Proofreading Assessment

Our Proofreading Test is a literacy assessment designed to test an individual’s ability to recognise spelling and grammatical errors in a sample piece of text. This is a skill that is often overlooked but essential in any work environment. Candidates are required to type corrections for the errors identified in the Core and Professional test levels.

By using our proofreading test, employers have a valuable insight into the levels of literacy of their candidates, ensuring that they will hire the candidate best suited to the role. The test is crucial for anyone looking to recruit for work that requires proofreading online, copywriting, typists, copy editors, publishers and more.

What is the proofreading test?

Our test is designed to test an individual’s ability to proofread – their skill in recognising spelling and grammar errors from a sample of text. Here’s how the test works:

Candidates are shown a sample of text selected by the administrator and asked to find the incorrect word. At Fundamental level, candidates are only required to proofread, and are free to highlight the spelling and grammar errors in the question. At the Core and Professional levels, candidates are also tested on editing, and are required to type corrections for the words identified.

Candidates are presented with 1 question to answer within 15 minutes, and are free to check the grammar in a sample text, pointing out incorrect words. The candidate’s responses to the exercise are automatically marked and timed. The average completion time for the question is 12 minutes. There are 4 different subjects available, and candidates will be presented with the option of doing a practice test to familiarise themselves with the exercise and work on their skills. A point is awarded for each correct highlight and an additional point is available for corrected words in the Core and Professional levels. In all levels, incorrect selections will result in a minus point being subtracted from the total score, and missed errors will result in no point being awarded.

Practice test available
4 subjects available
15 minutes available

12 minutes average completion time
1 question presented
16 questions in pool

Who is this test aimed at?

The proofreading test is useful for employers looking to ensure that they hire candidates with good skills in writing, editing, grammar, copywriting, and verbal expression. These skills are imperative for typists, copy editors, proofreaders, and publishers. The ability to proofread and to express oneself coherently in writing are essential in any job which requires a good degree of literacy, so the proofreading test is an invaluable tool for employers.

While candidates applying for some job roles will be expected to be more experienced in proofreading than others, generally speaking, many industries will benefit from the skills tested by our assessment. In order to gage candidates’ proficiency in proofreading, and their relative suitability to the demands of their job, our test is designed to distinguish between different levels of skill. Our proofreading test determines 3 levels of literacy and grammar: Fundamental, Core, and Professional.

Skills Assessed

Candidates have 15 minutes to answer 25 questions. Each question covers essential practical and theoretical knowledge.

01 Fundamental

In this proofreading test, candidates are required to only proofread a sample text and highlight the errors within. No justification for the grammar mistakes is required. There are 30 errors contained within the text for candidates to identify and highlight, which they must do within a set amount of time.

A candidate taking the Fundamental level of a test is expected to have subject knowledge aligned to a foundation level GCSE graduate.

02 Core

In this proofreading test, candidates are required to proofread a text and highlight mistakes, as well as writing corrections to spelling and grammatical errors in the text provided. In this test, there are 40 errors contained within the text and candidates are free to identify, highlight and correct them.

A candidate taking the Core level of a test is expected to have subject knowledge aligned to a higher level GCSE graduate.

03 Professional

In this proofreading test, candidates are required to proofread a text and provide corrections to spelling and grammatical errors in the text provided. This test builds on Core by increasing the quantity of text provided for checking, the speed in which a candidate has to identify errors and the complexity of the vocabulary used. 50 errors are contained within the text for candidates to proofread, highlight and correct.

Why use a Proofreading Test?

Improve communication: The ability to proofread is a good marker of a candidate’s knowledge of grammar, their strength in writing, their skill in editing and can even indicate their ability to communicate clearly with others.