Choose a mode and a character set, then press Start.
Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Space to replay, Enter for next. Best scores are saved per mode and set in this browser.
How to practice Morse code effectively
Practice is the whole game. There are only about 40 characters to learn, and the people who end up fluent are not the ones with the best memory; they are the ones who did ten minutes every day. A few principles make those minutes count:
- Practice by ear. The "Listen & identify" mode is the most valuable one on this page, because Morse is a sound. The encode mode and the decode mode are useful for checking and for sight reading, but your ears need the most reps.
- Keep character speed up. Leave the quiz at 15 WPM or faster. Slowing the characters down teaches you to count dots, which becomes a ceiling later. If it is too fast, use a smaller set instead.
- Small sets, then bigger ones. Start with the Easy set, move to all letters once you are above 90% accuracy, add numbers last.
- Answer fast, don't deliberate. Your first instinct is usually your ear; the second guess is usually your eyes counting. Trust the first.
- Replay, don't skip. Hearing a character three times and then getting it right builds the memory. Skipping does not.
- Track something. The best score and the accuracy figure give you a number to beat tomorrow, which is most of what keeps a daily habit alive.
For the theory behind all this (the Koch method, Farnsworth timing, the recommended letter order) read the guide to learning Morse code.
A 7-day Morse code practice plan
One week, ten minutes a day, using only the quiz above and the alphabet pages. By day seven most people can identify the whole alphabet by ear at a slow pace.
- Day 1 — Easy set, listen mode
Pick the Easy set (E T A I N M S O) in "Listen & identify". Ten minutes. Say each rhythm out loud as you hear it: di-dah, dah-dit.
- Day 2 — Easy set, encode mode
Switch to "Encode": see the letter, pick its Morse. Then five minutes back in listen mode. Aim for a streak of 10.
- Day 3 — Decode short words
Use "Decode the word" with the Easy set. TEA, TEN, NEST, MOON. Type what you read; look at the chart only to check.
- Day 4 — All letters, listen mode
Expect your accuracy to drop. That is fine. Replay freely with the space bar and stay at 15 WPM character speed.
- Day 5 — Mix all three modes
Three minutes each. Note which letters you confuse (often B/D, U/V, G/W) and play them side by side on the alphabet page.
- Day 6 — Numbers
Numbers follow a simple pattern (1 ·––––, 2 ··–––, … 5 ·····, 6 –····, … 0 –––––). One session is usually enough to get them.
- Day 7 — Test yourself
All letters + numbers, listen mode, 20 questions, no replays. Record the score. Repeat the test next week and watch it climb.
Three modes
What each quiz mode trains
Listen & identify
A random character plays; you pick it from four options. This is receiving practice, the core skill. Distractors are chosen with similar code lengths so you cannot guess by length alone. Use the space bar to replay as often as you need.
Decode the word
A short word appears in dots and dashes; you type what it says. This trains sight reading and spelling in Morse, the skill you use for bracelets, puzzles and written messages. Words are drawn from the letters in your chosen set.
Encode
A letter or digit appears; you pick its Morse code from four options. This is sending practice without a key: it checks whether you can produce the code, not just recognize it. Wrong answers play the correct code so you hear it too.
Trainers, apps and worksheets
Other free ways to practice Morse code
The quiz above is a good daily driver. These complement it.
Google Morse Typing Trainer
A free browser game from Google that teaches the alphabet with picture mnemonics and has you type words with dot and dash keys. Good for the first week; see our Gboard guide.
Koch-method web trainers
The amateur radio community runs free Koch-method trainers online (LCWO.net is the best known). They play random character groups at full speed and add characters as you improve. The right tool once you are past the alphabet.
Our audio translator
Type any text, set the speed and tone, listen or download a WAV. Make your own listening drills from song lyrics, shopping lists or the news.
Morse code apps
App stores have many Morse trainers for iPhone and Android, from simple flash-card quizzes to full Koch courses. Look for adjustable character speed and Farnsworth spacing; avoid apps that only show the chart.
Printable worksheet
Print the Morse code chart, then write five words in dots and dashes for someone to decode, or print the chart twice and cut one into cards for matching. A classic worksheet for kids and classrooms.
Tap trainer
Practice sending, not just receiving: tap dots and dashes on the screen and watch them decode live.
Morse code worksheets, puzzles and games
Not all practice has to be a drill. A worksheet is simply a set of words or sentences written in dots and dashes with blanks to fill in; make one in a minute by typing a few lines into the translator and printing the result next to the chart. Puzzles work the other way: hide a message in Morse inside a drawing, a bracelet or a row of long and short lines, and let someone find and decode it. For games, our Morse code for kids page lists six that need nothing but paper, a table and a flashlight, and the light simulator and tap trainer turn sending into a game on their own.
If you are preparing for a specific Morse code test, such as a scouting badge or a club proficiency certificate, find out the required speed and run the quiz at that character speed with all letters and numbers, no replays, and aim for 90% or better over 20 questions. Most badge requirements are in the 5 WPM range, which is slow enough that the hard part is simply knowing all the characters.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How can I practice Morse code for free?
Use the quiz on this page: listen-and-identify, decode-the-word and encode modes with score tracking, all in the browser. Add our audio translator for custom listening drills, Google's Morse typing trainer for the alphabet, and a Koch-method trainer such as LCWO.net once you know most characters.
What is the best Morse code practice app?
Any app that plays characters at a full 15–20 WPM character speed with adjustable spacing (Farnsworth timing), uses the Koch method of adding characters gradually, and drills by ear rather than by chart. Many free apps on both app stores meet that bar; a browser trainer like this page needs no install.
How long should I practice Morse code each day?
Ten to fifteen minutes, every day. Short daily sessions outperform long weekly ones because the skill is pattern recognition, which consolidates between sessions. Two five-minute sessions also work.
Is there a Morse code test I can take online?
Yes: set the quiz to all letters and numbers, listen mode, and answer 20 questions without replaying. Your accuracy figure is your result. Formal tests (such as the old amateur radio exams) are no longer required in most countries, but clubs and scouting organizations still offer proficiency awards.
Is there a Morse code worksheet I can print?
Print our Morse code chart, then write words in dots and dashes for someone to decode, or print two copies and cut one into cards for matching games. For classrooms, five or six short words per sheet works well.
Does the quiz save my progress?
Your best score for each mode and character set is saved in your browser's local storage, so it is there next time you visit on the same device. Nothing is sent to a server, and you can clear it with the "Clear best scores" button.
Make the quiz a habit
Bookmark this page and do ten minutes a day. Come back next week and compare your best score.