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Microsoft Office Skill Assessment

  • Average cost of a hiring mistake: $14,900
  • 65% of companies use pre-employment tests
  • 1750+ Five star reviews for EmployTest

Most jobs don’t need expert Office knowledge, but many jobs require the ability to do basic and intermediate tasks, which applicants should have. Our tests for Microsoft Office include:

  • Word
  • Excel
  • PowerPoint
  • Outlook
  • Combination tests with questions from multiple programs

Try a Free Sample Test

TARGET JOBS

Administrative and office jobs (all industries)
Manager
Sales
Customer Service

QUESTION TYPE

Interactive questions & tasks that simulate Office programs (Word, Excel, Outlook, PPT)

DIFFICULTY

Basic, Intermediate and Advanced

ADMINISTRATION TIME

25 minutes (estimated)

About Our Microsoft Skills Test

Studies have shown that almost a third of the American workforce have
limited or little technical skills. Are you able to spot these less-skilled
applicants, without testing them? If not, here are issues that can arise:

  • Increased training costs (or new hires not making it through training).
  • More work for your IT staff (“Can you show me how to mail merge?”)
  • Lower morale for proficient employees, as they are busy “covering”
    for their less-skilled co-workers.
  • Increased turnover rates, which starts the hiring cycle all over again.

Interested in learning more? Read all about the importance of
Microsoft Office skills on our blog.

 

How Office Tests Help Your Hiring Process

Our interactive Microsoft Office skills tests are designed to test job applicants
on the most commonly used Office tasks.

The tests cover everything from basic to advanced skills in Word, Excel, Outlook
and/or PowerPoint (separate or combined tests available). Try a free test
sample to see how it works.

Try a Free Sample Test See Test List

Hiring Tests for Job Interview

Microsoft Office Test Levels

The most commonly used Office tests are the “Intermediate” levels
which give an overall “snapshot” of skills in each program (Word, Excel,
Outlook, PowerPoint).

Beginner tests includes basic editing and formatting tasks. Advanced
tests will focus on more advanced, yet critical, tasks. While important,
Advanced is less often used than Beginner or Intermediate level.

You can use any level you need, as your job openings change. You can
customize tests to meet the exact requirements for the job (minimums
may apply) and we have timed versions too. The tests are available in
365 (aka 2019), 2016, and 2013 versions.

Pre-employment tests for job interviews

How Are The Microsoft Office Skills Tests Scored

Our system instantly emails the score report when the Microsoft office skills
assessment is finished. The test taker does not receive or view the results. The
reports are highly detailed and cover the below topics:

  • Percent of Correct Answers (80%, 50%, 100%, etc)
  • Skill Level: Beginning, Intermediate, or Advanced
  • Correct/Incorrect for each question
  • Time taken per question and more
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Microsoft Office Test Levels

  • Word, Excel, Outlook Overview Test (30 questions, 10 per program)
  • Word, Excel, PowerPoint Overview Test (30 questions, 10 per program)
  • Functions – Pivot Tables, Autosum and more
  • Tools – Protecting Cells, Ranges, Zoom and more
  • Charts & Graphs – Creating, Using Different Types, and more

View Topics for Microsoft Word

View Sample Score Report

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How Our Microsoft Office Proficiency Test Helps To Avoid Bias

Using our Microsoft Office proficiency test is one way to avoid bias in the hiring
process. Bias can be conscious or unconscious and recruiters may not be
aware that they have them.

Using research-based, validated pre-hire tests reduces bias that may come
from work or educational experience.

All of our tests follow the guidelines of the EEOC and US Department of Labor’s
Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection.

Microsoft Office Test2
EmployTest FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Microsoft office skills test

What is a Microsoft Office skills test?

A Microsoft Office skills test evaluates a candidate’s proficiency in using Microsoft Office applications. It measures how well a person can perform tasks within Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and sometimes Outlook, through both task based simulations and questions to assess their ability to use tools and features. This Microsoft office skill assessment ensures candidates are well-versed in essential functions required for the job.

How to test job candidates for Microsoft office skills?

Test job candidates for Microsoft Office skills by using specific interactive assessments for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Include practical tasks such as document creation, data analysis, and presentation design to evaluate their understanding of various features and functionalities. Multiple choice questions or self-surveys are not recommended because candidates can guess or may not recognize their low skill level.

How are the Microsoft skills tests measured?

Microsoft skills tests are measured by scoring the accuracy, efficiency, and completeness of tasks performed. Candidates are evaluated on their ability to use different features and tools within the Microsoft Office suite, with scores reflecting their overall proficiency and readiness to perform job-specific tasks.

What specific Microsoft office skills are covered in your pre-employment tests?

The pre-employment assessment typically covers creating and formatting documents in Word, using formulas, formatting and charts in Excel, and building presentations in PowerPoint. Advanced assessments might also test data analysis in Excel and email management in Outlook.

Why should businesses prioritize Microsoft office skills in pre-employment tests?

Businesses should prioritize Microsoft Office skills in pre-employment tests to ensure that new hires can efficiently handle essential tasks such as document creation, data analysis, and presentations. EmployTest’s assessments help identify candidates with strong Office skills, reducing onboarding time and enhancing overall productivity from the start.

Why are Microsoft office skills important for business?

Microsoft Office skills are important because they ensure employees can complete work tasks such as data management, report generation, presentation creation, and effective communication. Proficiency in these tools increases productivity, reduces time spent on tasks, and supports professional quality of work.

Which Microsoft Office skills should businesses prioritize when hiring?

Businesses should prioritize Microsoft Office Skills like Excel for data management and analysis, Outlook for email management and calendars, and Word for document formatting and file management. The specific focus will change based on the job. As an example, financial roles may require advanced Excel skills, while admin roles may focus on intermediate level skills across all three applications.

How does Microsoft office skills test benefit businesses in evaluating candidates?

Microsoft Office skills tests help businesses verify that candidates can effectively use essential software for tasks such as document creation, data analysis, and presentations. This ensures that new hires can contribute immediately, reducing training time and increasing productivity, so that it improves business operations

Microsoft office skill assessment

What kind of questions are on the Microsoft office skills assessment?

he Microsoft Office skills assessment includes tasks related to creating and editing documents in Word, using formatting and managing data in Excel, and creating presentations in PowerPoint. Questions may also cover email management in Outlook and other common tasks that require proficiency in Microsoft Office applications. This comprehensive Microsoft office skill assessment ensures a thorough evaluation of a candidate’s capabilities.

Why is your pre-employment test valuable for assessing Microsoft office skills in candidates?

EmployTest’s pre-employment test helps to assess MS Office skills because it provides a thorough evaluation of candidates’ proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. By simulating real-world tasks, our test ensures that candidates can effectively use these essential tools, reducing training time and enhancing productivity from day one.

How can your pre-employment assessment ensure candidates meet our Microsoft office skill requirements?

EmployTest’s pre-employment assessment ensures job candidates meet your Microsoft Office skill requirements by providing detailed performance reports with an overall score and a breakdown of their strengths and weaknesses. This targeted evaluation helps you identify candidates who have the skills to perform job-specific tasks efficiently, ensuring they are well-prepared to contribute effectively from day one

Microsoft office proficiency test

How do pre-employment tests assess candidates' Microsoft office proficiency?

Pre-employment tests assess candidates’ Microsoft Office proficiency through simulation questions that replicate real-world tasks, such as creating documents, analyzing data, and preparing presentations. This provides a comprehensive evaluation of both practical, hands-on knowledge.

How to help an employee with their Microsoft proficiency?

To help an employee with their Microsoft office proficiency, EmployTest recommends providing access to advanced training sessions, online tutorials, and hands-on practice opportunities. Encouraging the use of Microsoft Office in daily tasks and offering mentorship can also improve their skills, leading to better performance and confidence on the job.

How does Microsoft office proficiency test help businesses ensure quality?

EmployTest’s Microsoft Office proficiency test helps businesses ensure quality by verifying that job candidates can perform critical tasks accurately and efficiently. By assessing skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, our test ensures that employees can maintain high standards of work, contributing to consistent and reliable business operations.

 

Why do businesses use Microsoft proficiency tests in hiring?

Businesses use Microsoft proficiency tests to make sure job candidates have the skills to efficiently use software tools like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. These tests help in evaluating a candidate’s ability to perform common Office tasks, to reduce the need for costly training and ensure immediate productivity.