The Proofreading Skills Test shows you which applicants catch those errors before documents are sent out. One typo in a client letter, a contract, or a job posting costs more to fix than it did to send.
Applicants read real business writing and identify mistakes in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and usage. Every question offers four believable options, so no one scores well by guessing or by ruling out the obviously wrong answer.
The test is untimed and requires no knowledge of any particular software, which means you measure care and command of written English, not typing speed or tool familiarity.
Writing samples in an application no longer tell you much. This does.
The Proofreading Skills Test evaluates four core areas that show up in business writing every day. These questions reflect the kind of errors that spell check misses and that candidates overlook when they rush.
Anyone can say they proofread carefully in an interview. Most candidates believe it is true.
According to NACE’s Job Outlook 2025 survey, written communication skills are important to at least 70% of employers when reviewing candidates. For any position where errors go out under your name, that matters before hiring.
81% of business people say poorly written material wastes a significant amount of their time at work. A proofreading test helps you hire someone who reduces that cost, not someone who adds to it.
A prepared cover letter does not tell you how someone performs on the 18th document of the day. This test does. See how grammar testing before hiring gives you a more complete view of a candidate’s written accuracy.
Government agencies, school districts, non-profits, law firms, and accounting firms can all use this test. The common thread: written work that reaches people outside the building.
It fits any position where documents go out the door. For a broader look at written accuracy in the workplace, this guide to essential clerical skills walks through what strong administrative candidates should demonstrate before they start.
These are the positions where this test gets the most use:
If a candidate will write or review anything that reaches a client, a partner, or leadership, this test gives you an objective measure before you hire.
The score report is ready the moment your candidate finishes. Nothing to calculate. Nothing to interpret manually.
You receive the candidate’s overall score and how it compares to others who have taken the test. That percentile ranking tells you exactly where this candidate stands.
The report also includes a breakdown by skill area. That tells you whether a candidate struggled with spelling, punctuation, or grammar specifically. You see where the gap is, not just that one exists.
According to SHRM research on skills-based hiring, 79% of HR professionals say skills assessment scores are just as important as, or more important than, other hiring criteria. This test gives you that objective data point for every candidate you screen.
Proofreading accuracy is one part of a fuller picture. For positions where written quality is a daily requirement, consider pairing this test with:
A Cognitive Ability Test, which measures how quickly someone learns and applies new information on the job
An Attention to Detail Test, which assesses accuracy across data review and record-keeping tasks
Together, they show you how a candidate thinks, how accurately they work, and how carefully they review what they produce.
No. The Proofreading Skills Test is untimed. Most candidates finish in about 20 minutes. Removing the time limit lets you measure reading accuracy and attention to detail, not how fast someone clicks through questions.
The 25 multiple-choice questions cover grammar, spelling (including homophones that automated tools miss), punctuation, and usage in business writing. Each question has four realistic options, so candidates have to read carefully to score well.
Any position where written output is expected to be clean, without errors. Administrative assistants, paralegals, HR coordinators, client services teams, and communications staff all fit that description. If a candidate will send emails or prepare reports that others will read, this test is worth running.
No. The test runs in any browser and requires no downloads or special programs. Candidates only need a computer and a stable internet connection. No software knowledge is tested or required.
Scoring is automatic. Results appear in your account the moment a candidate finishes, with no waiting and no manual review. The report shows the overall score and a breakdown by skill area so you can see exactly where each candidate performed well and where they struggled.
Pricing is simple and flexible as your needs change. Each test completed uses one test credit. (See pricing for credits)
Yes, just visit Try for Free to provide your information and we’ll send a free sample of the test you request.
