Last checked: 27 October 2026. Many stenographer candidates clear the written exam and then fail the skill test because they misjudge how mistakes are counted. This guide explains full and half mistakes, the percentage formula and the limits, using the rules printed in two current official notices: the Supreme Court Court Master (Shorthand) 2026 advertisement (120 wpm) and the SCL Mohali Junior Personal Assistant 2026 advertisement (80 wpm).
Rules differ between recruiters, so treat this as a guide to the method. Always use the rules printed in your own notice.
Quick summary
| Point | SCL JPA 2026 | Supreme Court Court Master 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Dictation speed and time | 80 wpm, 10 minutes (800 words) | 120 wpm, 7 minutes |
| Transcription time | 50 min (English), 65 min (Hindi), on computer | 45 minutes |
| Maximum mistakes | 10% (UR), 12% (reserved) | 5% of words dictated |
| Nature of test | Qualifying | Marked (100 marks, graded by mistakes) |
What counts as a full mistake
The SCL notice lists these as full mistakes:
- Omission: every word or figure left out. If you skip a group of five words, that is five mistakes.
- Substitution: every dictated word or figure replaced by a different one. A figure written correctly in words or in numerals is accepted.
- Addition: every word or figure you add that was not in the passage.
What counts as a half mistake
- Wrong spelling, including swapped letters or a missing letter. A word misspelt the same way more than once counts as one half mistake. Misspelt proper nouns and unfamiliar names are ignored.
- Singular written as plural, or the other way round.
- A small letter at the start of a sentence.
Two more rules from SCL matter: all errors in one word are counted, but together they cannot exceed one full mistake for that word, and accepted alternative forms (for example “Hon’ble” or “Honourable”) are not errors. The Supreme Court notice similarly treats a full-stop mistake, and capital-for-small letter errors, as half mistakes.
The formula
SCL gives the formula directly:
Percentage of errors = (Full mistakes + Half mistakes ÷ 2) × 100 ÷ Number of words in the master passage
The result is rounded to two decimal places (5.009 becomes 5.01; 5.001 becomes 5.00). You can do the arithmetic quickly with our percentage calculator.
Worked example 1: 80 wpm, 10% limit
An 800-word passage at 80 wpm for 10 minutes. A UR candidate can make up to 10%, that is 80 mistake-points.
- Your transcript has 42 full mistakes and 30 half mistakes.
- Mistake-points = 42 + 30 ÷ 2 = 57.
- Error % = 57 × 100 ÷ 800 = 7.125%, rounded to 7.13%.
- Result: within 10%, so you qualify. A reserved-category candidate has a 12% limit (96 points).
Worked example 2: 120 wpm, graded marks
At 120 wpm for 7 minutes the passage is about 840 words. The Supreme Court allows up to 5% (about 42 mistake-points) and grades the score:
| Mistakes | Marks (out of 100) |
|---|---|
| No mistake | 100 |
| Up to 1% | 90 |
| Up to 2% | 80 |
| Up to 3% | 70 |
| Up to 4% | 60 |
| Up to 5% | 50 |
- Your transcript has 18 full and 14 half mistakes: 18 + 7 = 25 points.
- Error % = 25 × 100 ÷ 840 = 2.98%, which falls in the “up to 3%” band.
- Result: 70 marks. Cutting just 9 more points would move you to 80.
Since the Court Master shorthand test carries 100 marks, every percentage point of accuracy directly changes your merit.
Typing tests use similar rules
For the Supreme Court typing test (40 wpm, 10 minutes, 2% mistakes allowed), a wrong word or figure is a full mistake, while a capital-small letter error or a missing, extra or wrong punctuation mark is a half mistake. For how typing speed itself is worked out, read how a 30 wpm court typing test is calculated, and practise with our typing speed test.
Practical tips to cut mistakes
- Never skip a line. Omissions are full mistakes per word, so a lost line of 12 words costs as much as 24 spelling slips.
- Do not add words to “smooth” a sentence. Additions are full mistakes too.
- Read back your outlines before typing. Most substitutions come from guessing at unclear outlines.
- Proofread for capitals and full stops last. They are only half mistakes each, but they add up quickly.
- Follow the shorthand system named in the notice. SCL says outlines must follow Pitman’s shorthand and longhand is not allowed; otherwise the transcript is not evaluated.
- Practise to time. Transcribe within the official time (for example 45 or 50 minutes) so you are used to the pressure.
Current openings for stenographers include the HP High Court stenographer recruitment; see more on our latest jobs page.
Source: SCL advertisement SCL:DR:01/2026 (section 10.2.2) and the Supreme Court Court Master (Shorthand) advertisement dated 15.10.2026, read on 27 October 2026. Rules vary by recruiter, so always follow your own notice. Read our editorial policy to see how we prepare guides.
Frequently asked questions
How are mistakes calculated in a stenography skill test?
Error percentage = (full mistakes + half mistakes ÷ 2) × 100 ÷ number of words in the passage. SCL's 2026 notice uses this formula and rounds the result to two decimal places.
What is a half mistake in a steno test?
Common half mistakes are wrong spellings, singular/plural errors and a small letter at the start of a sentence. The Supreme Court also treats full-stop and capital/small letter errors as half mistakes.
How many mistakes are allowed in a steno test?
It depends on the notice. SCL's Junior Personal Assistant test allows up to 10% for UR and 12% for reserved categories, while the Supreme Court Court Master test allows up to 5%.
Is skipping a word a full mistake?
Yes. Each omitted word or figure is a full mistake, so missing a line costs one full mistake for every word in it.