Microsoft Excel Test for Employment

By Vadim.MikhailenkoBasic Excel Skills Test, Excel Assessment Test, Excel Interview Questions, Excel Test for Interview Candidates, IKM Excel Assessment Test, Indeed Excel Assessment Test
Microsoft Excel Test For Employment

A Microsoft Excel test is a pre-employment hiring assessment that employers use during the recruitment process to check how proficient candidates are with Microsoft Excel. Spreadsheets allow users to input and analyse data efficiently, and are used in all kinds of office jobs; as such, Microsoft Excel Assessment Tests are becoming increasingly common. In this post we will learn how to get prepared for Microsoft Excel Pre Employment Test by looking at Top 50 Excel Test for Job Interview Questions and Answers. We are also going to look at how companies conduct excel skills test, how employers test for Excel skills, review sample questions asked as part of Excel Portion of Job Interview and look at the resources to get prepared for each test the fastest way possible.

 

Why Employers Test Job Candidates?

Assessing a job candidate’s Microsoft Excel proficiency is an important step in making the right hire. The intermediate Microsoft Excel skills test is helpful in learning if a job candidate understands how to manipulate the many functions, tools, and formulas of Excel to present extensive information, identify key trends, or calculate financial and numerical data.

Microsoft Excel is a complex business application which allows companies to record, track, and analyze data and perform very complex modelling and calculations, essential for measuring company performance, maximizing return on investment, and defining goals. Since Microsoft Excel is used in a lot of organizations, employers would like to make sure that candidates has solid Excel skills and experience using the tool. A new employee who can comfortably navigate is prepared to immediately contribute by producing meaningful, data-driven spreadsheets, reports, and graphs to best serve company needs.

 

How Employers Test for Excel Skills?

There are multiple providers that conduct the tests and each one of the tests is a little different. Most of the time employers use below providers to conduct the tests

  • Indeed.com
  • IKM
  • SkillCheck
  • TotalTesting

Because Microsoft Excel is so popular and useful, companies are trying to evaluate candidates by conducting pre-employment assessment test. An Excel Interview Test is a screening process employers use as part of the candidate employment interview to test a potential candidate on their knowledge and proficiency of Microsoft Excel.

Each employer might use a slightly different variation of the Excel test. The Excel Assessment Test typically broken down into a multiple-choice section and an interactive portion. Some tests are timed but some of them do not have a limit on how long applicant can take to answer the questions, but there might be exceptions.

 

Excel Skill Assessments through questions

There are different types of questions typically being presented during Excel Test :

  • Multiple Choice Questions
  • Multiple Answer Questions
  • True/False Questions

 

Interactive Test Simulators

It is rare that only one type of question is used during the test – most of the time questions are part of the large pool and testing software randomly selects certain number of questions from the pool and presents them to the candidate.

 

Hands-On Excel Skill Assessment

Sometimes companies also conduct hands on Excel Job Interview Test when they provide candidates with sample data file as ask them to perform certain tasks with the data, based on instructions provided.

 

Excel Skills Tested as Part of Test

During Excel Interview employer assesses candidate’s ability to use Microsoft Excel's user interface quickly and efficiently to access the right features and perform simple tasks in the application. It validates fundamental knowledge from determining the best way to open a recently closed Workbook to using the correct formula to perform automatic calculations. Candidates are required to answer true/false,  multiple-choice questions and multiple answer questions, based on Excel spreadsheets, charts and tables filled with sample data

Below is the list of topics candidates are tested for:

  • Follow the correct steps to apply formatting, use formulas or accomplish certain things in spreadsheet
  • Apply styles, use simple fill patterns and apply formatting
  • Identify the proper keyboard shortcuts to accomplish tasks more quickly.
  • Choose the right formula and cell references to automatically calculate values.
  • Perform basic tasks like hiding rows, preventing cell overflow, and pasting data.

Since each question comes with a strict time limit (one minute or less), the test will also measure a candidate’s ability to quickly format, isolate and manipulate data under a significant amount of pressure without any outside help.

 

Hands On Abilities Evaluated

  • Ability to edit Excel worksheets and workbook by identifying common functions, applying basic keyboard shortcuts, and manipulating columns and rows
  • Ability to apply sorting and filtering options as well as statistical functions to explore and summarize values
  • Ability to customize the look and feel of a Excel workbook using cell formatting tools

 

Complexity Levels of Excel Employment Assessment Tests

Microsoft Excel harbor very basic calculations to very advanced data processing and analysis that requires in-depth knowledge of every tools of Excel. Depending on the position candidate is  applying for you are likely to face a pre-employment Excel test with varying level of difficulty. Microsoft Excel Employment Assessment tests can be categorized into at least three levels of difficulty:

  • Microsoft Excel Basics Test: The basic test will evaluate your skills performing basic Excel functions. This can include anything from printing, formatting cells, inserting tables, and so on. If you have used Excel in the past or familiar with other similar applications you should be able to refresh your skills with the quick tutorial, practice sample excel interview questions to pass assessment test. Basic Excel Test for Interview Candidates is a screening process for entry-level or experienced candidates, including administrative assistants, retail store managers, Sales Representatives, Marketing Representatives, Accountants, Entry level Analysts, or any other position that requires using Microsoft Excel.
  • Intermediate Microsoft Excel test: This test requires more than basic knowledge but is not as complex as the advanced level test. The intermediate Microsoft Excel skills test presents candidates with a series of timed questions designed to assess their knowledge of Microsoft Excel. For passing this test, you will need to study and practice in advance using different tools and resources and ideally have practical experience of solving problems with Microsoft Excel. The Intermediate Excel Test is typically offered to evaluate skills of Business Analysts, Project Managers, Architects and other professionals, that may be responsible for complex decision making.
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel test: This test is designed for job that require to use Excel in a more complex manner. The test will evaluate your skills with pivot tables, creating macros, filtering, and functions such as IF, IFS, VLOOKUP, SUMIFS, VBA and other advanced concepts used in Microsoft Excel. An advanced Excel user would need to have advanced formula skills. He would have a skill and confidence to make his own formula to adapt to any situation. Typically, this test is offered to Senior Professionals, Executives, Financial Analysts, Scientists and other professionals that may need to use advanced features of Microsoft Excel.

What Employers are Looking For?

Microsoft Excel is a comprehensive tool that allows businesses to record, track, and analyze data essential for measuring company performance, maximizing return on investment, and defining goals – when used to its fullest potential. A new employee who can comfortably navigate Excel is prepared to immediately contribute by producing meaningful, data-driven spreadsheets, reports, and graphs to best serve company needs.

Assessing a job candidate’s Microsoft Excel proficiency is an important step in making the right hire. The Beginners Microsoft Excel skills test is helpful in learning if a job candidate understands how to manipulate the many functions, tools, and formulas of Excel to present extensive information, identify key trends, or calculate financial and numerical data.

Microsoft Excel assessment test helps predict a job candidate’s ability to:

  • Enter sales figures and properly apply formulas to generate sales totals by date, representative, product or region.
  • Conditionally format cells with the goal of highlighting specific dates, values, or ranges.
  • Create bar graphs and pie charts from large datasets to illustrate critical company data, performance metrics, and outlook.

Tips for Passing Your Excel Job Test!

TIP #1 – What are the Smartest Ways to Prepare for Assessment Test:

  • Use outlines from Test provider (Indeed.com, SkillsCheck, IKM) and review their sample questions
  • Take Online Training Courses, if available
  • Download and read Assessment Test Books and eBooks
  • Download and Use Practice Tests

TIP #2 – What to do during the test:

  • Try to schedule test in the morning, when you have high levels of energy
  • Get a good sleep before the test.
  • Do not take a test if you are tired
  • Read Question carefully (ideally more than once)
  • Answer easy questions first (if you have a choice)
  • This would allow you to leave harder questions for the end, but you will get easy answers in
  • Validate your answer with more than one method (i.e. Common sense, Manual Calculations, Use Calculator etc.)

TIP #3 – How to Pass Assessment Test Today:

  • Be prepared for Assessment Test at Home
    • You might be monitored and timed
  • Anticipate questions based on the job position
  • Research and practice before the test
  • Reflect after the test and take notes
    • Use these notes to get ready for next test
  • Improve your Skills in Between Tests by taking Practice tests and timing yourself

Take Free Excel Skill Assessment Test

Question: Why $ sign is used with Column or Row in a cell reference? (as mention in the below picture $F$3)

What is that mean? When we use $ sign with Column or Row in a cell reference? (as mention in the below picture $F$3)

  1. Cell lock
  2. Column lock
  3. Row lock
  4. None of the above

Answer: Correct answer is a, Cell lock. Which means while dragging the Formula Cell reference with $ sign in a Formula will not change its location while the cell without $ sign will move relatively. (Column and row both are lock)

Please Note: Some Time we have to press Function key with F4 to apply absolute reference.

What is that mean? When we use $ sign with Column or Row in a cell reference? (as mention in the below picture $F$3)

 

Question: Why you might consider pressing F4 key three times after selecting a cell reference.

What is that mean? When we press F4 key three times after selecting a cell reference.

  1. Absolute reference for Column only
  2. Absolute reference for row only
  3. Absolute reference for a cell
  4. None of the above

Answer: Correct answer is b, Absolute Reference for Column only. Which means while dragging the Formula Column will remain the same but row will change its number relatively in a cell reference.

Please note: Some Time we have to press Function key with F4 to apply absolute reference.

What is that mean? When we press F4 key three times after selecting a cell reference.

 

Question: Why you might consider pressing F4 Fey two time after selecting a cell reference?

What is that mean when we press F4 Fey two time after selecting a cell reference?

  1. Cell lock
  2. Column Lock
  3. Row lock
  4. None of the above

Answer: Correct answer is c, Row lock. Which means When we drag a Formula having absolute reference with a row, then the Row will remain same but Columns will change its location relatively.

Please Note: Some Time we have to press Function key with F4 to apply absolute reference.

What is that mean when we press F4 Fey two time after selecting a cell reference?

 

Question: How to add custom list in excel, so then we can use it repeatedly?

  1. File > Options > General > Default Program > Edit Custom List
  2. File > Options > Formulas > Calculation option > Edit Custom List
  3. File > Options > Advanced > General > Edit custom List
  4. File > Option > Add-In > Edit Custom List.

 

Answer: Correct answer is c, File > Option > Advanced. This option will help you to add any custom list in excel so then you can use it in future.

Tip: File > Option > Advanced > then drag down and click on edit custom list.

 

Question: How to apply Header or footer on the page which will be used in printing?

  1. Page Break
  2. Print Area
  3. Margin
  4. Page Setups

 

Answer: Correct answer is d, page setups. Page setup allow us to adjust print page setting. When you click on page setup option it will show you a page header and footer option to edit. For Page setup please click on page layout and then click on the arrow on left bottom corner of page setup option.

How to apply Header or footer on the page which will be used in printing?

 

Question: Through which tab we can insert a background image?

Through which tab we can insert a background image?

  1. Home Tab
  2. Page layout Tab
  3. View Tab
  4. Formula Tab

 

Answer: Correct answer is b, Page Layout Tab. First Go to Page layout then in page setup option click on background and then select an image which you want to add.

Question: How to navigate of a cells which are used in a Formula for Calculation and highlight them with an arrows?

How to navigate of a cells which are used in a formula for Calculation and highlight them with an arrows?

  1. Trace Precedent
  2. Trace Dependent
  3. Show Formulas
  4. Error Checking

Answer: Correct answer is a. Trace Precedent. To find navigation a Formula first click on a Formula tab and then click on Trace Precedent in Formula auditing option.

Trace Precedent will show you the result in current selected cell was generated by using which cells.

 

How to navigate a dependency of the any cell and highlight it with an arrows?

How to navigate a dependency of the any cell and highlight it with an arrows

  1. Trace Precedent
  2. Trace Dependent
  3. Show Formulas
  4. Error Checking

 

Answer: Correct answer is b, Trace Dependent. To navigate the dependency on any cell, First select that cell and then click on Formula Tab and then click on trace dependent in Formula auditing option.

Trace Dependent result will show you that in which Formula or calculation this current selected cell is used.

 

Question: How can we apply grouping and calculate the sum of the groups at the same time?

How can we apply grouping and calculate the sum of the groups at the same time?

  1. With the help of Subtotal in Data Tab
  2. With the help of What if analysis in Data Tab
  3. With the help of Advance Flter in Data Tab
  4. With the help of Trace Precedent in Formula Tab

 

Answer: Correct answer is a, With the help of Subtotal in Data Tab. Subtotal will be used to calculate sum, max, min and count Functions and to make groupping of the Data at the same time. To apply subtotal first Sort the Datatable and then select the subtotal from the Data Tab, in subtotal choose the heading first of which you want to calulate the sum and want to make a group in at each change in option,then choose a sum Function in use Function, After that select the heading of which you want to calculate the sum in Add sub total to.

Please Note: First we Sort the heading of the table on which we want to apply subtotal.

 

Question: Can we find a maximum or minimum Value of sales order with the help of subtotal?

  1. Yes
  2. No

Answer: Correct answer is a, Yes. we can find maximum or minimum Values with the help of subtotal by changing use Function in subtotal.

Can we find a maximum or minimum value of sales order with the help of subtotal?

 

Question: Which option will be used to split first name and last name in separate Columns?

Which option will be used to split first name and last name in separate columns?

 

  1. Text to Columns
  2. Substitute Function
  3. Find Function
  4. Lookup Function

 

Answer: Correct answer is a, Text to Columns Function. This Function is used to split words from space, Comma, or any unique letter or symbol.

Tip: First select the Data which you want to split. Then click on Data tab > then press delimited > then press ok.

About the Author

Vadim Mikhailenko, MBA

Vadim lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and works as an Information Technology Consultant, Coach and Educator. Vadim is very passionate about Milwaukee community and teaches classes to underprivileged students at local community college to help them get employed. Throughout his consulting career Vadim studied a lot of tools and technologies and learned hiring process by helping organizations to hire candidates and also supported students to get prepared and to pass interview and assessment tests.

Vadim loves to share his knowledge with and enjoys teaching  new skills to help you get hired for your dream job.

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