Stuck at 120 wPM? Seven speed-Building Mistakes you’re making (and how to break through)
If you've been stuck at 120 WPM for months (or even years), you're not alone. This speed plateau is one of the most frustrating barriers in court reporting training. You've proven you can write fast, but breaking into that coveted 140+ WPM range feels impossible.
The truth is, getting from 120 to 140+ WPM requires a completely different approach than what got you to 120 in the first place. Most students make the same seven critical mistakes that keep them trapped at this level—mistakes that actually prevent speed breakthroughs rather than create them.
Why 120 WPM Is Such a Stubborn Barrier
The 120 WPM wall exists because it's where your current writing habits hit their maximum efficiency, especially if you are using a write-everything-out theory. Up to this point, your muscle memory, theory application, and mental processing have worked together to get you here. But to go faster, you need to fundamentally change how your brain and fingers work together.
Unlike the earlier speed barriers at 80 or 100 WPM, breaking through 120 isn't just about practicing more—it's about practicing differently. Let's dive into the seven mistakes that keep most reporting students stuck and what you can do instead.
Mistake #1: Obsessing Over Perfect Accuracy
The biggest myth in speed building is that you need 98%+ accuracy to write faster. Here's the reality: nowhere in the world that I know of do they require 100% accuracy. NCRA, our national association, asks for 95%.
When you're already at 120 WPM, chasing perfect accuracy creates hesitation. You start second-guessing your strokes, which breaks your natural rhythm and flow. This mental pause—even if it's just milliseconds—prevents you from developing the automatic responses needed for higher speeds.
The Solution: Accept that your accuracy might temporarily drop as you push for higher speeds. Focus on maintaining clean, flowing writing rather than perfect transcripts during speed building sessions.
Mistake #2: Using the Same Theory for Everything
Your theory got you to 120 WPM, but it might be holding you back from going faster. Many students stick rigidly to their original theory system without adapting it for high-speed writing.
At 140+ WPM, you need shortcuts, brief forms, and phrase combinations that you might have avoided at lower speeds. The theory that works perfectly at 100 WPM can feel clunky and slow when you're trying to capture rapid-fire testimony.
The Solution: Add phrases to your theory and embrace shortcuts. Consider learning advanced theory concepts that streamline your writing for the most common words and phrases you encounter.
Mistake #3: Practicing Only Easy Material
If you're always practicing with comfortable, predictable dictation, you're training your fingers but not your mind. Real court reporting requires handling unexpected terminology, rapid speaker changes, and complex sentence structures—often all at once.
Staying in your comfort zone during practice creates a false sense of your actual capabilities. When you encounter challenging material at high speeds, your writing falls apart because you haven't trained for those situations.
The Solution: Deliberately practice with difficult material that pushes your boundaries. Include technical testimony, multiple speakers, and challenging dictations n your speed building routine.
Mistake #4: Ignoring Your Physical Setup
Your physical writing position, chair height, and machine angle all impact your maximum speed potential. Many students who plateau at 120 WPM are fighting against poor ergonomics that create unnecessary tension and limit finger movement.
Small adjustments to your setup can unlock significant speed gains. The difference between writing at 120 WPM with tension versus 130 WPM with relaxed hands often comes down to physical positioning.
The Solution: Video record yourself writing at high speeds and analyze your physical technique. Adjust your setup to minimize tension and maximize finger efficiency.
Mistake #5: Not Understanding Rhythm vs. Speed
There's a crucial difference between writing fast and writing with good rhythm. Many 120 WPM students try to force speed by hitting keys harder and moving their fingers faster. This approach creates tension, increases errors, and actually limits top speed.
Seasoned court reporters develop a smooth, consistent rhythm that allows for sustained high speeds without fatigue. They're not necessarily moving their fingers faster—they're moving them more efficiently.
The Solution: Focus on developing steady rhythm rather than explosive speed. Maybe try writing to music or just imagining you’re playing an instrument.
Mistake #6: Skipping Mental Training
Speed building isn't just physical—it's heavily mental. At 120 WPM, your brain is processing information, translating it to steno, and directing your fingers to write all simultaneously. Without mental training, this cognitive load becomes overwhelming at higher speeds.
Many students neglect the mental aspects of high-speed writing: concentration techniques, anxiety management, and confidence building. They focus entirely on finger training while ignoring the mental game that controls everything.
The Solution: Incorporate mental training into your practice routine. Work on concentration exercises, visualization techniques, and building confidence at higher speeds through structured practice programs.
Mistake #7: Practicing in Isolation
Writing alone in your room is different from writing in a real courtroom or deposition setting. Environmental distractions, speaker variations, and the pressure of creating a perfect record all impact your ability to maintain high speeds.
Students who only practice in perfect conditions often find their speeds drop dramatically in real-world situations. They haven't trained their ability to maintain focus and speed despite external challenges.
The Solution: Practice in varied environments and conditions. Consider shadowing experienced reporters or participating in realistic trial simulations to build real-world speed skills.
The Breakthrough Strategy
Breaking through 120 WPM requires a systematic approach that addresses all these mistakes simultaneously. Here's your action plan:
Week 1 and 2: Assess and adjust your physical setup and theory efficiency. Identify the shortcuts and brief forms you need for high-speed writing.**** Begin practicing with challenging material while accepting temporary accuracy drops. Focus on rhythm over raw speed.
Week 3: Add mental training exercises and practice in varied environments.
Week 4: Combine all elements with structured speed building sessions that push your boundaries safely.
Your Speed Building Support System
Remember, breaking through speed plateaus is one of the most challenging aspects of court reporting training. You don't have to figure it out alone. Having the right guidance, practice materials, and support system can make the difference between staying stuck and achieving your speed goals.
The 120 WPM barrier isn't permanent—it's just the point where you need to evolve your approach. By addressing these seven common mistakes and implementing targeted solutions, you can finally break through to the higher speeds that will advance your court reporting career.
Your breakthrough is closer than you think. It's time to stop making these mistakes and start building the speed you know you're capable of achieving.