Online MS Excel Test to evaluate intermediate Excel proficiency effectively

The MS Excel Online Test is a domain knowledge assessment meticulously designed to aid talent acquisition experts in evaluating applicants' intermediate Excel proficiency effectively. The test comprehensively overviews the candidate's expertise in various crucial skill domains in the MS Excel ecosystem.   

Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool widely used in modern businesses. The tool is ingrained in business processes worldwide, from data analysis to performance reporting, financial management, and human resources management. To find talented candidates with expertise in this software, hiring managers and recruiters can use Mercer | Mettl’s Online Excel Test as a pre-employment assessment during the job screening process to ascertain candidates’ skills in MS Excel.   

What is inside this MS Excel Test?

The MS Excel Test gauges MS Excel proficiency effectively by presenting a wide range of questions that measure critical skills. It offers a well-rounded evaluation of a candidate's knowledge and proficiency in using the Excel domain. This comprehensive test comprises questions of moderate difficulty levels, ensuring an objective and accurate assessment of Excel skills with thirty questions. The test's total duration is thirty minutes, and the candidates must have an experience range of about four to seven years. The test enables recruiting managers to make informed hiring decisions that suit their organizational needs.   

What are the advantages of the MS Excel Test?

This Online MS Excel Test evaluates the intermediate proficiency of applicants in using Excel features. It includes using MS Excel using shortcuts, charts, functions and formulae, pivot tables, statistical operations, and macros. Some of the advantages of the Excel Test are: 

• Top talent selection: With this test, hiring experts can recognize applicants of the highest skill caliber in MS Excel proficiency.   
• Unbiased assessment: The test is employed in a secure, proctored environment with essential features such as webcam proctoring, window violation checks, limited system access, etc. 
• Effective screening: Attracting competent candidates for subsequent recruitment stages becomes streamlined and efficient with online MS Excel Assessment insights.   
• Comprehensive insights: Assessment result reports offer a thorough understanding of test takers' performance, ensuring objective and informed hiring decisions.   

What are the areas of assessment?

The test measures domain expertise in the following skills:   

• Function and formula utilization: It refers to the ability to use formulas and functions for data analysis.    
• Statistical analysis: It is the capability to perform statistical analysis to support informed decision-making.    
• Macros and advanced functions: It implies proficiency in automating spreadsheets and leveraging advanced Excel functions.  
• Pivot table expertise: It refers to the competence in extracting actionable insights from raw data utilizing pivot tables.    
• Graphs and charts mastery: It means the ability to represent data visually using graphs and charts.    

What skills does this Online MS Excel Test cover?

• Formulas and functions   

This section measures the essential skills in using MS Excel formulae and functions. It evaluates candidates' understanding of formulas like HLOOKUP, VLOOKUP, import, etc.   

• Macros and VBA   

This section evaluates candidates' understanding and skills in using Excel VBA and macros to automate and tailor repetitive tasks.   

• Formatting   

Candidates must demonstrate their proficiency in formatting using MS Excel. This section covers entering data, formatting, editing data, worksheet management, conditional formatting, etc.   

• Tables and tools   

This section includes questions that assist recruiters in gaining insights into candidates' skills in visualization, data manipulation, and other data-related tasks using tables and tools. The section covers skills, including tables, pivot tables, data tools, graphs, and charts.   

What roles can you assess using the MS Excel Assessment?

• Senior executives: The responsibilities of senior executives include developing and implementing strategic business plans, overseeing financial performance, and directing company operations.  
• Administrative assistants: The responsibilities vary depending on the role but commonly include managing schedules, organizing meetings, and handling correspondence.  
• Office managers: They oversee the daily operations in an office, including managing administrative tasks, coordinating office resources, and ensuring a smooth workflow.  
• Human resource assistants: They support the HR department by performing various administrative tasks, such as maintaining employee records, assisting with recruitment processes, and handling employee inquiries.  
• Sales and marketing executives: These executives are responsible for researching and developing marketing and sales strategies for a company. One of their primary responsibilities is driving sales by designing and implementing targeted marketing strategies. Sales and marketing executives maintain customer relationships, track sales data, and create performance reports.  
• Operations executives: An operations executive plays a vital role in overseeing and managing the company’s day-to-day operations. These professionals ensure that all business processes run smoothly and efficiently per the company’s objectives.

Sample questions for Excel Test

1. What is a shortcut to insert the table?   

The shortcut to insert the table is ‘CTRL+T’. 

2. What is the shortcut key for the Autosum?  

‘ALT and =’ is the shortcut key for the Autosum. 

3. What is the formula for finding the average of a set of numbers?   

The formula is ‘AVERAGE (NUMBER1, NUMBER2, NUMBER3, NUMBER….)’  

4. What is the table tool for evaluating and analyzing data?   

A pivot table is used to evaluate and analyze the data.  

5. What is the shortcut for copying the value from the above cell?   

The shortcut for copying the value from the above cell is Ctrl + Shift + “(apostrophe). 

6. What is the shortcut for activating the previous workbook?   

Ctrl + Shift + Tab is the shortcut for activating the previous workbook.  

7. What is a pivot table?   

A pivot table is an MS Excel spreadsheet that summarizes the data in a different table and displays the data meaningfully.   

8. How can you freeze a pane in Excel?  

Excel's freeze panes option allows one to view one area of a spreadsheet (for example, the top of the sheet) when one scrolls to another area (for example, the bottom of the sheet). Options to activate freeze panes are under the View tab on the ribbon in Excel.   

9. What does a red triangle at the top right of a cell mean?   

The red triangle is a sign that someone has placed a comment on the cell. You can hover over the triangle to read the comment.   

10. When is the CONCATENATE function used?   

One uses the CONCATENATE function to combine data from multiple cells into one cell. For instance, if a table has different columns for first and last names, the CONCATENATE function can combine the data into a column with both the first and last names.