The Broadband Speed Test sends and receives bursts of random data for 30 seconds. It calculates the upload and download speeds of your connection, by measuring how many "bits" of data were transferred during that 30 second period of time.
Your computer settings may be slowing you down. Depending on which Internet service you have, select one of the optimizer tool links in Related Links section, to reconfigure your settings and maximize your speeds
Note: If you have a laptop, run the optimizer in both wired (Ethernet cable plugged into the router) and wireless modes.
The speed of your Internet service will be based on network or Internet congestion, your computer configuration, Wi-Fi adapters, your use of Video On Demand service, and the wiring inside your location. Speed and uninterrupted use of the service are not guaranteed. The Speed Test may not perform optimally when using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to access a secure network for work.