Microsoft Word test
Summary of the Microsoft Word test
Our Microsoft Word test evaluates candidates’ abilities to use Microsoft Word in a business context. It helps you hire candidates who can complete business tasks with the Word program and use it as part of the Microsoft 365 suite.
Covered skills
Document management
Basic formatting
Advanced formatting
Collaborative and individual editing
Use the MS Word test to hire:
Personal and executive assistants, copywriters, editors, content marketers, HR coordinators, office managers, paralegals, teachers, and any other job role that requires the use of Microsoft Word for creating and editing documents.
About the Microsoft Word assessment test
Professionals use Microsoft Word productively to create and format documents, with the software’s built-in features playing an important role in many office, administrative, and customer-facing roles.
Our Microsoft Word assessment test judges candidates' proficiency in using Word's key features, such as:
The ability to open, secure, save, and print documents
Formatting page layouts and templates
Editing tools such as spell check and track changes
Integrating objects such as images and tables
The pre-employment test measures candidates’ Microsoft Word skills with multiple-choice questions about common functions. For example, they might answer queries about saving into different file formats, editing images, and adding comments.Â
Check out the preview questions in a practice test for a taste of what to expect!
Test takers who score highly on our Microsoft Word test can manage document layout and formatting, collaborate on projects, share information, contribute to enhancements, navigate Word’s diverse features, create polished documents, and memorize shortcut keys to maximize efficiency.
The test is made by a subject-matter expert
TestGorilla’s tests are created by subject matter experts. We assess potential subject-matter experts based on their knowledge, ability, and reputation.Before being published, each test is peer-reviewed by another expert, then calibrated using hundreds of test takers with relevant experience in the subject.
Our feedback mechanisms and unique algorithms allow our subject-matter experts to constantly improve their tests.
Miranda C.
IT support manager Miranda possesses a demonstrated history of supporting cutting-edge software in high-growth, fast-paced environments. Her mastery of all versions of Windows and Office suite software works hand-in-hand with her excellence in network troubleshooting, training, software implementation, and technical writing.
Miranda’s approach to fixing every software issue with urgency and empathy consistently leads to customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Reliability: Cronbach’s alpha coefficient = .68
Face validity: Candidates rated this test as accurately measuring their skills (average score of 3.31 out of 5.00, N = 506).
Criterion-related validity: Candidates with higher scores on this test received higher average ratings from the hiring team during the selection process (r = .12).
For an in-depth look at interpreting test results, please take a look at our Science series articles: How to interpret test fact sheets (part 1): Reliability, and How to interpret test fact sheets (part 2): Validity.
For an explanation of the various terms, please refer to our Science glossary.
Reliability and validity | Sufficient data available | Analyses and checks conducted | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
Reliability | âś” | âś” | Acceptable |
Content validity | âś” | âś” | Acceptable |
Face validity | âś” | âś” | Acceptable |
Construct validity | Pending | Pending | Pending |
Criterion-related validity | âś” | âś” | Acceptable |
Group differences | |||
Age differences | Pending | Pending | Pending |
Gender differences | Pending | Pending | Pending |
Ethnicity differences | Pending | Pending | Pending |
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Why are Microsoft Word skills important to employers?
Microsoft Word is an established tool in many businesses and industries because of its near-universal accessibility and wide range of functions and features.
Employers hire people with Microsoft Word skills to handle important tasks such as formatting text, inserting images and graphics, creating graphs, and securing documents.
What’s more, hiring employees with proven Microsoft Word skills:
Improves company productivity
Streamlines project workflows
Enhances team collaboration
Creates professional documents
However, using resumes alone, recruiters find it challenging to identify candidates who can utilize Word’s more advanced features and toolbars.Â
By using a Microsoft Office Word test instead, employers test proficiency beyond basic word processing with objective and practical questions.
4 Microsoft Word competencies to look for
Here are some practical Word competencies to prioritize when hiring:
Managing and protecting Word documents, including creating new files, saving them in the required format and location, closing them, and adding protection to prevent unauthorized access
Formatting and laying out pages, such as managing options that affect headers, page numbers, spacing, and the table of contents
Collaborating and editing with others, like making and resolving comment annotations during document editing
Using objects, charts, and enhancing features, such as building data tables, inserting and formatting images, and adding footnote
What job roles can you hire with our Microsoft Office Word test?Â
Our Word test isn’t tied to any specific role or industry simply because the program is so versatile.
Here are just a few examples of the roles it can help you hire for:
Content marketers plan, schedule, manage, and create content with others using Word’s collaboration tools
Copywriters produce draft copy and use MS Word to style, edit, and proofread work
Editors review facts, assess spelling and grammar with Word’s built-in features, leave annotated comments, and use change tracking to show edits they make
HR coordinators create and fill out paperwork, share documents with employees, draft instructions, and design training materials
Office managers build schedules, track attendance, take notes, and record inventory using Word objects
Paralegals gather, arrange, and compile legal documents, write and summarize reports, and draft correspondence in Word
Personal assistants take meeting notes and manage and draft documents, correspondence, and emailsÂ
Teachers produce worksheets, grade work, track activity, develop lesson plans, and record attendance using Word data tables
Many companies hiring writers, editors, and marketers use software skills testing, such as Microsoft Word tests, to find genuinely talented jobseekers who can prove their skills beyond resumes. For example, Contentoo, a content marketing firm, uses TestGorilla in its recruitment process to filter out top-quality applicants with objective, insightful talent data. The company now understands its candidates better and makes more confident, unbiased hiring decisions.
Create a multi-measure assessment: 4 tests to pair with the Microsoft Word test
TestGorilla helps you better understand your applicants thanks to multi-measure assessments. Using up to five skills tests at once, it’s a great way to hire well-rounded candidates with all the necessary soft and hard skills and personality traits.
Measure Word skills in a custom assessment alongside these four tests from our library:
Attention to Detail (Textual) test: Assess a jobseeker’s ability to address and make changes based on textual instructions and feedback. This is a real asset when collaborating in Word.
Typing Speed (Capitalization and Punctuation) test: Measure word processing accuracy and efficiency using timed challenges. It’s a great way to hire people who can use Word efficiently and accurately.
Microsoft Excel test: Hire people competent in other MS Office 365 tools typically used alongside Word. This companion to the Microsoft Word test measures formula building, data entry, and spreadsheet editing skills. It’s part of our Microsoft 365 (Bundle) test.
Communication test: Assess candidates’ ability to communicate clearly and professionally through text. Find a reliable communicator who is comfortable working with team members through Word’s collaboration tools.
Note: We haven’t included any role-specific skills tests here because they depend on the position you’re hiring for. However, we highly recommend you add at least one in your five-test assessment to ensure your candidates possess the right skills for the job.
FAQs
View a sample report
The Microsoft Word test will be included in a PDF report along with the other tests from your assessment. You can easily download and share this report with colleagues and candidates.
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