Skills test for hiring

Microsoft Excel Test

A pre-employment Excel test that shows whether a candidate can actually do the spreadsheet work the role needs.

An Excel skills assessment that measures genuine working ability in Microsoft Excel — not self-reported confidence. Choose the single level that matches the role, or test a candidate across all four and determine their level of proficiency. Levels combine simulated Excel tasks and multiple-choice questions, from basic formulas through advanced pivot tables and VLOOKUP, so you can confidently match a candidate's real skill level to the role.

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  • 4 levelsBasic, Intermediate, Advanced and Expert
  • SimulatedExcel tasks plus multiple-choice questions
  • OnlineNo software to install
  • DirectRegistered psychologist support on every engagement

How it works

How the online Excel test works

  1. 01

    Choose your levels, or test all levels

    Pick the single level that matches the role, or test a candidate across all four to determine their level of proficiency.

  2. 02

    The candidate receives a secure link

    The candidate is sent a secure link to the assessment. There is no software to install.

  3. 03

    The candidate completes the test online

    Simulated Excel tasks and multiple-choice questions, completed in a web browser. A Basic assessment can take as little as 15 minutes.

  4. 04

    AI proctoring protects the result

    Leading AI proctoring technology protects the integrity of every online Excel test. It runs in the background and flags any irregularities in the report.

  5. 05

    You receive the report

    Typically the same day. The report shows the overall score, the score by topic and the score by difficulty level.

Choosing a level

Which Excel test level for which role?

LevelSuitsExamples
BasicData-entry and administrative rolesReception, data entry, customer service, general administration
IntermediateRoles that apply formulas and charts to standard work-related queriesOffice managers, project coordinators, sales support, HR and operations officers
AdvancedRoles that build their own solutions to complex, quantitative work problemsFinancial and business analysts, accountants, procurement and reporting specialists
ExpertAnalysts and finance professionals who build and automate spreadsheet tools for othersSenior analysts, finance modellers, the person who builds the team's spreadsheet tools

Not sure? Tell us about the role and we will recommend the level.

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The four levels

Four levels of Excel proficiency test

Level 1 of 4

Basic Microsoft Excel Test

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RightPeople's Basic Microsoft Excel Test evaluates the standard Excel fundamentals, establishing whether a candidate is a genuine beginner or already has basic working competence — and whether existing staff need introductory training before moving on to more advanced work.

The Ribbon

Candidates are tested on core Ribbon commands: copying and pasting data, formatting text, applying number formatting, inserting basic functions such as SUM, and changing page orientation.

Cells

Establishes whether a candidate understands how data, formulas and formatting live within the row-and-column structure of a worksheet — the foundation everything else in Excel builds on.

Search Functionality

Evaluates whether a candidate can use Find and Replace to locate and update text and numbers within a worksheet — essential when Excel is used as a data repository.

Functions

Assesses comfort with SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX and COUNT — the core functions a basic Excel user should be able to apply without assistance.

Sorting

Checks whether a candidate can sort numbers and text in ascending and descending order — a foundational skill for organising and summarising data.

Level 2 of 4

Intermediate Microsoft Excel Test

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RightPeople's Intermediate Microsoft Excel Test was developed to assess a candidate's knowledge of formulas and functions, their ability to apply that knowledge to standard work-related queries, and their ability to display and interpret data visually.

Charts

An intermediate user should be able to arrange input data for bar, pie and column charts and format them appropriately. The test uses real-world examples to assess both practical and theoretical chart-creation ability.

Functions

Candidates are assessed on basic maths functions, financial functions, lookup and reference functions, logical functions and statistical functions, through work-related spreadsheet tasks.

Data Analysis

Measures a candidate's ability to look at the numbers, charts and results in a spreadsheet and draw meaningful, decision-useful insight from them.

Cloud Computing and Office 365

Assesses a candidate's ability to work effectively in cloud-based spreadsheet environments, where multiple people collaborate on the same file and data is held centrally.

Level 3 of 4

Advanced Microsoft Excel Test

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RightPeople's Advanced Microsoft Excel Test assesses whether a candidate can build their own solutions to complex, quantitative work problems rather than relying on someone else to build tools for them. An advanced Excel user is a genuine asset to an organisation. The test was developed to assess whether a candidate can:

  • Build complex formulas to solve challenging, quantitative work problems
  • Use VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, INDEX and MATCH — including in combination — plus INDIRECT and SUMPRODUCT
  • Use Excel's TEXT functions to extract and manipulate data
  • Manipulate dates and times using the DATE functions
  • Build clear, visually effective spreadsheets through considered formatting
  • Create Excel tables and work with structured references
  • Build and extensively format a wide variety of chart types
  • Apply conditional formatting, including formula-driven rules
  • Filter data using Excel's Advanced Filter
  • Apply and create custom number formats
  • Use Data Validation to control and limit data entry
  • Build Pivot Tables and Pivot Charts, including calculated fields, slicers and the timeline slicer
  • Produce Pivot Table reports
  • Use Data Tables, Scenario Manager and the Solver Add-in
  • Load and use the Analysis ToolPak
  • Use AutoFill and Flash Fill, and apply protection to workbooks and worksheets

Level 4 of 4

Expert Microsoft Excel Test

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RightPeople's Expert Microsoft Excel Test assesses a candidate's ability to extend and automate Excel itself, moving beyond applying existing features. Expert users are typically the people a business relies on to build the tools others use. The test was developed to assess whether a candidate can:

  • Install, configure and work confidently with Excel Add-Ins
  • Record and write Macros, and use VBA to automate complex tasks
  • Build and format advanced charts and graphics for reporting
  • Customise the Excel environment to suit a specific workflow
  • Work fluently in Excel for the Web, including collaboration features
  • Collaborate on live, shared spreadsheets with other users in real time
  • Build complex, nested formulas drawing on multiple data sources
  • Design and maintain sophisticated Pivot Table structures for ongoing reporting

Why test Excel

Why use an Excel skills assessment for recruitment?

Excel is one of the most widely used applications in business. It is available across Windows, macOS, iOS and Android, and built into Microsoft 365 for browser-based use as well. Business people at every level rely on it for analysing numbers, managing budgets, forecasting financial outcomes and modelling "what-if" scenarios.

Small businesses use Excel to track inventory in simple tables, while larger organisations use it to build complex financial and analytical models. That is why a pre-employment Excel test suits hiring in administration, finance and analytical roles.

Our organisational psychologists built this assessment around the Excel skillset used in Microsoft 365, the standard in workplaces today, and keep it current as Excel's toolset evolves.

FAQ

Questions about the Excel test for recruitment

Can't find what you're looking for? Contact our team or visit our full FAQ page.

What does the Microsoft Excel test measure?

RightPeople's Microsoft Excel test measures a candidate's genuine, practical working ability in Excel — not self-reported confidence or resume claims. It covers formulas and functions, formatting, charts and pivot tables, data analysis and (at the advanced and expert levels) macros and automation, matched to the specific level of the role being filled.

What are the four levels of the Excel test, and how do I choose one?

The test has four levels — Basic, Intermediate, Advanced and Expert — each assessing a progressively deeper set of Excel skills, from core formulas through to macros, VBA and complex Pivot Table structures. Choose the level that matches the Excel demands of the role itself, not the candidate's stated experience; our team can help you match a level to a role description.

Can I test all four levels, or combine Excel with other tests?

Yes. You can choose the single level that matches the role, or test a candidate across all four to determine their level of proficiency. The Excel test can also be combined with other skills tests into one assessment.

How long does the Excel test take?

A Basic assessment can take as little as 15 minutes. The time depends on the level, or levels, you choose.

Is the Microsoft Excel test completed online?

Yes. Like all RightPeople assessments, the Excel test is completed online, combining hands-on tasks in a simulated Excel environment with multiple-choice questions that test knowledge and judgement. No special software or in-person testing is required, and results are available to the employer typically the same day.

What does the report show?

The report shows the candidate's overall score, their score by topic and their score by difficulty level, so you can see where their Excel skills are strong and where they are not.

How does RightPeople protect the integrity of the Excel test?

RightPeople uses leading AI proctoring technology to protect the integrity of every online Excel test. The proctoring runs in the background while the candidate completes the assessment, and any irregularities are flagged in the report for the employer to review. This gives you confidence that the result reflects the candidate's own Excel ability.

What roles use the Microsoft Excel test?

The Excel test suits any role where spreadsheet competency affects performance, commonly finance, administration, operations, data analysis and reporting roles across Australian organisations. The right level depends on the role: Basic for data-entry and administrative positions, through to Expert for analysts and finance professionals who build and automate spreadsheet tools for others.

What other Microsoft Office skills tests does RightPeople offer?

Alongside Microsoft Excel, RightPeople offers pre-employment skills tests for Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Outlook, each covering a range of difficulty levels. All are built and reviewed by our organisational psychologists and delivered through the same simulated online testing environment.

Further reading

Excel testing articles from our blog

Excel Tests: Critical Microsoft Excel Skills To Test - Prior to Job OfferThe Benefits of Using Excel Skills Test Before You Hire

Related tests

Other skills tests

Excel results are often read alongside cognitive ability tests and personality and behaviour assessments, for a fuller picture of the candidate.

Microsoft Word TestMicrosoft PowerPoint TestMicrosoft Outlook TestAccounting and MYOB TestsSkills BenchmarkingAll Skills Tests

Regularly reviewed by our research team headed up by Dr Bradley Dolph, Head of Psychology / Registered Psychologist, RightPeople Candidate Testing.

Ready to test Excel skills with confidence?

Speak with our team to match the right level of Excel test to your role, or request a quote to get started.

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Within Australia 1300 792 554Direct / international +61 2 8896 6096