The three main categories of speed tests

Realistic - Mainstream - Conservative

TL;DR

Initially, three categories of speed tests were distinguished (realistic, mainstream and conservative). Later, two minor categories (ambiguous and miscellaneous) were added.

Realistic speed tests

A realistic speed test gives an indication of the true internet speed provided by your ISP.

A speed test is considered as a realistic speed test when the measured internet speed is 109-112% of the advertised speed.

Mainstream speed tests

A mainstream speed test gives test results that are close to the advertised speed. That is the measured internet speed is 100-103% of the advertised speed.

Conservative speedtests

Conservative speedtests measure structural an internet speed lower than the advertised speed.

Ambiguous speedtests

Ambiguous speedtests are speed tests of which the results are 104-108% of the advertised speed.

Miscellaneous speedtests

The last category of speed tests are speed tests that doesn't match the criteria above.

Accurate speed tests

In our overview of accurate speed tests we provide mainstream speed tests with the label Mainstream and realistic speed tests with the label Realistic.

This because in our opion these are the only accurate speed tests.