What are Excel tests for interviews? (2024 Guide)

Excel proficiency is frequently listed as a prerequisite for many job openings. This is especially true when the position involves managing substantial volumes of data.

Employers may choose to administer an Excel skills test during the recruitment process to evaluate candidates' proficiency in this area. If you find yourself facing such an assessment, it can be intimidating.

However, there's no need to worry because this comprehensive guide equips you with everything you need to excel in your Microsoft Excel skills test for interviews. Discover valuable insights on how to pass an Excel test and excel in your Excel assessment

What Is An Excel Assessment?

In itself, Excel is a powerful piece of software. As a highly advanced spreadsheet program, its range of formulas and functions facilitate complex mathematical actions in quick time, and additional tools allow users to store, categorize, export and analyze data effectively.

The Excel assessment is an Excel test for an interview tailored to evaluate a candidate's proficiency in Excel, assessing their ability to perform various tasks within the software. This Excel test is specifically designed to gauge their knowledge of Excel and their competence in using it, aligning with the requirements of the role they have applied for.

In some cases, you may be asked to sit an informal Excel test, that is, an assessment designed by the employer in-house. These typically involve completing specific actions within Excel itself, overseen and scored in person by an appointed assessor.

Far more common, though, is a professional Excel test, designed and administered by a third-party test provider.

These are more akin to other skills and psychometric assessments. Instead of using the Excel program, you’ll complete tasks within a simulated version and your scores will be determined by an automated system.

Job Roles That May Require a Test for Excel Skills

Many career paths require a level of digital competency, and as the world’s most widely adopted spreadsheet program, it’s no surprise that Microsoft Excel skills are a prerequisite for a range of job openings.

Of course, the Excel capability you’re expected to hold will depend on the nature of the post applied for. Some common professions that use Excel tests in the employment process include:

• Accountants
• Auditors
• Administrative assistants
• Business analysts
• Cost estimators
• Financial analysts
• Bankers
• Loan officers
• Project managers
• Sales managers

This list is by no means exhaustive. Excel is used to some degree in almost every employment sector imaginable and you’ll need to check each job description carefully to see what level of skill may be needed, and if it’s likely you’ll have to demonstrate this through assessment.

Typical Format of an Excel Test for Interview

Your Microsoft Excel test may be presented as an interactive simulation, a multiple-choice questionnaire, or a combination of both.

Multiple-choice Excel tests assess your overall familiarity with the software. Instead of working within the program, you’ll answer randomly selected questions on its layout, features and functions.

Questions cover every area of Excel, and since they’re pulled at random, there’s no predicting what you might be challenged on. This makes multiple-choice tests tricky, especially since you won’t have access to the spreadsheet for reference.

So, if taking this style of Excel test, be sure to revise the program’s layout, where each function can be found and how it’s applied correctly.

Interactive simulations require you to perform specific tasks within an interface that mimics Excel. Since this assessment style shows your ability to actually utilize the software, interactive simulations are the most commonly adopted test format.

3 Levels of Proficiency in Excel

When taking an Excel test or an Excel assessment, it's important to note that while Excel is a versatile and powerful program with a wide range of capabilities, the specific role you are applying for may not require you to possess comprehensive knowledge of Excel.

Hence, the Excel test for interview should focus on assessing your proficiency in Excel based on the requirements of the position.

Generally, Excel assessments are categorized into three levels, ensuring that the test evaluates your competence in Excel while remaining relevant to the job at hand.

Basic Microsoft Excel Test

You may face a basic Excel test if applying for an administrative post, or any role that requires working with data in simple terms, such as entry-level sales, marketing or finance.

You’ll be expected to quickly navigate around the program, apply common shortcuts, and perform basic tasks associated with layout, formatting, file management and standard calculations.

Common tasks set in a basic Excel test include:

• Saving files in multiple formats and accessing recently closed workbooks.
• Formatting cells correctly, including alignment, text wrapping, number and currency formatting, and borders.
• Applying standard functions such as SUM, MIN, MAX, COUNT and AVERAGE to automatically calculate values.
• Correctly appointing cell references across multiple worksheets.

Intermediate Excel Test

Intermediate tests are used for roles where data forms an integral part of the decision-making process; for example, for project managers, business analysts and auditors.

As data manipulation and analysis are more complex at this level, candidates will be expected to demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of Excel’s functionality.

Alongside skills assessed at a basic level, an intermediate test will also measure your ability to:

• Make use of relative and absolute references
• Apply conditional formatting to distinguish data of differing criteria
• Utilize advanced functions at a basic level including VLOOKUP, IF, COUNTIF and SUMIF
• Create customized charts and graphs from large data sets
• Apply data validation rules

Advanced Excel Tests

If you’re applying for a role that involves the creation and management of large databases, or that centers around complex calculations and analysis, you’ll need to prove a high level of Excel proficiency.

Top-level accountants, financial analysts, scientists or executive-level positions are all examples of posts that may require you to sit an advanced Excel test.

At this level, you’ll be expected to demonstrate confidence in:

• Using functions like VLOOKUP, INDEX, MATCH, SUMIF and COUTIF at an advanced level and in conjunction
• Combine conditional formatting with complex formulas
• Create macros to automate specific tasks
• Extrapolate and display data effectively through the use of pivot tables and sophisticated charting techniques

Whatever level of Excel test you sit, it’s important to note that you’ll be assessed on both accuracy and speed.

Your score will be dictated by both the precision of your answer and how long it took you to formulate, regardless of whether there is a set time limit on the assessment or not.

Excel Assessment Test Providers

When it comes to evaluating proficiency in Microsoft Excel, there are numerous companies that offer excel assessments and tests. Below we look at two of the most popular – SHL and Kenexa.

SHL Excel Tests

SHL is a well-established publisher of skills, aptitude and personality tests.

It’s one of the most popular providers of psychometric testing, used by companies around the world.

There are three versions of the SHL Excel test:

• SHL Interactive – This is a timed assessment, 35 minutes in duration, and with a maximum of 30 questions to complete. Simulation software mimics the Excel interface and candidates are required to complete specific tasks, working with the data provided.

• SHL Interactive – Essentials – This is a basic-level assessment, measuring fundamental skills required for Excel use. Again, the test is timed, with a maximum of 20 questions to be completed in a 25-minute time frame.

• SHL Adaptive – This multiple-choice questionnaire is what’s known as a Computerized Adaptive Test (CAT). This means the questions administered vary in difficulty according to your performance on the question prior.

Essentially, if you do well, the following question will be harder, or vice versa such is the case. There’s a total of 30 questions and a time limit of 90 minutes, though most candidates do not require that long to complete the test.

For the interactive versions of SHL’s Excel test, precision is key. The simulation software does not allow for trial and error, and many shortcut functions will be unavailable to you, so you’ll need to know exactly what you’re doing to perform well.

Kenexa Excel Tests

Kenexa has been providing talent management solutions since 1987 and was acquired by IBM in 2012. Its psychometric tests are hugely popular and it offers Microsoft specific assessments under its Kenexa Prove It! Series.

Kenexa does not provide a multiple-choice Excel test, but administers two variations of its interactive simulation:

• Normal User – This covers basic-level Excel knowledge including standard functions and formulas, formatting, and file management. Task prompts will appear on screen and candidates will need to complete each one within the simulation software before progressing, with 30 tasks in total.
• Power User – Again, candidates will work in simulation software, with prompts for 25 tasks in all. These revolve around more complex commands for advanced users.

Kenexa tests are not timed but your pace will still be accounted for in your score.

As with the SHL tests, certain shortcuts will be disabled and you’ll need to input formulas and functions correctly as you’ll only get one shot to get the question right.

As they are part of the wider Prove It! series, Kenexa Excel tests are typically part of a broader assessment covering various Microsoft programs.

Excel Test Questions - Sample Questions for Interactive Microsoft Excel Tests

To complete the following questions, copy and paste the table below into an Excel spreadsheet and work through each in turn before referring to the answers below.

Basic Excel Test Questions and Answers:

Intermediate to Advanced Excel Test Questions and Answers:

Excel test questions : Samples for Multiple-Choice Microsoft Excel Tests

Basic Excel Test Questions and Answers:

Intermediate to Advanced Excel Test Questions and Answers:

Now we’ve covered what the Excel assessment involves, let's focus on how to pass a test on your Microsoft Excel skills.

By following the below tips, you can significantly enhance your chances of success in an Excel test for an interview, while also improving your overall performance in Excel assessment test practice.

Other Common Skills and Aptitude Tests Taken at Interview, Besides Microsoft Excel Tests

It’s important to note that a Microsoft Excel test may not be the only assessment you’re required to sit, as companies that use skills tests in the recruitment process tend to combine several assessment types.

Employers want to ensure they progress candidates with the highest potential and those that demonstrate the right culture fit for the organization.

With that in mind, you may be tested on a range of skills, key competencies, working preferences and personality traits.

Here are some other assessments commonly taken alongside a Microsoft Excel test:

Data Entry Tests

These test your ability to input data with both speed and accuracy. Information may be presented verbally, or in written or audio format, and you’ll typically be dealing with numerical data like units, quantities and model numbers. You’ll also be tasked with cross-referencing data to identify errors.

Word Skills Tests

As another widely used Microsoft program, Word Skills tests are often taken in conjunction with Excel tests. These look at things like layout and formatting, editing, and more complex actions. Like Excel tests, they are delivered at basic, intermediate and advanced levels.

Personality Tests

Focused on your personal characteristics rather than skill set, personality tests give employers a good indication of how you’ll fit into the relevant workplace, and how well suited you are for the role on offer.

Depending on the test provider used, you’ll face questions on things like your communication style, social preferences and professional motivations.

Situational Judgement Tests

Another test used to assess suitability beyond job-specific skills and knowledge, situational judgement tests assess a candidate on their reaction to a range of hypothetical scenarios commonly encountered in the workplace. They focus primarily on soft skills, like decision making, problem-solving and interpersonal skills.

Aptitude and Reasoning Tests

This encompasses a range of assessments, measuring various aptitude and reasoning skills. Depending on the role, you may be tested on verbal ability, numerical ability or analytical ability. Though they differ in terms of test content, these assessments all measure your capacity to process information and draw logical conclusions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

As we’ve mentioned, an Excel test is not something that you can attempt to muddle through. The tasks you’ll be faced with require specific knowledge, so you’ll need to be familiar with the program and its features.

Thankfully, as with many types of skills test, the knowledge you need is easily acquired, and there are plenty of online resources to help with your preparation.

Following the steps outlined here and completing plenty of practice tests will allow you to approach your Microsoft Excel test with confidence, and perform to a high standard that sets you apart as a strong candidate.