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Why shorthand is the hardest part of the NCTJ
Of all the NCTJ Diploma units, shorthand is the one most candidates underestimate. Media law and public affairs can be revised intensively in the weeks before an exam. Shorthand cannot. It is a physical skill — like touch-typing or playing a musical instrument — that requires consistent, daily practice over months. The NCTJ requires candidates to write at 100 words per minute with at least 95% accuracy for the full Diploma at Proficiency level; for the Gold Standard, the same test must be passed at the first attempt alongside all other units.
Teeline is the shorthand system taught in the overwhelming majority of NCTJ-accredited courses. It is based on the shapes of letters in the English alphabet, with vowels often omitted and common letter combinations represented by single strokes. This makes it faster to learn than older systems like Pitman — most candidates can write simple sentences within a few weeks — but reaching fluent high-speed writing takes sustained work.
Shorthand remains in active use in UK journalism, particularly in court reporting (where recording is often prohibited), in doorstep interviews, and in any situation where recording is impractical or unethical. Employers — particularly regional newspapers and broadcast newsrooms — continue to view shorthand attainment as a mark of professional preparation.
The three speed levels: what each requires
60wpm — Foundation
At 60wpm, candidates need to have learned the full Teeline alphabet, common special forms, and basic word groupings. Outlines should be consistent and readable when transcribed. Achieving 60wpm requires a solid grasp of the core Teeline principles and several weeks of daily practice. This level is assessed within NCTJ courses as an intermediate milestone rather than a final qualification standard.
80wpm — Intermediate
At 80wpm, fluency in word groupings and special forms becomes essential. Candidates must be able to write continuously at pace without pausing to construct outlines. This level requires candidates to have moved beyond conscious outline construction — writing should feel increasingly automatic. Many candidates reach 80wpm within three to six months of regular daily practice. 80wpm is an NCTJ-assessed level within the Diploma structure.
100wpm — Proficiency (Gold Standard)
At 100wpm, every second counts. Candidates must use all available word groups, special forms, and abbreviation strategies. There is no room for hesitation on common phrases. The exam passage at 100wpm is dictated for approximately three minutes, and the transcription must achieve 95% accuracy. Reaching this level reliably from 80wpm typically takes a further two to four months of targeted, timed practice on NCTJ-standard passages.
The effective daily practice routine
Shorthand teachers consistently advise the same core approach: short, frequent, focused sessions rather than long irregular ones. A session of 20 to 30 minutes every day produces better results than two hours on a Saturday. The following routine works for most candidates at all levels:
- Warm-up (5 min)Write out 20-30 common Teeline outlines and word groups from memory without looking at your notes. This builds recall speed and identifies which forms you are uncertain about.
- New material (5-10 min)Learn two to five new special forms or word groups. Write each one ten times, then use it in a sentence. Do not try to learn too many forms at once — retention suffers.
- Timed dictation (10-15 min)Write from audio dictation at your current target speed. Use NCTJ-format passages. Focus on keeping up — do not stop to correct outlines. Transcribe immediately afterwards while the passage is fresh.
- Error review (5 min)Compare your transcription to the original. Note every error: was it a wrong outline, a missed word, or a transcription mistake? Pattern the errors — consistent mistakes on the same outline need targeted drilling.
Shorthand attainment checklist
- I have learned the full Teeline alphabet and can write it from memory without hesitation.
- I practise shorthand for at least 20 minutes every day without exception.
- I have learned the NCTJ list of common special forms and word groups.
- I time myself regularly using NCTJ-format dictation passages at my current target speed.
- I transcribe my shorthand immediately after each timed session and review errors systematically.
- I have tested myself at my target speed at least three times consecutively and achieved 95%+ accuracy.
- I have identified the outlines and word groups where I consistently make errors and drilled them specifically.
- I am familiar with the exam format: passage length, dictation speed, transcription time allowance.
Track your NCTJ Diploma progress
Use our NCTJ readiness tools to track shorthand practice alongside your other Diploma units.
Common shorthand mistakes
- Starting shorthand practice too late — beginning three or fewer months before the exam puts 100wpm out of reach for most candidates.
- Practising at a comfortable speed rather than pushing to the next level — comfort zone practice builds fluency but not speed.
- Not transcribing immediately after dictation — waiting means outlines become unreadable and errors cannot be diagnosed.
- Skipping word groups and special forms — at 100wpm, writing every word in full outline is not fast enough.
- Inconsistent practice — two days on, five days off destroys the physical memory that shorthand depends on.
- Not simulating exam conditions — practising at home with the ability to pause and rewind dictation does not prepare you for the continuous exam passage.