microsoft Learn. Checked 26 October 2026.

Shop: search Amazon India for keyboard with printed hindi (inscript) labels

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Compact (tenkeyless) keyboard

Dropping the number pad brings the mouse closer to your body. That suits a small desk, as long as you do not need the number pad for data-entry practice.

What to check

  • Full-size letter keys and normal spacing between them.
  • Arrow keys and Home/End keys in their usual places.
  • A cable or a reliable wireless connection.

Avoid: Very small 60 percent boards if you are preparing for an exam on a standard office keyboard.

Shop: search Amazon India for compact (tenkeyless) keyboard

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Keyboard tray or adjustable stand

CCOHS suggests keeping forearms roughly horizontal with elbows at about 90 to 110 degrees, and being able to raise either the back or the front of the keyboard to keep wrists neutral. A tray or stand helps if your desk is too high.

What to check

  • Height and tilt you can adjust for your own chair and desk.
  • Enough depth for both the keyboard and the mouse, so you are not reaching sideways.
  • Firm fitting that does not bounce while you type.

Avoid: Fixed trays that put the keyboard higher than your elbows.

Source: Office Ergonomics - Keyboard Selection and Use, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). Checked 26 October 2026.

Shop: search Amazon India for keyboard tray or adjustable stand

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Palm rest (only if you need one)

CCOHS advises against resting your wrists on the desk and suggests using a wrist rest only if needed and appropriate. In our view a soft rest is most useful during pauses, not while typing.

What to check

  • The same height as the front edge of your keyboard.
  • A soft, even surface without hard edges.
  • Use it to rest between bursts of typing, not to anchor your wrists while you type.

Avoid: Rests that push your wrists upwards or bend them back.

Source: Office Ergonomics - Keyboard Selection and Use, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). Checked 26 October 2026.

Shop: search Amazon India for palm rest (only if you need one)

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Plain keyboard cover (for dust)

A cover keeps dust off a keyboard you use daily. Choose a plain, clear cover; a cover printed with a layout you are not learning only gets in the way.

What to check

  • A cover made for your exact keyboard size, so keys do not stick.
  • Thin, clear material that does not change how the keys feel much.

Avoid: Practising with a cover on if your exam keyboard will not have one; take it off for timed tests.

Shop: search Amazon India for plain keyboard cover (for dust)

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Sources