Anyone here ever done a Prove It! online test for Word?

sunflower27

Mods, please don't move, I have a thread in Work/Jobs but no-one around.

I have to do an online Word test tomorrow. Has anyone ever done one? Is it muliple choice or what? I have spent all weekend watching youtube tutorials and taking notes hoping to God it will sink in.

Thanks.

El_Dangeroso

I did one of those before. Little tip is don't use any keyboard shortcuts, you will be punished for them. Do everything by menu.

Check out the ECDL syllabus for word processing:

http://www.ecdl.org/files/2009/programmes/docs/20090807091129_AM3_2.pdf

It's most likely based on that.

Good luck!

Oh forgot to say, It's a simulation of word as far as I remember. Don't remember if there were multiple choice or not, don't think so.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080908195740AAsHFOq

sunflower27

Thanks a million. I know the test is 30 mins and that includes a typing test...

Am sick to my stomach but if nothing else I have learnt loads in the past two days.

Thanks for the tip re shortcuts, big help.

Dangerous Man

The thing with shortcuts on the Prove It! test is that they won't actually work. They're disabled. It's actually quite backwards because the right-click menus allow people who know what they're doing to work faster. Disabling them makes you slower. It's really stupid and makes the test more about knowledge of menus - rather than a test of how quickly you can accomplish a certain task.

Also, do bare in mind that you will be most likely tested on the Office 2003 platform - so if you haven't used that in a while do a little research beforehand to reacquaint yourself with that particular platform.

dr.bollocko

What a dumb way of testing people. You're getting forced to learn how to pass the test not how to prove that you know what you're at.

sunflower27

Well, I'm definitely f*cked then. I have been teaching myself from the Word 2007 tutorials

dr.bollocko

Ah I wouldn't worry about it too much. Once you know to be a bit cautious the menus are generally the same so you should find your way through OK.

sunflower27

I hope so

Thanks again. Am beat!

sunflower27

Well, I flunked it.

It was Word 2003, not 2007 and it is totally different

I did my best and I know my typing was fine, but the Word test was diabolical. It was such a simple test as well, but I had no idea where anything was.

I don't know if I even got 50%. Feel like sh!t. All that work all weekend for nothing. Well, I am a wizz at 2007 now, so I suppose not nothing... but still, quite upsetting when it was the first job I have actually been able to apply for in ages.

:rolleyes::(

watna

sunflower27 wrote: »

Well, I flunked it.

It was Word 2003, not 2007 and it is totally different

I did my best and I know my typing was fine, but the Word test was diabolical. It was such a simple test as well, but I had no idea where anything was.

I don't know if I even got 50%. Feel like sh!t. All that work all weekend for nothing. Well, I am a wizz at 2007 now, so I suppose not nothing... but still, quite upsetting when it was the first job I have actually been able to apply for in ages.

:rolleyes::(

Did you tell the recruitment place that? it's happened to me before, except at the time I hadn't used Word 2007 and that's what the test was. They were fine with it and I got the job.

It's not the be all and end all so don't worry too much about it. Recruitment people know that the test is subjective and doesn't reflect a realy workplace.

sunflower27

watna wrote: »

Did you tell the recruitment place that? it's happened to me before, except at the time I hadn't used Word 2007 and that's what the test was. They were fine with it and I got the job.

It's not the be all and end all so don't worry too much about it. Recruitment people know that the test is subjective and doesn't reflect a realy workplace.

Hi there

No, I haven't told them anything. I did the test and just broke down after I can't believe how much sh!t I know and it was not even asked.

I don't know if there is any point telling them. I was thinking they probably think it is just a cop out. Well, maybe not after hearing your experience.

The job is proofreading, essentially. I have a great CV (in that I have worked in Australia, UK and Ireland ) and my typing speed would have been average with few errors (been out of work so am a bit rusty).

I'd have thought that as this is 2011 I'd have been given an option to do the test in Word '07.

I don't know what to think. Am just pretty down about it all, to be honest.

Duggy747

sunflower27 wrote: »

Hi there

No, I haven't told them anything. I did the test and just broke down after I can't believe how much sh!t I know and it was not even asked.

I don't know if there is any point telling them. I was thinking they probably think it is just a cop out. Well, maybe not after hearing your experience.

Tell them you were studying on Office 2007, everyone knows how awkward it is that the 2 versions are so different with their layout. If you know one version of Office then you can get to grips with the other version no problem.

I deal with the 2 versions everyday and Office 2007 wrecks my head.

watna

sunflower27 wrote: »

Hi there

No, I haven't told them anything. I did the test and just broke down after I can't believe how much sh!t I know and it was not even asked.

I don't know if there is any point telling them. I was thinking they probably think it is just a cop out. Well, maybe not after hearing your experience.

The job is proofreading, essentially. I have a great CV (in that I have worked in Australia, UK and Ireland ) and my typing speed would have been average with few errors (been out of work so am a bit rusty).

I'd have thought that as this is 2011 I'd have been given an option to do the test in Word '07.

I don't know what to think. Am just pretty down about it all, to be honest.

Sorry to hear you're down about it It's not a nice experience. It may be worthwhile dropping them an email reiterating your great experience and how interested you are in the job and then mentioning about the Word test.

I used to work in admin and have done a lot of these kind of tests and I always had a chat afterwards with them about how I get stressed about it and it's hard being put on the spot, just to show that my mistakes didn't mean I was stupid - like I said, they know it's not like real life. In real life, you'd get to try more than once to fix a problem. Even the most skilled users need to check help in word every so often.

I don't think you should give up yet anyway

sunflower27

Thanks Duggy, I may just fire off an email.

I could always offer to do a 2007 test, no problem.

It just seems very outdated to not even give the option for '07 test when they are so vastly different.

Not really sure what to say? Maybe just that I am really disappointed in my performance and that I have studied 2007?

I don't know if there is any point, but i suppose nothing ventured, nothing gained.

It was such a simple test anyway that I'd imagine it would not be a huge factor in selection of candidates for interviews. But then, who knows?

What gets me, is the job is with a very lucrative, professional firm. I very much doubt they would be using 2003? I suppose they just got the recruitment company to send off the tests and then come back with 'scores' of everyone. Pointless!!!!

Duggy747

sunflower27 wrote: »

What gets me, is the job is with a very lucrative, professional firm. I very much doubt they would be using 2003? I suppose they just got the recruitment company to send off the tests and then come back with 'scores' of everyone. Pointless!!!!

Where I work we still use Office 2003 on some machines since people are so used to it. Office 2007's layout turns alot of people off it and we only upgrade to it on certain machines because of 2007's .docx format.

Feck it, tell them you know Office 2007. You don't have anything to lose.

sunflower27

OK, what about something like this:

Dear xxxxxx,

Further to my phone conversation with xxxx this morning, I was able to install and complete the online tests assigned for the position of xxxxx at xxxxxxx, so I do not need you to forward another email link. [technical hitch this morning that was sorted].

I am competent in Word 2007, but as it has been several years since I used the Word 2003 format, Ii found my performance to be very disappointing.

If at all possible, I am prepared to take a Word 2007 test to prove my skills.

I would appreciate it if you could let me know if there is anything I can do to improve my chances for interview selection.

Kind regards
xxxxxxx

Duggy747

Yep, that's fine. You just need to explain to them that you are more familiar with 2007.

At this point all they can do is take it into consideration and you could be lucky. Good luck with it.

sunflower27

Duggy747 wrote: »

Yep, that's fine. You just need to explain to them that you are more familiar with 2007.

At this point all they can do is take it into consideration and you could be lucky. Good luck with it.

Thanks

Will send it off and what will be, will be. I did the best I could regardless.

Thanks.

watna

Fingers crossed!

danniemcq

sunflower27 wrote: »

Mods, please don't move, I have a thread in Work/Jobs but no-one around.

I have to do an online Word test tomorrow. Has anyone ever done one? Is it muliple choice or what? I have spent all weekend watching youtube tutorials and taking notes hoping to God it will sink in.

Thanks.

ohhhhh not a good start but sorry to hear it was 2003 not 2007. the differences are HUGE and even me who uses word every day got stumped when i tried 07 especially when it came to formatting etc. (had to google word count even!)

watna

danniemcq wrote: »

ohhhhh not a good start but sorry to hear it was 2003 not 2007. the differences are HUGE and even me who uses word every day got stumped when i tried 07 especially when it came to formatting etc. (had to google word count even!)

Ha - I had to google word count in Word 2007 too and then realised it's displayed at the bottom left hand corner. You don't have to do anything. Embarrassing

mahamageehad

dr.bollocko wrote: »

What a dumb way of testing people. You're getting forced to learn how to pass the test not how to prove that you know what you're at.

sounds like the leaving cert :P

sunflower27

danniemcq wrote: »

ohhhhh not a good start but sorry to hear it was 2003 not 2007. the differences are HUGE and even me who uses word every day got stumped when i tried 07 especially when it came to formatting etc. (had to google word count even!)

FFS it's boards. I am not watching my spelling/grammar here, but thanks for pointing that out :rolleyes:;)

Word 2007 is totally different to Word 2003... but hey, I have sent off an email now explaining the situation, so maybe they will get back to me.

If not, no harm done... at least I know my way around Word 2007.

LOL Watna - you should see the questions I got wrong in Word '03 - that's bad.:o:o

danniemcq

sunflower27 wrote: »

FFS it's boards. I am not watching my spelling/grammar here, but thanks for pointing that out :rolleyes:;)

Word 2007 is totally different to Word 2003... but hey, I have sent off an email now explaining the situation, so maybe they will get back to me.

If not, no harm done... at least I know my way around Word 2007.

LOL Watna - you should see the questions I got wrong in Word '03 - that's bad.:o:o

i know sorry i couldn't resist, trust me i'm far from the person to be contradicting people for grammer or spelling,

Fingers crossed for you anyway though. I'm sure this has happened before and its not like they are minor changes in the programs its a whole new overhaul of the standard that people are used to so i'd say if you were trained in one you'll struggle with the other no matter which one you trained in.

did that make sense?

Capt'n Midnight

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

I did one of those before. Little tip is don't use any keyboard shortcuts, you will be punished for them. Do everything by menu.

:eek:

keyboard shortcuts are far faster than mouse

you shouldn't need to use a mouse in a word processor, except maybe to do a little tidying up at the end

To me that proves you don't actually know the product, since any idiot can read menus but being able to fly through the doc with needing any hand to eye coordination is so much faster.

Also anyone who uses a mouse is already getting enough breaks from the keyboard that keyboard RSI isn't really a problem


Good old wordstar

Mark block beginning ^ KB
Mark block end ^ KK
Hide/display block ^ KH
Copy block ^ KC
Delete block ^ KY
Move block ^ KV

Save and resume ^ KS
Save, done edit ^ KD
Save, exit to operating system ^ KX
Abandon edits ^ KQ

debz20

sunflower27 totally agree! I had to do this test today (in fact, had to do 2 for 2 different jobs) and the tests were completely the same! In face I did one of their tests a number of years ago and the questions have not changed one bit! Also I couldn't believe it was in Word 2003. The test is not great, and if recruitment agencies are using it to see who is basic or advanced at word, well this test definitely is not going to do that.

squod

Companies in this country still pay license fee to microsoft for software that's just like open office? Jebus, sign me up!

Feckfox

squod wrote: »

Companies in this country still pay license fee to microsoft for software that's just like open office? Jebus, sign me up!

Open office is muck.

And why is this in AH?

bnt

Ugh - I would absolutely hate that test. I've written complete documents in Word on a computer with no mouse at all, just keyboard shortcuts and the occasional Alt-F to open the File menu.

Some favourite Word tricks of mine:

• learn to use Outline mode: keys Shift-Alt-Left and -Right move the current line up and down a level, while Shift-Ctrl-N returns text to Normal
• Ctrl-D opens the Font menu, while Shift-Ctrl-> and -< increase and decrease the font size.
• Styles are a huge time saver: use the ones provided, change the complete document look with Quick Styles, modify them, and create your own to match the content. e.e. create a "Code" style if you insert bits of programming code in the document, with a fixed-width font etc.

seagull

It's the stupid thing with these tests. I know people who failed the ECDL because they knew the product too well, and used short cuts, instead of doing everything through the menu.

When it comes to places still using word 2003 - Word 2007 is a completely different interface to the versions that have gone before. I can fully understand companies staying with 2003 rather than have all the staff need to learn what is effectively a new product. I'd rather have 2003 than 2007. I have Word 97 and office 2007 at home, and prefer using word 97 for simple documents.

biko

Ok you got time in AH but since test is over I'm pushing this to Work now.