Shorthand Dictation Passages 80 Wpm Pdf May 2026

This is a goldmine for vintage dictation books. Look for titles like "Graded Dictation Studies" or "Progressive Shorthand Exercises" from the 1940s-1960s.

To give you an immediate taste, here is an excerpt of what a professional PDF looks like. The following passage contains 160 words and should take exactly 2 minutes to dictate at 80 WPM.

[Start Passage - Timing: 2 Minutes @ 80 WPM]

Paragraph 1 (45 seconds / 60 words): "The general meeting of the shareholders will be convened on the fifteenth of November, instead of the first of December, owing to the fiscal year adjustments. The board requests that all proxy forms be submitted no later than seventy-two hours prior to the commencement of the meeting. Failure to submit the appropriate documentation will result in the forfeiture of voting rights for the current quarter."

Paragraph 2 (45 seconds / 60 words): "The audit committee has reviewed the financial discrepancies reported in the third quarter. It is the opinion of this committee that the discrepancies were the result of clerical errors, not fraudulent activity. However, a mandatory retraining session for all accounting staff has been scheduled for the last week of the month. Please confirm your attendance via the internal portal." shorthand dictation passages 80 wpm pdf

Paragraph 3 (30 seconds / 40 words): "Finally, regarding the merger with Henderson & Co., legal counsel advises that we are clear to proceed. The due diligence period expired yesterday without objection. Let the minutes reflect the board's unanimous approval."

[End of Passage]

(Note: The full PDF would include Pitman/Gregg outlines printed directly beneath this text.)

Play the corresponding audio (or read the passage to yourself). Underline any word you cannot instantly outline. This is a goldmine for vintage dictation books

Most exam boards provide transcription matter (the printed passage) as a PDF, but the audio is separate. Here are reliable sources:

| Source | What’s Available | Format | |--------|----------------|--------| | SSC (Staff Selection Commission) – Stenographer Grade C/D | Previous year transcription booklets (English/Hindi) – marked at 80 wpm | PDF with passage text | | Pitman Training / NSRF (National Shorthand Reform Scheme) – UK | Sample dictation passages & key | PDF + separate audio (sometimes) | | ISCO (Institute of Shorthand & Correspondence) – India | Practice booklets for 80 wpm | PDF only (text) | | YouTube + Description Box | Channels like “Steno Academy,” “Shorthand Dictation 80 wpm” | Video + PDF link in description | | Archive.org | Vintage shorthand textbooks (e.g., Gregg Dictation Simplified) | Scanned PDF books |

Pro tip: Search Google using:
"80 wpm" dictation passage pdf
"shorthand transcription" 80 wpm ssc stenographer pdf

Even with the perfect PDF, students plateau. Avoid these errors: [Start Passage - Timing: 2 Minutes @ 80 WPM]

Before diving into resources, let’s understand the target. In most stenography exams (such as those for government courts, railways, or secretarial roles), the minimum required speed often starts at 80 WPM. Here is why this speed is non-negotiable:

Thus, mastering 80 WPM dictation passages is not just practice—it is exam preparation.

Compare your transcription to the master PDF. Circle every wrong outline. On a new sheet of paper, write the correct shorthand outline for that word 10 times.