Microsoft Office Skills Assessment

To continuously learn and develop your skill set, it is important to first understand the criteria considered for demonstrating a basic, intermediate, or advanced skill level in the Microsoft Office suite of programs.

Pre-requisites for All Microsoft Office Programs

Before you begin your assessment to determine training options, you must be able to perform the following functions:

  • Use a personal computer, keyboard and mouse
  • Open and close applications
  • Navigate basic file structures
  • Manage files and folders

Microsoft Office Assessment

Note: Click the link and log in with your netID and password; then download to open the guide and learning plan. 

Follow the Microsoft Office Assessment Guide and identify your areas of strength and development. Then download and complete your Microsoft Office Learning Plan to address any skill gaps and plan how you will acquire, practice and demonstrate the skill. It’s a good idea to discuss your plan with your supervisor.

Excel

Categories Tasks
Formulas Insert simple formulas (total, add, subtract, multiply, divide, count) and functions, show/hide formulas, orders of operations
Worksheet Basics Navigation, menus and ribbons, editing data, data entry: autofill, saving a workbook and managing versions
Modify a worksheet Insert, delete, and adjust cells, columns, and rows, search and replace, add comments, create new worksheet from filtered worksheet
Formatting techniques Fonts, borders, colors, numbering, aligning, naming ranges, using filters, applying styles and themes, templates
Printing workbooks Preview, print, page layout, freeze panes, center/wrap header row

Categories Task
Function library Set ranges, logical functions (if, and..), date and time, text functions (Left, Right, MID, concat, number value, …), Text-to-Columns, combining data, TRIM
Using lists Sort, filter, query with database functions, outline and subtotal data
Analyzing data Create and modify tables, apply intermediate and conditional formatting
Charts Create, analyze Pivot Table data, present data with pivot charts, filter using timelines and slicers
Distribution techniques Repeat file names, sharing documents, save options

Categories Task
Working with multiple worksheets and workbooks Use links and external references, 3-D references, consolidate 
Lookup functions and formula auditing Use lookup functions, trace cells, evaluate formulas
Sharing and Protecting worksheets Collaborate on a worksheet, protect worksheets and workbooks
Automating workbook functionality Data validation, macros, search for invalid data and formulas
Creating sparklines and mapping data Create Sparklines, map data
Forecasting data Determine potential outcomes using data tables and scenarios, use goal seek feature, forecasting data trends
Distribution techniques Repeat filed names, sharing documents, save options

Word

Categories Task
Insert and formatting text and paragraphs Fonts, borders, colors, numbering, aligning, applying styles and themes, use templates
Modifying a document Insert, delete, search and replace, spellcheck, thesaurus, add comments
Manage Lists Sort a list, format a list
Tables Insert, modify, format a table, convert text to a table
Inserting graphic objects Insert symbols and special characters, add images
Controlling page appearance Border, color, headers and footers, page layout, add watermark
Printing documents Preview, print, page layout
Preparing to publish a document Check spelling, grammar, readability, research tools, check accessibility, save document other formats

Categories Tasks
Organizing content using tables and charts

Sort table data, control cell out

Perform a calculation in table, create a chart, add an excel table
Inserting content using quick parts Create and modify, Insert Building Blocks
Manage lists Sort a list, format a list
Tables Insert, modify, format table, convert text to a table
Inserting graphic objects Insert symbols and special characters, add images
Controlling Page Appearance Border, color, headers and footers, page layout, add watermark
Printing documents Preview, print, page layout
Preparing to publish a document Check spelling, grammar, readability, research tools, check accessibility, save document other formats

Categories Tasks
Manipulating images Integrate pictures and text, adjust image appearance, insert other media elements
Custom graphic elements Create text boxes and pull quotes, add word art and other text effects, draw shapes, complex illustrations with SmartArt
Mail merge Personalized letters and envelopes to labels and email messages, merge names and addresses
Collaborating on documents Prepare a document for collaboration, mark up a document, review markups, merge changes from other documents
Adding document references and Links Add captions, cross-references, bookmarks, hyperlinks, insert footnotes and endnotes, add citations and a bibliography
Securing a document Suppress information, set formatting and editing restrictions, restrict document access, add a digital signature to a document
Forms to manage content Create forms, modify forms
Automating repetitive tasks with macros Automate tasks by using macros, create a macro

Outlook

Categories Tasks
Outlook calendar Scheduling appointments /recurring appointments, changing appointments, printing
The meeting planner Scheduling a meeting / inviting other to a meeting, tracking meeting responses
Using calendar tools Using flags, color code categories, using email to create calendar appointment
Review of advanced mail features Creating folders, attaching files, distribution lists and internet addresses, Out of Office Assistant, Auto Signatures
Automating mail handling The Rules Wizard, managing junk e-mail
Managing others with Outlook Share calendar with others, redirecting meeting request to a delegate, delegate / track tasks, share contact / groups
Managing Outlook data files Backup outlook items, change data file settings

PowerPoint

Categories Tasks
Creating a presentation Select a presentation type, edit text, build a presentation
Advanced text formatting Characters, paragraphs, text boxes
Adding graphics Images, shapes
Modifying objects Edit, format, group, arrange, animate
Adding tables Create, format, insert
Adding charts Create, format, insert
Preparing for delivery Review, apply transitions, print, deliver