Microsoft Word Test Basic, Intermediate, Advanced and Expert levels
An online pre-employment Microsoft Word skills test that measures genuine working ability — not self-reported confidence. Choose the single level that matches the role, or test across all four to establish a candidate's proficiency. Each level combines simulated Word tasks with multiple-choice questions, from simple text formatting through mail merge, styles and document protection, so you can match a candidate's real skill level to the role.
Why test Microsoft Word skills
before you hire
Microsoft Word is the most widely utilised word processing application in Australian workplaces. It is used to create, edit and format documents, and comes with an extensive suite of tools, features and options that enable both basic and advanced document creation: simple correspondence, professional documents such as resumes and reports, templates, mail merges for bulk emails, letters, labels and envelopes, and designed pieces such as brochures, newsletters, business cards and flyers.
It is essential that all employees have a basic understanding of Microsoft Word for simple business-related tasks. It is also recommended that an organisation has staff members who are comfortable using Word's more advanced features to create professional documents. Employers are therefore advised to establish the abilities and proficiency of prospective and existing employees in Microsoft Word before relying on them.
RightPeople can help. Our organisational psychologists built this pre-employment Word test around Microsoft 365, the version of Word standard in workplaces today, and keep it current as Word's toolset evolves. It is one of the most requested skills tests for administration, executive assistant, legal support and communications roles across Australia.
Which Microsoft Word test level
fits the role?
Match the level to the Word demands of the role, not the candidate's stated experience. Each level can be run alone, or in sequence to place a candidate precisely.
Basic
Reception, data entry, general office and entry-level administration.
Create, edit, format and save everyday business documents unaided.
Intermediate
Administration officers, team assistants, HR and customer service coordinators.
Produce complete professional documents with tables, graphics, templates, tracked changes and a basic mail merge.
Advanced
Executive assistants, legal secretaries, proposal and report coordinators.
Control long, complex documents with styles, themes, advanced tables, bookmarks and advanced mail merge.
Expert
Document controllers, paralegals, technical writers and template owners.
Manage citations, multilevel lists, document comparison, protection and recovery settings for formal documents.
Basic Microsoft Word Test
RightPeople's Basic Microsoft Word Test evaluates the standard Word 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 document work. The Microsoft Word features it assesses include:
Document Creation and Editing
Establishes whether a candidate can open, create, edit and save a simple document without assistance — the foundation every other Word skill builds on.
- Basic Document Creation
- Basic Document Editing
Text and Paragraph Formatting
Assesses the core formatting commands a basic user applies daily to make simple business documents readable and consistent.
- Simple Text Formatting (working with the font style, font size, font weight and font colour options)
- Simple Paragraph Formatting (working with the alignment and spacing options)
Document Structure
Checks whether a candidate can add the structural elements found in most workplace documents.
- Inserting Headers and Footers
- Applying Bullets to a List
Finding, Language and Review
Evaluates whether a candidate can locate content, set the proofing language and take part in a basic review of a document.
- Using the Find Command on the Ribbon
- Changing the Language
- Adding and Deleting Comments
Intermediate Microsoft Word Test
RightPeople's Intermediate Microsoft Word Test was developed to assess a candidate's ability to produce complete, professional documents on their own: working with tables, graphics, templates and columns, collaborating with others, and running a basic mail merge. The Microsoft Word features it assesses include:
- Using the Ruler
- Creating Hyperlinks
- Working with Text Boxes, WordArt and Drop Cap
- Inserting and Editing Headers and Footers
- Changing the Page Colour and Page Borders
- Basic Collaboration and real-time co-authoring
- Creating and Formatting SmartArt graphics
- Using the Find and Replace Dialog Box
- Finding a Recently Used Document
- Saving a Document as a PDF
- Using Templates
- Tracking Changes
- Inserting Tables and Charts
- Simple Table Formatting and Sorting
- Using the Screenshot and Screen Clipping Feature in Word
- Working with Columns
- Working with Basic Mail Merge Options
- Inserting Footnotes
- OneDrive Sign-in
Advanced Microsoft Word Test
RightPeople's Advanced Microsoft Word Test assesses whether a candidate can control the design and consistency of long or complex documents rather than formatting them by hand: applying styles and themes, managing tables and mail merge at an advanced level, and using bookmarks and endnotes. An advanced Word user is a genuine asset to any team that produces reports, proposals or legal documents. The Microsoft Word features it assesses include:
- Applying Styles
- Applying Themes
- Using Indentation
- Advanced Editing of existing Headers and Footers
- Inserting a Watermark
- Advanced Table Formatting and Table Properties
- Using Advanced Mail Merge options
- Different Saving Options
- Advanced Sharing Options
- Converting Footnotes to Endnotes
- Working with Bookmarks
- Using Advanced Find Options
Expert Microsoft Word Test
RightPeople's Expert Microsoft Word Test assesses a candidate's command of Word's document-control, research and protection features — the tools relied on for formal reports, academic and legal documents, and controlled templates that others in the business will use. The Microsoft Word features it assesses include:
- Setting AutoRecover options
- Customising Link Colour
- Marking a Document as Read-Only
- Using Breaks
- Working with Pictures
- Working with Page Numbers
- Using the Researcher Tool
- Defining New Multilevel Lists
- Comparing Two Documents
- Inserting Citations
- Protecting Documents
- Using the Ink Equation Feature
Other skills tests
Common questions about the Microsoft Word test
Can't find what you're looking for? Contact our team or visit our full FAQ page.
What does the Microsoft Word test measure?
RightPeople's Microsoft Word test measures a candidate's genuine, practical working ability in Word — not self-reported confidence or resume claims. It covers document creation and formatting, headers and footers, tables and graphics, templates, mail merge, styles and themes, and (at the expert level) document comparison, citations and protection, matched to the specific level of the role being filled.
What are the four levels of the Word test, and how do I choose one?
The test has four levels — Basic, Intermediate, Advanced and Expert — each assessing a progressively deeper set of Word skills, from simple text formatting through to styles, advanced mail merge and document protection. Choose the level that matches the Word demands of the role itself, not the candidate's stated experience; our team can help you match a level to a role description.
Is the Microsoft Word test completed online?
Yes. Like all RightPeople assessments, the Word test is completed online, combining hands-on tasks in a simulated Word 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.
How does RightPeople protect the integrity of the Word test?
RightPeople uses AI proctoring technology to protect the integrity of every online Word 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 Word ability.
What roles use the Microsoft Word test?
The Word test suits any role where document production affects performance, commonly administration, executive assistant, legal support, HR, communications and customer service roles across Australian organisations. The right level depends on the role: Basic for general office positions, through to Expert for staff who produce formal reports, legal documents or controlled templates that others rely on.
What other Microsoft Office skills tests does RightPeople offer?
Alongside Microsoft Word, RightPeople offers pre-employment skills tests for Microsoft Excel, 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.
Ready to test Word skills with confidence?
Speak with our team to match the right level of Word test to your role, or request a quote to get started.
