MS Excel Assessment Test | Practice Questions & Sample Tests
Excel proficiency is key in today’s job market, from analysts to managers. Employers often use an Excel assessment test to evaluate your skills. This page will get you started with practice questions of varying difficulty.
Are you preparing for an Excel Assessment Test? Our Prep course will help you assess your knowledge and sharpen your Excel skills with questions on various topics.
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- Unique Excel training software
- Two full-length Excel assessment tests (25 questions each)
- 180 additional Excel practice questions by topic
- Detailed explanations for each question
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Mika, Psychometric Test Developer at JobTestPrep
I am Mika Torenberg, a Psychometric Test Developer at JobTestPrep, holding a B.A. in Psychology & Cognitive Science and currently pursuing an M.A. in Clinical Psychology. I design verbal, numerical, abstract, and gamified assessments, translating psychological constructs into accurate, engaging practice. I’m responsible for creating question banks, step-by-step explanations, and strategy notes for our PrepPacks, helping candidates understand not only the what but also the why behind each item so they can perform at their best. Have a question? Contact me at:
What is an Excel Assessment Test?
Today, data analysis is required in more positions than you could imagine. To make the best data-oriented decisions, employers expect you to be skilled at manipulating data and developing insights and action points.
Microsoft Excel allows you to perform various operations, from basic functions such as wrapping text to more advanced skills like analyzing data on humongous Excel spreadsheets of dozens of variables and thousands of lines using pivot tables and dynamic dashboards.
This is why many employers require an Excel Assessment Test to evaluate your proficiency as part of the hiring process. These tests usually include getting a massive spreadsheet and asking you to run some basic, mid, and high-level data manipulations.
Sample Excel Test Questions and Answers
Below are basic and intermediate-level sample Excel test questions and answers to give you a sense of what you will face on your test.
To get started, copy the table below and paste it into a new Excel spreadsheet. Make sure the table is aligned correctly and that the top left cell is pasted in cell A1 on the spreadsheet.
| Maker | Type | Class | Full Model Name | Year | Annual Sales (Mil $) |
| Missam | SLX | Business | Missam SLX | 2014 | 55 |
| Dubaru | Double | Van | 2015 | 60 | |
| Tia | Jet | Van | 2013 | 76 | |
| ZMV | Cruise | Compact | 2016 | 75 | |
| Fonda | Life | Compact | 2015 | 60 |
Excel Practice Test - Basic Questions
Basic Quesiont #1
How do you add a new worksheet to your Excel document?
To add a new worksheet, click the plus (+) sign next to the existing worksheet tabs at the bottom of the Excel window. Alternatively, you can use the shortcut Shift + F11.
Basic Question #2
How would you calculate the total Annual Sales for all car makers in the table?
- Select the cell where you want the total to appear.
- Type =SUM(
- Select the range of cells containing the Annual Sales values, or manually type F2:F6
- Close the parenthesis and press Enter
Basic Question #3
How would you sort the table by Annual Sales in descending order
- Select any cell within the table
- Go to the Data tab on the ribbon
- Click on the "Sort" button.
- Choose "Annual Sales" as the column to sort by
- Select "Largest to Smallest" for the order.
- Click OK.
Basic Question #4
Which of the following actions will select an entire column?
Correct!
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
Answers A and B are correct.
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
Basic Question #5
The main difference between the COUNT and COUNTA functions in Excel is:
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
The correct answer is A. This question highlights a common misconception about the COUNTA function.
COUNT function: Counts only cells containing numeric values, including dates and times.
COUNTA function: Counts all non-empty cells, regardless of their content type. This includes numbers, text, logical values (TRUE/FALSE), error values, and even empty text strings.
Option D is incorrect because it misrepresents the COUNTA function. COUNTA does not limit itself to counting only character strings; it counts any non-empty cell, including those with numbers.
Basic Question #6
What are the three main ways to create a table from raw data in Excel?
Correct!
Correct!
Correct!
Wrong
Answers A,B and D are correct. Here's how:
A. Inser Tab
- Select a cell in your data set
- Go to Insert tab
- Click the Table button in the Tables group.
B. Home Tab
- Select any cell in your data set
- Go to the Home tab
- Click Format as Table in the Styles group
- Choose a table style from the gallery
D. CTRL+T shortcut
- Select any cell in your data set
- Press Ctrl + T. Excel will automatically choose the boundaries according to the cells with data.
The button of option C does not exist.
Basic Question #7
You are creating a C column in your sales report to calculate total sales by multiplying the sales quantity in column A by a fixed price per unit in B2.
You want to copy this formula down the rows so that it calculates the total sales for each row, with the price per unit remaining fixed in B2 and the quantity adjusting for each row.
Which of the following formulas will allow you to do this correctly?
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Correct!
The correct answer is D.
A2 is a relative reference that will change as you copy the formula down to rows 3, 4 onward.
B$2$ is an absolute reference, which will stay fixed on B2 when you copy the formula to other cells. This is because the dollar signs lock both column (B) and row (2).
Dollar signs can lock either the column, the row, or both, providing flexibility in how your formulas behave when copied across different cells. This allows you to control which dimensions (column or row) remain fixed while others adjust.
Excel Practice Test - Intermediate Questions
Intermediate Quesiont #1
How would you highlight all cells with yearly sales above 70 mil $?
Such action would require Conditional Formatting, and here's how it can be done:
- Choose the cells containing the Annual Sales data (column F in the given table).
- Through the Home tab, click on "Conditional Formatting".
- Select "Highlight Cell Rules" > "Greater Than".
- In the dialog box that appears, enter 70 as the value to compare against.
- Select a formatting style to apply to the cells that meet the condition. This could be a fill color, font color, or other visual indicator. Click OK
Intermediate Question #2
Which function can help you combine the data from the "Type" and "Class" columns under "Full Model Name"?
Explain how it can be done.
The function is CONCATENATE.
- Choose your cell of choice within the "Full Model Name" column, perferably D4 so you can then copy the results to the rest of the table.
- In the Formula Bar write: =CONCATENATE(A4,” “,B4). Notice the space
added in the formula between the two cells. - Click Enter
To apply a function to the cells in the column, position your mouse at the bottom-right corner of the cell containing the function until a black cross appears. Then, click and drag the cross to select all the cells you want to apply the function to, and release the mouse. The cells will be updated based on the data in the corresponding columns.
This is called Fill Handle.
Intermediate Question 3
How would you organize the information to display a table showing annual sales for each year?
This calls for a PivotTable. Here's how to use it:
- Highlight the entire table. This can be done by clicking on the first cell in the table (A1), holding shift, and clicking on Cell F7, the last cell.
- In the Insert tab, under "Tables" Group, click on PivotTable.
- Don't change anything in the opened dialog box, and click OK. A new
SpreadSheet will be opened. - Under the PivotTable "Field" list, click and drag ‘Year’ to "Row" Labels. Drag
‘Annual Sales’ to "Values". - Under "Values," click on the newly appeared entry. In the opened menu, click on
Value Field Settings. - In the opened dialog box click on "Sum" and then click OK.
Intermediate Question #4
What does the VLOOKUP function do in Excel?
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
The correct answer is A.
VLOOKUP searches for a value in the leftmost column of a table and returns a value in the same row from a column you specify. It's commonly used to find corresponding values in large datasets.
Intermediate Question #5
Which of the following formulas will correctly calculate the number of days between two dates in Excel?
Wrong
Correct!
Correct!
Wrong
The correct answers are B and C.
Option B (=B1-A1) directly subtracts two dates, giving the number of days between them.
Option C (=DAYS(B1,A1)) is a function specifically designed to calculate the number of days between two dates.
DATEDIF is used for more complex date calculations, and NETWORKDAYS only counts workdays.
Intermediate Question #6
You have a spreadsheet with employee data.
- Column A: employee IDs
- Column B: last names
- Column C: first names
- Column D: department names
You need to create a formula that looks up an employee's department based on their ID. Which function would be more suitable, and why?
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
Answer B is correct.
XLOOKUP can search for values in any column and return results from any other column, regardless of position. VLOOKUP, however, is limited to searching in the leftmost column and returning values from columns to the right.
XLOOKUP is more flexible, so if columns are rearranged, it will still work correctly, while VLOOKUP might break or return incorrect results. XLOOKUP can also perform vertical and horizontal lookups, making it more versatile for various data layouts.
Intermediate Question #7
As part of your duty as an analyst, you need to calculate commissions based on the sales columns B in a spreadsheet. The commission structure is as follows:
- If the sales amount is greater than or equal to $5000, the commission is 10% of the sales amount.
- If the sales amount is between $3000 and $4999, the commission is 5% of the sales amount.
- If the sales amount is less than $3000, the commission is 0%.
Which of the following IF formulas correctly calculates the commission for each sale based on the sales amount in column B?
Wrong
Correct!
Wrong
Wrong
The correct answer is B:
=IF(B2>=5000, B2*0.1, IF(B2>=3000, B2*0.05, 0))
This formula works as follows:
First, it checks if the sales amount in B2 is greater than or equal to $5000. If true, it calculates 10% of the sales amount.
If the sales amount is not greater than or equal to $5000, it then checks if it is greater than or equal to $3000. If true, it calculates 5% of the sales amount.
If neither condition is met (i.e., the sales amount is less than $3000), the commission is set to 0.
Option A: This formula is incorrect because it incorrectly sets the commission rate of 5% for sales amounts less than $3000. According to the question, the commission for sales under $3000 should be 0%. The formula mixes the conditions and doesn't apply the correct logic for sales amounts between $3000 and $4999.
Option C: This formula has a logical error. The second IF statement checks if the sales amount is less than $5000, but this condition is already covered by the first IF (which checks for greater than or equal to $5000). The second condition should check if the sales amount is between $3000 and $4999, but instead, it incorrectly handles all amounts less than $5000, including those under $3000, which results in an incorrect calculation.
Option D: This formula is incorrect because it does not account for sales amounts less than $3000. It calculates 5% commission for all sales amounts under $5000, without checking whether the sales are under $3000, which should have a 0% commission. The formula needs a third condition to handle the case where the sales amount is below $3000.
Get Ready for Your Microsoft Excel Assessment Test
Accurately analyzing complex data in MS Excel requires knowing the right functions and understanding when and how to use them for maximum impact. Without this balance, even the best tools can fall short, leading to inefficient workflows and missed opportunities.
Our Excel Practice Tests, powered by ProdigyLearning, will give you just that. A clear path toward Excel proficiency. Practice 180 questions of different topics and full tests, and gain confidence in your Excel skills.
Excel Test Tips
Below you will find several tips for acing your Excel test.
- Practice. The best way to get a high score is going over as many excel questions for practice you can. Practicing allows you to familiarize yourself with the material you will be tested on, thus eliminating the element of surprise. Using preparation materials will expose you to a variety of Excel test questions you will encounter on your upcoming test - a surefire way of passing your MS Excel assessment.
- Read the instructions carefully. Excel tests often come with quite a few instructions for each test section, which can be confusing. To make sure that you do everything correctly, it is best to read through each of the instructions prior to answering any of the Excel test questions. Understanding what you are doing during this sort of test is the key to your success.
- Relax – you’ve got this. If you have practiced properly for your Excel assessment, trust yourself and try not to stress out too much. Use the night before the big test to relax and allow all that information to sink in, and let your newly learned Excel skills shine on test day.
Our full MS Excel PrepPacks™ include all the practice you need to pass your assessment. With two practice modes (testing and learning), full-length tests with dozens of practice questions, detailed answer explanations and score reports, you’re bound to pass with flying colours.
About Our Excel Practice Tests
Our Excel Assessment Test Prep is powered by Prodigy Learning / Gmetrix, a Microsoft Global Training Partner that supports academic institutes with Microsoft Certifications. You can't get better than this.
Our preparation includes three levels of Excel tests: basic, intermediate, and advanced. The tests are designed to give you an idea of what to expect during your actual assessment. It also includes two modes (testing and learning) full of sample Excel test questions and answers to stimulate your learning process and bring you to the desired skill level.
Be Ready for Excel Interview Questions
Some employers use interviews to assess your Excel skills by asking you to explain how you would handle various Excel or data scenarios, or when and how to use different functions.
It's important to note that this is similar to a hands-on Excel assessment, but it can be even more challenging for some. The interview format requires you to recall information without the context provided in a test, making it crucial to practice your Excel knowledge and ability to articulate your process clearly.
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