Excel proficiency is crucial in today’s competitive job market, with many employers using Microsoft Excel testing to evaluate candidates. Whether you're a student or a professional, strong Excel skills can set you apart and open doors to greater opportunities.
Start sharpening your skills with our free Excel test, featuring practice questions designed to help you excel in any assessment.
Looking for more? Our Excel Tests will cover your Excel skills from A to Z and provide an Excel Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Certificate to add to your CVs.
David, Microsoft Expert at JobTestPrep
Have a question? Contact me at:
Our free Excel test includes questions on 3 difficulty levels: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced.
The questions draw inspiration from ProdigyLearning, a leader in Microsoft Excel testing and Microsoft Global Training Partner, which powers our Excel Test Prep.
This collaboration ensures a comprehensive experience, blending technical proficiency with real-world Excel scenarios. Together, we’ve created questions designed to mirror the challenges of Microsoft Excel testing and job assessments, helping you improve your skills and build confidence in job-seeking.
Mastering the basics of Excel is essential for building a strong foundation. In this section, you'll find questions that cover fundamental topics such as navigating the interface, using simple formulas, and formatting data.
What does the "Clear Formats" option do?
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
The "Clear Formats" function in Excel removes all formatting from the selected cells, including font styles, colors, borders, and cell fills, while keeping the content intact. It does not delete the data or affect the cell alignment unless it was part of the formatting. Options 1 and 4 are too limited, and option 3 incorrectly states that cell contents are also removed.
What is the primary purpose of the SUM function in Microsoft Excel?
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
The SUM function is used to quickly calculate the total within a range of numbers. For example, =SUM(A1:A5) will add the values in cells A1 through A5. It is Excel's most commonly used function for basic arithmetic. The other options describe functions such as COUNT, AVERAGE, and MAX, which serve different purposes.
Which of the following can't be used to insert additional rows or columns in your worksheet (more than one correct answer)
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Rows or columns can be inserted by right-clicking a row or column header and selecting "Insert," or by using the "Insert" option in the Home ribbon under the Cells group. The keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Plus (+) is also valid for inserting rows or columns, but for this question, we focused on the right-click and ribbon methods. Dragging and dropping headers is not a method for inserting rows or columns.
Our free Excel test makes for a perfect start to your Excel journey, but let's be honest - 25 questions are not enough. Our Excel Practice Tests will provide practice on the highest level of data analysis and manipulation, as well as an official MOS certificate for your CS
What will happen if you copy a formula such as =A1, from cell B1 to cell C2?
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
A relative reference, like =A1, adjusts based on the formula's new location. When copied from B1 to C2, the reference changes relative to the new row and column. Moving one column to the right and one row down makes the reference =B2. If the reference were absolute, meaning it included a dollar sign ($), like this $A$1, it would remain as =A1, regardless of the formula's position.
You are organizing a list of employee salaries to identify the highest and lowest earners quickly. What should you do to sort the salaries in ascending or descending order?
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
To sort salaries in ascending (lowest to highest) or descending (highest to lowest) order, highlight the salary column, navigate to the "Data" tab, and choose "Sort A to Z" for ascending or "Sort Z to A" for descending. This is the quickest and most efficient way to reorder data based on numerical or alphabetical criteria. Options like "Filter" or "Conditional Formatting" help with identifying data visually but don't rearrange it, and a PivotTable is unnecessary for basic sorting.
You have a row of values generated by a formula. What happens if you copy and paste these cells into a different column?
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
When you copy and paste a cell containing a formula, Excel adjusts the cell references in the formula relative to the new location. For example, if =A1+B1 is copied from C1 to D2, it changes to =B2+C2. If you want to copy the exact result of the formula without transferring the formula itself, you must use Paste Values instead of a standard paste by right-clicking the destination and choosing Paste Values.
You notice that some text in your worksheet is cut off because the columns are too narrow. What are two ways you can adjust the column width to display the full text?
Wrong
Correct!
Correct!
Wrong
To adjust column width, you can double-click the boundary between column headers to automatically fit the text or drag the boundary manually to the desired width. The "Wrap Text" feature changes how text is displayed within the cell but doesn’t adjust the column width. "AutoFit Row Height" modifies row height, not column width.
You want to create a title for your worksheet by centering text across multiple cells. What steps should you take?
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
To center text across multiple cells, select the cells you want to merge, then click the "Merge & Center" button in the Home tab. This merges the selected cells into one and centers the text within it. While "Center Across Selection" is an alternative, it doesn’t actually merge the cells. Manually adjusting column widths or using "Wrap Text" doesn’t achieve the desired result of merging and centering.
The MOS certification is the leading credential for demonstrating expertise in Microsoft Office.
Globally recognized and sought after by employers, MOS certification is your gateway to success.
Which of the following will select an entire column?
Correct!
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
Clicking the column letter selects the entire column
CTRL + Space also selects the entire column
Shift + Space selects an entire row
Alt + A is not a standard Excel column selection shortcut
Suggest 3 methods for creating a table from raw data
Correct!
Correct!
Wrong
Correct!
Answers A,B and D are correct, here's how:
A. Insert Tab
B. Home Tab
D. CTRL+T shortcut
How’s the free Excel test treating you so far? Feeling the challenge? Don’t worry - we’re just getting started!
Up next: 10 exciting intermediate Excel questions to test your skills!
This section dives into complex tasks like conditional formulas, data validation, and navigating more challenging datasets. It is ideal for those comfortable with the basics and ready to enhance their efficiency and versatility in Excel.
What is the best way to adjust a wide table in Microsoft Excel so it fits better on the page when printing?
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Changing the page orientation to Landscape ensures the page layout is wider, making it ideal for printing wide tables. While scaling to 50% reduces the size of everything, it may make text too small to read. Narrow margins help slightly but don’t address the orientation issue. Adjusting column widths can distort the data presentation and may not fit the table on one page. Landscape orientation is the most efficient and practical solution.
What can you do with the "Get Data" functionality in Microsoft Excel? (Select up to two correct answers)
Correct!
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
The "Get Data" functionality in Excel, part of the Power Query suite, allows users to import data from various external sources and then clean and transform it before loading it into their workbook. These capabilities make it an essential tool for managing complex data workflows. Exporting data or creating pivot tables are unrelated to this feature, though pivot tables can be created after importing and processing data.
You have a column containing the following data:
A | |
---|---|
1 | 45 |
2 | |
3 | Text |
4 | 78 |
5 | |
6 | TRUE |
7 | 0 |
What value will =COUNTA(A1:A7) return?
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
The COUNTA function counts all non-empty cells, including numbers, text, logical values (e.g., TRUE/FALSE), and zeroes. In this case, all cells are counted but the two empty ones, making the result 5.
You are tracking employee performance in a worksheet. Column A includes employee names, and Column B contains their total sales, as can be seen in the table:
A | B | C |
---|---|---|
Employee Name | Total Sales | Performance |
John Doe | 650 | |
Jane Smith |
480 | |
Sam Lee | 700 | |
Kelly Brown |
300 |
You want to use an IF statement in Column C to label employees as "Top Performer" if their sales are above 500 or "Needs Improvement" if their sales are 500 or below. What formula should you use in cell C2?
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
The formula =IF(B2>500,"Top Performer","Needs Improvement") checks if the value in B2 is greater than 500. If true, it returns "Top Performer"; otherwise, it returns "Needs Improvement." The other options use incorrect logic or reference the wrong columns.
While this free test focuses on Excel, purchasing our Excel Test Prep unlocks comprehensive preparation for other Microsoft Office tools like Word and PowerPoint. Our materials are designed to prepare you across different software versions, including Office 365, 2019, and more.
This is your shot at mastering it all with comprehensive prep materials!
Your dataset includes a First Name and Last Name columns, which you would like to combine into a single column named Full Name. What is the key difference between using the CONCATENATE and the CONCAT functions in Excel for this task?
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
The CONCATENATE function is the older method of combining text in Excel, and it requires you to specify individual cells or strings to combine. The newer CONCAT function is more versatile and supports combining ranges of cells without manually selecting each one.
Your dataset includes customer information in Columns A, B, and C (Name, Email, and Phone Number). Some rows contain duplicate entries. How can you remove duplicate rows based on all three columns?
Wrong
Correct!
Correct!
Wrong
The "Remove Duplicates" tool in the Data tab is the most efficient method, allowing you to eliminate duplicates with just a few clicks. However, conditional formatting can also identify duplicates visually, which lets you manually delete them. While this works, it’s slower and more prone to error. Options 1 and 4 are unnecessarily time-consuming and not ideal for larger datasets.
You want to use conditional formatting to highlight cells in Column A containing values greater than the average of the entire column. Which steps should you take?
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
The correct sequence involves selecting the range of data, then using a formula in Conditional Formatting. The formula =A1>AVERAGE(A:A) compares each cell in Column A to the column's average and applies formatting to those greater than the average.
You are collecting employee satisfaction scores and want to limit responses to five predefined satisfaction levels. Which of the following methods can you use to restrict input with Data Validation?
Correct!
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
You are analyzing your electronics expenses for the year 2023.
Product Category (Column A) | Expenses (Column B) | Year (Column C) |
---|---|---|
Electronics | 1200 | 2022 |
Furniture | 800 | 2023 |
Electronics | 1500 | 2023 |
Clothing | 500 | 2023 |
Electronics | 700 | 2023 |
Furniture | 900 | 2022 |
Electronics | 1100 | 2024 |
Clothing | 400 | 2022 |
Which of the following formulas should you use?
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
The correct formula =SUMIFS(B:B, A:A, "Electronics", C:C, 2023) sums expenses for "Electronics" in 2023. The result is 1500 + 700 = 2200.
Your spreadsheet includes multiple columns of employee data.
Which of the following formulas would suit for looking up an employee's department based on their ID?
Correct!
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
Both Option 1 and Option 2 can be used to look up an employee’s department based on their ID.
Practice Makes Perfect! Our Excel Test Prep offers numerous practice questions and scenarios using diverse databases, helping you build and apply your growing knowledge.
How did you find the intermediate questions? How many did you get right? These questions offer just a glimpse of Excel's powerful capabilities. Knowing your way around complex Excel datasheets is like learning a set of magic tricks—impressive and entirely within your reach!
Speaking of complex Microsoft Excel testing, we are moving forward to our advanced-level questions. Good luck!
You are analyzing sales data in Excel with columns for Product, Region, Sales Amount, and Month. You want to create a PivotTable to summarize total sales by Product and Region. Where should you assign each variable to get the requested results?
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
To summarize total sales by Product and Region in a PivotTable, you need to:
Why the other options are incorrect:
Your dataset is updated daily with new rows of data. Columns A through C contain Date, Sales Amount, and Product Category. You want to calculate the total sales dynamically, including only the last 7 days of data. Wwhich formula would you use?
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
The OFFSET function dynamically creates a range that adjusts based on the number of entries in Column B. To sum the last 7 rows of sales data:
Why the other options are incorrect:
You are working with a dataset in Excel where Column A contains timestamps in the format MM/DD/YYYY HH:MM:SS (e.g., 12/22/2024 14:35:22). You want to extract and format this data to display only the day of the week and time in the format Day - HH:MM AM/PM (e.g., Sunday - 02:35 PM). How should the TEXT function be used in a correct formula?
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
The correct formula uses "dddd" to extract the full name of the day of the week and "hh:mm AM/PM" to format the time in 12-hour format with AM/PM notation. The result is in the desired format: Sunday - 02:35 PM.
Why the other options are incorrect:
You are analyzing a dataset where employee performance has been categorized using the following formula:
=IF(AND(B1="Sales",C1>5000),"High Performer",IF(OR(B1="Marketing",AND(C1>=3000,C1<=5000)),"Moderate Performer","Needs Improvement"))
The conditions for categorization are:
Based on the following dataset and required conditions, which row is miscategorized when applying the formula?
Employee | Department (B) | Sales (C) | Performance |
---|---|---|---|
Alice | Sales | 6000 | High Performer |
Bob | Marketing | 4000 | Moderate Performer |
Charlie | Sales | 2500 | Needs Improvement |
Diana | Marketing | 2000 | Moderate Performer |
Eve | Operations | 3000 | Needs Improvement |
Frank | Sales | 5100 | High Performer |
Grace | Marketing | 3500 | Moderate Performer |
Henry | Operations | 1500 | Needs Improvement |
Ivy | Sales | 1000 | Needs Improvement |
Jack | Marketing | 6000 | Moderate Performer |
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
According to the formula, employees in the "Marketing" department are categorized as "Moderate Performer" unless their sales exceed 5000. Jack’s sales of 6000 should place him in "High Performer," but he is incorrectly categorized as "Moderate Performer."
You are performing advanced financial modeling in Excel to determine the optimal pricing strategy for a product. The model includes:
Your goal is to determine the selling price per unit (Cell B3) required to achieve a profit of $20,000. Which steps should you follow?
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Goal Seek is the correct tool to determine the input value (B3) needed to reach a target profit of $20,000 (B7).
Why the other options are incorrect:
Great job completing the free Excel test! Remember, consistent practice is the key to mastering your skills. If you're looking to dive deeper into Microsoft Excel testing, our comprehensive prep resources can help you tackle any challenge and excel in real-world scenarios. Take the next step and elevate your expertise today!
The Excel employment exam covers topics such as formatting, functions, pivot table data management, chart creation, and advanced features. It evaluates both basic and advanced Excel skills essential for the role.
There definitely is an Excel proficiency test. Depending on the role you apply, some potential employers will require taking an Excel Prificiency test while others will look at your resume to check prior knowledge. This is why having an official Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification will come in handy.
Practice, practice, practice! The more you explore diverse datasets with varying complexity and data types, the better you’ll navigate Excel’s vast array of functionalities. Try asking meaningful questions and look online for ways to take different actions. With Excel the sky's the limit.
The internet offers plenty of free Excel tests for practice, but without a reliable resource to gauge your level and track your progress, improving efficiently can be challenging.
Efficient Excel practice requires access to datasets (you can create one yourself or find many online), a basic understanding of Excel to build on—or simply the motivation to explore your data and start asking meaningful questions. While generating your own questions is helpful, using a reliable practice resource ensures the right level of challenge, helping you improve your skills and speed.
Money Back Guarantee
Since 1992, JobTestPrep has stood for true-to-original online test and assessment centre preparation. Our decades of experience make us a leading international provider of test training. Over one million customers have already used our products to prepare professionally for their recruitment tests.