WPM (Words Per Minute) is calculated as total characters typed divided by 5 (standard word length), divided by the elapsed time in minutes. A typical typist averages 40-60 WPM; touch typists often reach 80-100 WPM.
Every character you type is compared to the expected character. Accuracy is the percentage of correctly typed characters. Aim for above 95% — speed with poor accuracy is counter-productive.
Practice touch typing (all 10 fingers), maintain proper posture, look at the passage not your keyboard, start slow and build accuracy first, then increase speed. Consistent daily practice of 10-15 minutes yields fast improvement.