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Excel Test for Interview: What's on It and How to Pass

Many companies screen candidates with a short Excel test before or after the first interview. It's usually 10–30 questions in 15–45 minutes, done in a browser. The good news: almost every test draws on the same dozen skills.

What's usually on the test

• Basic math: SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, ROUND
• Conditional math: COUNTIF, SUMIF, SUMIFS, AVERAGEIF
• Logic: IF, nested IF, AND/OR
• Lookups: VLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, XLOOKUP
• Text: joining with &, LEFT, RIGHT, TRIM
• Data tools (for analyst roles): sorting, filtering, pivot tables, absolute references like $A$1

How it's scored

Most platforms check the value in the cell and sometimes the formula itself. Typing the answer as a number usually scores zero — always use cell references.

Try one now

Here's a typical question. Type the formula in the bar and press Enter.

How to prepare in a weekend

1. Take the free practice test to find your weak spots.
2. Study the guides for anything you missed, like SUMIFS or VLOOKUP.
3. Retake the test until you score 8/10 or better, under time.