Excel skills test: what is your level?
Ten tasks in ten minutes, starting with simple formulas and ending with dynamic arrays. You get an estimated proficiency level and a clear next step.
A free placement test by LearnThisNext, no account needed. The result is an estimate based on ten tasks. It is not an exam and does not come with a certificate.
How the skills test works
The tasks get harder as you go. They follow the four levels of our Excel learning path: three tasks from level 1, three from level 2, and two each from levels 3 and 4. You solve every task in a spreadsheet in your browser, the same way you would in Excel. There are no hints. If a task is beyond you, submit what you have and move on.
Ten minutes is tight on purpose. Something you really know takes about a minute. If you have to puzzle over it, it is not routine yet, and that is exactly what this test should reveal.
Reading your result
A level counts as passed when you get at least 60 percent of its tasks right (two out of three, or both out of two) and every level below it is passed too. That gives your estimated proficiency:
| Level | What you can do reliably |
|---|---|
| Basic | formulas and arithmetic, SUM, percentages, relative and absolute references, AVERAGE and COUNT |
| Intermediate | plus IF, AND and OR, counting and summing by criteria with COUNTIF and SUMIF(S) |
| Advanced | plus lookups with VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, INDEX and MATCH, and handling error values |
| Expert | plus text functions, date calculations and dynamic arrays such as FILTER and UNIQUE |
Below the level you see every topic on its own, split into what you got right and what to review, each linked to its lesson. You also get one recommended next lesson: the earliest topic in the learning path that you missed. Get everything right and the suggestion is the final test.
FILTER, SORT, UNIQUE and XLOOKUP are available in Excel 2021, Excel 2024 and Microsoft 365. If you work in an older version, those tasks may simply be new to you. That does not mean your skills are weak, it shows you what a current version adds.
How accurate is it?
Ten tasks give you a direction, not a verdict. One slip can cost you a level and a lucky guess can lift you one. Take the test twice if you want more certainty. Each run uses new tasks with different data, and if both runs land on the same level, you can trust it.
Describing your Excel skills on a resume
Labels like "intermediate" or "advanced" Excel mean different things to different hiring managers. It helps more to name what you can actually do, for example "XLOOKUP, SUMIFS, PivotTables". Use this test to check that the label you pick is honest. If you are preparing for a job interview, follow up with the longer Excel assessment test, which focuses on the tasks employers tend to ask for.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Excel skills test free?
Yes. It is free, needs no account, and you can retake it as often as you like.
Is my result saved?
No. You see it right after the test and it is not stored. Even when you are logged in, the test does not touch your course progress.
I scored Basic. Where should I start?
With the lesson the result recommends. If even the first tasks felt hard, begin with level 1 of the Excel course. Most lessons take 10 to 20 minutes.
Can I prove my Excel skills with a certificate?
Yes, with the final test at the end of the learning path. Pass it and you receive a LearnThisNext certificate with a verification link. It is not a Microsoft certification.
Does it work with German Excel?
Yes. You can type formulas with English or German function names, using commas or semicolons.