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12 Free Proofreading Tests to Check Your Skills

April 2, 2024

Written by:

Jessica Norris

Jessica is a writer for SideHustles.com. Her side hustles include freelance academic writing and editing, which she's done for...

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If you’re thinking about becoming a proofreader, you might be wondering whether your skills are good enough. To find out, you can take a proofreading test.

Tests can highlight gaps in your knowledge and help you work out whether you need more training and practice. They’re also a good way to identify the skills you need to improve.

We’ve compiled a list of 12 sites with proofreading tests you can take—all for free.

01. Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP)

Who they are : The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) is a British association that provides training and support for editorial professionals. They’re a well-recognized authority in the editing and publishing industries.

The test : The CIEP proofreading test comes in the form of a document that contains common mistakes and an accompanying answer sheet showing you how to correct them. The test covers many of the different types of problems that proofreaders have to deal with, including mistakes in punctuation, spelling, and language use.

Other resources : As well as their proofreading test, the CIEP site has a lot of different quizzes on proofreading-related topics, from punctuation to formatting. There’s also a blog for editorial professionals, a selection of high-quality paid courses, and lots of free resources—fact sheets, booklets, and more.

Anything else I should know? While the CIEP proofreading test is very comprehensive, it uses British English. Watch out for the differences between British and American English.

02. ProofreadNOW.com

Who they are : ProofreadNOW.com is a company that offers paid proofreading services.

The test : The test on the ProofreadNOW.com website is multiple-choice and mainly checks your spelling and punctuation. A couple of the questions are a little tricky, but there are only 10 of them, so it’s fairly easy overall.

Other resources : The site also has a resources section where you can get free ebooks and white papers . There’s also a page where you can ask grammar questions (they’ll reply via email).

Anything else I should know? One of the proofreading test questions is contested by people in the comments, so this question probably has two correct answers.

03. Authority Pub

Screenshot of the Authority Pub homepage

Who they are : Authority Pub is a site that’s designed to help writers build a self-publishing business.

The test : The Authority Pub proofreading test is an entertaining letter riddled with errors that you have to correct. The answer sheet has a corrected version of the letter, which you can review when you’ve finished proofreading.

Other resources : Authority Pub has lots of informative articles on writing (and a self-publishing course for $397), but not much for proofreaders, although the website has a few tips on how to improve your proofreading skills.

Anything else I should know? The answers given on the corrected version of the letter in the proofreading test aren’t necessarily the only correct answers. Some of the errors can be corrected in more than one way.

04. Using English for Academic Purposes (UEfAP)

The test : This website has 10 proofreading tests that focus on different writing skills, including grammar, punctuation, and word use. There’s also a mixed test covering all 10 subjects. In these tests, you select the incorrect words and then type in the correct words, so it’s harder than a multiple-choice quiz. Luckily, there’s a “hint” button to help you if you get stuck.

Other resources : In addition to the tests mentioned above, the UEfAP site has another general test . Unfortunately, this one doesn’t include answers. The UEfAP also has a wealth of other resources to develop your proofreading skills, including exercises and explanations of many different aspects of language use.

Anything else I should know? This is another site that uses British English. It also focuses on academic English, and some of the tests are very advanced. Academic writing makes for great practice, as it’s one of the hardest types of writing to proofread. However, academic proofreading is quite different from many other types of proofreading (e.g., fiction proofreading), so the UEfAP’s tests aren’t all-purpose.

05. Earn Smart Online Class

Screenshot of the Earn Smart Online Class webpage

Who they are : Earn Smart Online Class is a website that offers advice about how to earn money working from home with jobs like proofreading, transcription, writing, and more.

The test : Earn Smart Online Class has a 20-question proofreading test that covers common errors in spelling and grammar, as well as homophones (words that sound the same but mean different things). It’s common for people to mix up homophones in their writing and also for spell checkers to miss these types of errors, so they’re important for proofreaders.

Other resources : The Earn Smart Online Class site features a few tips on how to get good at proofreading (including links to a free proofreading webinar from the company Proofread Anywhere ). There are also job listings, but these aren’t very up-to-date.

Anything else I should know? The test has a few tricky questions, but overall, it isn’t very hard. You should be able to get a high score fairly easily. If you don’t, you should consider whether you need to spend more time training your language skills before you take on proofreading projects.

06. Edit Republic

Screenshot showing the Edit Republic homepage

Who they are : Edit Republic is a company that offers professional courses in proofreading and editing, as well as how to start an editorial business.

The test : The Edit Republic proofreading quiz is a very quick multiple-choice test with 10 questions. It’s one of the easiest tests on our list, and you should be able to complete it in a few minutes.

Other resources : As well as the editing and proofreading courses that Edit Republic sells, they offer free training materials and other resources you can check out.

Anything else I should know? You’ll have to enter your email to get your proofreading test results.

07. Freelance Writing

Screenshot showing the FreelanceWriting homepage

Who they are : Freelance Writing is a platform for freelance writers to find work. It also directs businesses who want to hire writers to the website of a content-writing service.

The test : This proofreading test is a little different from the others on this list. Arguably, it’s more realistic. You have to find just three errors in several paragraphs, which is similar to what you’d expect if you were proofreading a text that had already gone through a round of copyediting (or was well-written enough not to need it), which will be the case for most of the pieces you’ll actually review as a proofreader.

Other resources : The Freelance Writing site has lots of resources for writers (including how-to articles, free ebooks, and information about writing competitions), but just a handful of articles specifically for proofreaders.

Anything else I should know? In theory, you’re supposed to complete the Freelance Writing proofreading test in 10 minutes. However, the site doesn’t time you, so you have to time yourself.

08. LoveToKnow

Screenshot showing the LoveToKnow homepage

Who they are : LoveToKnow is an online media company that features news, content on parenting and family life, resources for pet owners, home and garden advice, and more.

The test : The LoveToKnow site has a downloadable proofreading test, which features an email containing lots of errors. You have to correct them on a printout (or you can mark up the PDF file they provide). The answer sheet has all of the errors highlighted and provides explanations of how a proofreader should correct each one.

Other resources : There aren’t many resources for proofreaders on this site, but there’s a grammar test on the same page as the proofreading test. The site also has an article on how to proofread your own writing .

Anything else I should know? Throughout most of the proofreading test answer sheet, the errors are highlighted and left uncorrected (with annotations explaining what changes should be made). However, a couple of the corrections are made directly onto the highlighted answer sheet. Watch out for this—it can be a bit confusing.

09. Sporcle

Who they are : Sporcle is a trivia website with hundreds of different quizzes.

The test : The 25-question Sporcle proofreading test takes a different format from the others on this list. It will show you a sentence featuring an error, and underneath it, there are many possible corrections. You have to pick the right one.

Other resources : There are plenty of other Sporcle quizzes that are relevant for proofreaders, covering grammar, spelling, word definitions, and more.

Anything else I should know? Sporcle times how long it takes to complete their proofreading quiz. You have a maximum of 8 minutes to complete it.

10. Business Writing Blog

Screenshot showing the Business Writing Blog homepage

Who they are : Business Writing Blog publishes articles for writers working in a “professional, academic, and social setting,” according to their About Us page .

The test : This proofreading test features three emails that contain a number of errors (which you can correct on a printout or in a Word document). There’s an answer sheet for each test. The errors are highlighted and corrected.

Other resources : The Business Writing Blog site has an entire section dedicated to proofreading-related posts, plus more articles on useful topics like grammar and punctuation. They also offer a paid course on proofreading (for $159).

Anything else I should know? As you’d expect, this test focuses on business English, but it’s still good for general proofreading practice. Note that some of the errors on their test have more than one possible fix.

11. Om Proofreading

Screenshot showing the Om Proofreading homepage

Who they are : Om Proofreading is a website run by Lindsay Babcock, a proofreader who offers services for new age and spiritual content.

The test : Om’s proofreading test is fairly short and easy, featuring 20 multiple-choice questions on homophones.

Other resources : As well as a proofreading test, the Om Proofreading site offers general advice for proofreaders and a quiz on adverbs .

Anything else I should know? The Om Proofreading test doesn’t cover grammar, punctuation, syntax, or other areas that are important for proofreaders to know about.

12. The New York Times

Screenshot showing the The New York Times proofreading test webpage

Who they are : In case you’ve been hiding under a rock, the New York Times is one of the most widely circulated and well-respected newspapers in the US.

The test : The New York Times test assesses your proofreading and fact-checking skills. You have to find 14 errors that have been inserted into extracts from five of the newspaper’s articles. You can then check the PDF under the test to see all of the correct answers.

Other resources : There are also many other quizzes on the website that test your copyediting skills. All of them are part of a series called Copy Edit This! Unfortunately, these tests aren’t collected on a single page on the NYT’s website, but you can find them easily by googling. You can view the first few for free, but eventually you’ll need a subscription.

Anything else I should know? The New York Times proofreading and fact-checking test focuses more on fact-checking than proofreading. Also, it’s from 2014, so some of the information is obsolete.

13. Other free grammar and writing tests

These tests don’t specifically cover proofreading, but they do cover topics that are useful for proofreaders to know about:

Portland Proof : This is a proofreading service that also hosts free tests on their website. Their quizzes feel more like games. You have to pick the erroneous word and then correct it, but your speed is tested along with how many right answers you get. The errors mostly involve spelling and homophones.
GrammarBook.com : You can find quizzes on all kinds of language skills here, including grammar, punctuation, and how to use numbers in writing.
Grammar Monster : This site also has lots of tests on grammar, punctuation, and other topics that proofreaders need to know about.
Grammar Lion : This site, where you can sign up for paid grammar courses, offers a 20-question test that asks about various grammar points rather than getting you to correct errors in a text.
CMOS Shop Talk : This is a blog about the Chicago Manual of Style. It has a page full of multiple-choice tests on using Chicago style, including one on how to proofread .

Robert Jellison

Managing Editor

Robert is a writer and editor for SideHustles.com. He has 7+ years of experience in freelance writing and previously worked as the in-house editor for Compose.ly, a platform for remote and part-time writers.

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Can you ace this basic proofreading quiz.

Posted by Phil Jamieson Mar 22, 2018 7:30:00 AM

Take our quiz to test your basic proofreading knowledge and see if you can catch every single typo. See if you can get every question right and ace the entire quiz. And don’t look for any of the answers online, so you can really step up to the challenge!

Let us know how you did in the comments below. Good luck!

Topics: proofreading quiz , typos, typographic errors

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10 Free Proofreading Tests (To Boost Your Editing Skills)

Are you ready to kick-start your career as a proofreader?

How about testing your skills through a free proofreading test? Taking free proofreading quizzes will help you improve your editing capabilities rapidly. Can you take these tests without spending a dime? Yes! To make things easy for you, I’ve compiled tests that will help you grasp English grammar rules and common language errors. Are you ready to become a successful proofreader? Let’s do this!

The 10 Best Free Proofreading Tests Online:

1. earn smart online class.

Earn Smart Online Class is an excellent platform for new proofreaders as it offers more than just proofreading tests. The website contains several tips for improving your proofreading skills. Although the proofreading test is short with a few multiple-choice questions, it tests your capability by asking questions where most proofreaders make mistakes. Thus, you can easily test your proofreading skills through this test. The good thing about this website is that besides offering an online test, it also provides a downloadable PDF. Thus, you can choose to take the test at your convenience. It also has an answer key to make sure you check your answers as well!

2. Freelance Writing

As the name suggests, Freelance Writing is a platform dedicated solely to writers. So, if you’re a proofreader, you can get much more from this website. I like this test and would suggest you take it as well because it’s different from many others. It specifically checks your professionalism on the job. The test isn’t composed of multiple-choice questions but of one paragraph with only a few grammatical errors. This test trains you to check documents written by professional writers as well. You’ll also find the solution at the end, which explicitly explains how it works to help improve your proofreading skills.

3. Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP)

The proofreading test by the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) is perhaps the best choice for people who want to test their copy-editing skills through a credible source. Unlike many other tests, it contains several multiple-choice questions. The questions also focus on a broad spectrum wherein you’ll have to highlight grammar mistakes, punctuation errors, language use, etc. The website has 14 quizzes, and you can download the PDF version of the test. You’ll also have to download the answer key, which is right next to the quiz. The best thing I like about this free proofreading test is that it focuses not only on grammar and spelling mistakes. Instead, you’ll learn a lot more to help you become a professional freelance proofreader.

4. Using English for Academic Purposes (UEfAP)

Using English for Academic Purposes (UEfAP) is a credible source with many tips and resources to help you improve your skills in checking copies for errors. It has several quizzes to test your proofreading skills, which you can take after learning the pointers taught by the site. It enables you to assess whether your proofreading skills have improved. Another good thing about this website is that it has a wide assortment of quizzes, including punctuation, parts of speech, spelling, word order, etc. By taking these quizzes, you can have a better grip on various parts of the English language, which will help you a lot in your proofreading career.

5. Grammar Book

Grammar Book is another excellent website for writers and proofreaders because it contains a lot of tips and information to help boost your skills. You can find almost everything about English on this website. So, if you want to learn about proofreading and writing, as well as expanding your vocabulary , it can be an amazing resource. Apart from that, the website has 52 free quizzes and 4 free tests. If you want to access more, you’ll have to subscribe. However, I believe attempting the quizzes and tests is enough to help you improve your English skills . The quizzes are also of different types to help you unlock a broad range of knowledge about proofreading.

6. Portland Proof

Portland Proof is a company that offers proofreading and editing to clients all over the world. This site is quite popular for providing amazingly professional services. As this company is a provider of proofreading services , we can rely on it to give us a better insight into doing this job. That’s why it has also designed quizzes and tests to evaluate your abilities. It offers different quizzes, each of which contains ten questions. You’ll have to check the mistake, and the next question will appear after attempting the one already on the screen. Attempting this test can be an excellent way to improve your proofreading skills.

7. ProofreadNow.com

ProofreadNow.com is an excellent platform for both beginners and professional proofreaders. However, this quiz can be tough because it challenges you to spot the tiniest mistakes. Their meticulous method is excellent for testing your proofreading skills. That’s why professional proofreaders can also try it to polish their skills even more. The quiz consists of 10 multiple-choice questions, and it won’t take much time to solve them. However, you’ll have to rack your brain to spot and point out the tiniest mistakes. The quiz starts as soon as you select the first answer, and it’ll go on from there. Another thing, there is no do-over once you answer, so you have to think hard before solving.

8. AuthorityPub

If you want to take a shot at really challenging tests to polish your proofreading skills, I recommend you try the tests made by AuthorityPub. The site provides you with amazing tips and tricks to improve your proofreading skills before you attempt to ace the quiz. It then offers the option for you to take the quiz to check if you’ve understood the guidelines. There are a lot of paragraphs for you to proofread and highlight the mistakes. After taking the test, you can check the answer key at the end.

9. Love To Know

Love To Know is another free online proofreading test that I liked a lot. The test itself is moderate, and the best thing about it is that it’s printable. This feature makes it easier for people who find it difficult to underline and highlight mistakes on the screen. This test won’t tell you the number of mistakes in the document beforehand. You must fish them out. This method is amazing because when clients give you documents to proofread, you will not be told about the number of mistakes as well. So, attempting this test can be an excellent way of getting some practical experience .

10. Sporcle

What draws my attention to Sporcle’s proofreading test is that it has 25 questions and is much longer than standard proofreading tests. Also, unlike many other free proofreading tests, you only have a fixed time of 8 minutes to solve all 25 questions. So, it also helps develop your reading comprehension skills. It seems more difficult to solve because of the time pressure. As for the multiple-choice questions, the difficulty level varies as you go along. You’ll have to find the mistakes in each question and click the correct answer as the time ticks away.

Proofreading takes more than just spotting grammatical and spelling errors. You must be eagle-eyed in identifying even the smallest punctuation mistake. Sometimes, you even have to do quick fact-checking to ensure the veracity of each sentence before publishing. Taking a stab at a free proofreading test can be an excellent way to improve your English language skills and easily spot misspelled words or missing punctuation marks. Taking these tests repeatedly and improving your results will make a positive impression on your employers and perhaps even help you start a proofreading business . The best thing is that you can complete these quizzes at no extra cost. Later on, you can try a course for professional editors that will let you obtain certification and take your skills to the next level .

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16 Best Online Proofreading Quizzes To Test Your Skills In 2024 (Exercises With Answers)

When you buy something through one of the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Grammatical errors can significantly impact the credibility of any written work.

To catch any of these errors, developing solid proofreading skills is crucial.

What better way to do so than through a proofreading quiz with answers?

Online proofreading quizzes can be a fun and effective way to test your knowledge and identify areas for improvement.

Whether you’re a writer or looking to venture into proofreading as a beginner or expert proofreader, they are a significant step.

Regular proofreading exercises online will allow you to develop the attention to detail necessary to become a successful proofreader.

Based on my research, I’ll discuss online proofreading practices, quizzes and test examples, and proofreading tips to elevate your skills.

16 Online Proofreading Tests with Answers

1) dollarberg quick online proofreading quiz.

One of the best ways to improve your proofreading skills is by taking a proofreading quiz.

Such quizzes enlighten you on what to look out for.

You can do these quizzes online and know your score.

Here is a proofreading quiz (and answers) to help you improve your skills.

2) Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading

Formerly known as the Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP), this organization is a great way to build your foundation as a proofreader.

It offers proofreaders and editors a community, support, and training to promote excellence in English proofreading.

Their proofreading test is a PDF document with an excerpt to go through. The self-assessing test examines the common errors people make in English.

You need to identify 20 errors in the one-page document ranging from spelling, punctuation, and word use.

There is an accompanying PDF with answers that you can use to gauge your skills.

Aside from the above, the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading also has other language quizzes.

3) Using English for Academic Purposes (UEfAP)

UEfAP is an excellent resource for individuals seeking to understand English.

Even though the emphasis is on academic purposes, there are plenty of tests that can help elevate your proofreading skills.

Andrew Gillett created the site in early 2000, and it remains relevant.

Proofreading quizzes on UEfAP test on spelling, punctuation, word order, and the use of the different parts of speech.

The tests vary in form. In some sections, you will find multiple choices; in others, you’ll need to edit the text.

You get immediate feedback, and the score is cumulative as you progress with the test.

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4) Purdue OWL Exercises

Purdue OWL is an online writing lab that offers a variety of resources for its global audience.

They offer online referencing materials, writing advice, help, and services.

A section on their site that is relevant to proofreaders is the OWL exercises .

This contains exercises geared towards improving your understanding of the English language.

You’ll get grammar, punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, and many more exercises to practice.

You may need to print or work on the exercises on a Word or Google document. There are no multiple choices or editable sections.

The answers are linked at the bottom of every quiz for reference.

5) New York Times

The New York Times is a New York newspaper with a global audience with print and digital subscribers.

They have a short quiz to test their prowess in reading published writing.

There are 5 excerpts taken from articles in different industries with punctuation, grammar, spelling, or factual errors.

They have specified the number of mistakes to find in each question.

When done, the answers are provided in a PDF linked at the end of the article.

6) ProofreadNow.com

This is a company that offers proofreading services to writers, publishers, advertisers, marketers, and editors.

Having been in the industry since 1999, they understand the proofreading and editing landscape.

Their basic proofreading quiz is a great way to gauge your skills. It is perfect for individuals with a keen eye to identify mistakes.

The test has 10 questions with multiple choices. Upon completion, select done to get the results.

When you ace all the 10 questions, you’re steps ahead to becoming an excellent proofreader.

7) Om Proofreading

Om Proofreading is a resource for proofreaders founded by Lindsay Babcock.

The Om proofreading test is an engaging multiple-choice quiz. You get to test yourself with 20 questions based on American English.

The test focuses on homophones. These are words with the same sound but different spelling.

They can be a great challenge for most, and a test is a great way to identify any weaknesses.

8) Earn Smart Online Class

Earn Smart online class is a blog that provides resources to proofreaders at all levels.

It offers excellent resources and tips on how to become a proofreader.

The quiz on their blog is a favorite that covers the basic grammar errors in content.

The Earn smart online class test focuses on using possessive pronouns, split infinitives, and more.

You can take the quiz and get the answers online or download the PDFs.

9) Portland Proof

Portland Proof is a proofreading service that caters to authors with different needs.

They describe themselves as an affordable service that proofreads novels, books, academic papers, resumes, and other online content.

The quiz on Portland Proof is called Proof It . It is in a game format where contestants are ranked weekly based on the highest score.

The quiz has ten sentences appearing one at a time. Each sentence has a mistake; you need to identify and click it on the space.

Just so you know, you will get an immediate response if you are correct. If you don't get it right, a message is highlighted to prompt you to try again.

You'll need to correct the mistake to move forward to the next sentence.

10) EditingTests.com

Editing Tests is a service that offers proofreading, editing, and writing testing. It is a subsidiary of EditFast that offers proofreading and editing services.

Unlike most of the quizzes on the list, Editing Tests is a paid service that is more comprehensive.

You must register and create an account to access the various tests on the platform.

The costs are $50 per candidate. This grants an editing package with 3 parts to it.

Parts 1 and 2 are the tests, and part 3 is a professional assessment based on the test results.

The assessment is delivered 24 hours after completing the required tests.

The assessment gives you a clear picture of your skill level as a proofreader.

11) AuthorityPub

Authority Pub is a blog with resources for professionals in the publishing industry.

The proofreading test on the site is in the form of a letter.

It is an intriguing yet challenging test that requires you to find errors missed when editing.

The test takes a keen interest in punctuation, spelling, and the use of homophones.

A corrected sample of the letter is also provided with the mistakes in the original highlighted.

12) GrammarBook.com

The GrammarBook platform is based on The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation.

It has hundreds of pages detailing grammar, punctuation, and other rules relating to English.

You can get access to free or paid proofreading quizzes.

With free access , you can get 4 tests and 52 different quizzes. They are all multiple choice, but the quizzes are shorter than the 4 tests.

The paid versions have a monthly subscription with several levels depending on your needs.

13 Grammar Lion

This is a tutoring platform by Ellen Feld, an instructor who is also an editor and coach.

The Grammar Lion test helps you to gauge your skills and experience the platform’s teaching style.

Before you start the test, you must create an account on the platform.

Taking the test also requires you to be keen as you select. You cannot go back to a question once you have moved on.

The score is revealed once you tackle all the questions.

14) Edit Republic

Edit Republic is a platform that offers tools, coaching, courses, and a community for proofreaders and editors.

They offer a wealth of information through free and paid courses and masterclasses.

Their general quiz is a great option to test your proofreading skills.

It is a straightforward test with 10 multiple-choice questions.

Once you’re done, you must provide an email where the results will be sent.

15) Business Writing Blog

As the name suggests, this blog provides insights on all you need to know about business writing.

They also offer paid courses to elevate skills in writing and proofreading.

The Business Writing Blog quiz to test your skills comes in 3 parts.

You'll need to read through a note of thanks, an email, and an announcement to identify their errors.

Hints about the number of errors in each text are provided to make work easier for you.

You will also get the corrected versions at the bottom of the article, with the mistakes highlighted.

16) Sporcle

Sporcle is a website that provides trivia and pub quizzes. You can make and play quizzes on different topics.

You can also earn badges when you participate in competing challenges.

The Sporcle proofreading quiz has 25 questions that are timed. Ideally, you should complete the quiz in under eight minutes.

You are needed to find and select errors in each of the sentences. Your right or wrong score is displayed as you progress.

The website also lets you track the remaining questions and time.

Why proofreading matters

The goal of proofreading is to ensure that whatever you write comes across the way you intended and is accurate and readable.

You want to ensure that whoever gets to read your content enjoys, understands, and gets meaning and value from it.

You achieve this by ensuring that your written content is free of spelling, typographical, and punctuation, among other grammatical mistakes.

The way you write determines how the intended audience views and judges you. If you write clearly, the reader will understand you well.

You can think that since you have researched your concept well, the intended audience will love your document.

Your concept might be the best, but the intended reader will be turned off if there are typos. They will find it hard to go through it and might finally discredit it.

And even when you think you have perfect grammatical skills, you will likely make mistakes. This is why proofreading matters a lot.

Get hired as a proofreader

Besides proofreading your documents, you can also get hired as a proofreader.

Proofreading has become very relevant for businesses today.

Business owners need more time or capacity to review their marketing copies, business proposals, publications, and newsletters.

They are looking for people with these skills to do this kind of work for them. So, if you become a proofreading expert, you can land good deals.

Even better, you can do proofreading virtually for companies. And you can do it anywhere.

You’ll need a computer or phone, an internet connection, and digital writing assistance tools such as Grammarly .

Other skills that you need as a proofreader include:

Spelling, grammar, and language knowledge
A keen eye for noticing even the most minor errors
Ability to adapt to different styles of writing
Mental focus
Professionalism
Passion for reading and writing
Familiarity with digital editing and proofreading tools

Proofread Anywhere

Is an online proofreading exercise necessary .

As mentioned above, you need several skills to get hired as a proofreader and become successful in the industry.

One of the ways to improve most of the required skills is through online proofreading tests and quizzes.

A proofreading quiz can be an excellent tool to test your proofreading skills.

A quiz will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and give you a clear idea of where to focus your efforts to improve your skills.

Proofreading quizzes can also help you learn new concepts and rules of grammar, punctuation, and spelling and provide you with valuable feedback to improve your skills.

In most cases, proofreading job opportunities have tests in their hiring process to test job applicants' skills.

Proofreading exercises online can help build your confidence when applying for proofreading jobs.

The more you practice, the more comfortable they become with the process and your ability to handle the job.

The Benefits of Online Proofreading Quizzes and Tests

Online proofreading quizzes and tests offer several benefits.

Here are some of the advantages of taking these tests:

1) Improve Your Proofreading Skills

By taking online proofreading tests, you can identify common errors in different types of writing.

You’ll quickly notice grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure errors.

This will help you to improve as a proofreading expert and make you more valuable to your writing clients.

2) Build Your Confidence

You gain more confidence in your abilities as you identify and correct your mistakes and learn new proofreading styles.

This helps you tackle client work more confidently and apply for more proofreading roles you usually wouldn’t when starting.

3) Save Time and Money

Online proofreading skills tests are often free or available at a low cost.

This is a more affordable and convenient way to improve your skills than hiring a professional proofreader or taking a course.

4) Accessible Anytime and Anywhere

Online practice proofreading tests can be accessed from anywhere and at any time.

You can practice your proofreading skills whenever you have some free time, regardless of your location.

They also allow you to focus on a given area when you need to, without limits or restrictions.

5) Learn at Your Own Pace

Apart from proofreading online tests available anywhere and anytime; you take them at your own pace.

You can take as much time as you need to complete the proofreading exercises online and review the answers.

This is helpful for those new to proofreading or those who want to take their time to understand the material thoroughly.

What to look out for when proofreading.

To perfect your skill as a proofreader and provide error-free content, you must know what exactly to look out for when going through a document.

1) Look at the general appearance of the content

Before making corrections at the sentence level, look at the general appearance and the structure of the whole write-up. Make the necessary changes to the structure and organization of the paper.

This helps to determine if the length of the paragraphs is appropriate for the kind of content. Long paragraphs would be allowed in a research paper, a publication, or an academic paper.

However, content that requires engagement or conversations with the audience should not have long paragraphs. They would quickly get bored with reading long blocks of information.

2) Take note of punctuation

You should also be keen on punctuation marks. Often writers need to find hyphens, colons, dashes, and semicolons. Sometimes, commas are used wrong or need to be included.

When this happens, the intended message might not be brought out.

Your goal as a proofreader is to ensure proper punctuation is used throughout the document.

There are tons of information online that can help you with how different punctuation marks are used.

3) Spelling mistakes and typos

Spelling mistakes in written documents are common. An author can misspell some wrongs when writing long or even short papers.

When proofreading, pay attention to spelling. If you need clarification on a word, check it online or in a dictionary and make the appropriate corrections.

4) Look for unnecessary, missing, and wrong words

As you proofread, you might notice that some words need to be revised, added, or have been used wrongly.

Remove, correct, and add omitted words to make the write-up clear, concise, and readable.

5) Sentence structures

A document with proper and consistent sentence structure separates good and mediocre writing.

When proofreading, ensure that sentences maintain the grammatical pattern. If this structure keeps changing, the readers will need clarification.

Also, look at the tense used and the consistency of the headlines.

6) Examine the references

Scholarly and professional papers require a list of references. As you proofread, ensure that citations have been done correctly. Please do this to avoid your paper being discredited.

If you are a beginner, your proofreading skills might need to be more effective. As such, invest in learning these skills. You will become a perfect and reliable proofreader with time.

Proofreading tips

Proofreading can seem daunting, mainly because you are expected to produce error-free work as a proofreader.

In case errors are identified after the submission of the work, you are the one to be blamed.

However, this doesn’t have to be complicated. You are good to go as long as you can identify the mistakes and correct them.

Below are some tips to help you produce high-quality, error-free content.

1. Read slowly and loudly

This might sound awkward and unnecessary, but reading the content word for word is very important, loud, and slow.

While doing this, you will quickly notice poor grammar and spelling mistakes. You will also tell if the punctuation marks have been used appropriately and correctly.

When reading out loud, you will understand the content the way your audience will; you know how a reader will feel when going through the document.

If, for instance, the sentences are too long and you are gasping for breath, you will know that they need to be shortened.

You will also know if the intended message comes out clearly.

2. Read one word at a time

Practice reading one word at a time. Usually, when you read terms normally, you are likely to skip some words.

You may fail to notice some mistakes because you are taking in a lot of words at a go.

Reading each word at a time might slow the proofreading process, but it will enable you to identify and rectify all errors.

3. Alter the appearance of the document

Sometimes changing the write-up's color, font, and size can help you view the document from a different angle.

It enables you to gain a different perspective of the document, and you are, therefore, able to know where to make changes.

After proofreading, return the document to the recommended font, size, and color.

4. Take note of every punctuation marks

When punctuation marks are misused, a sentence or text can lose meaning. As you read through, highlight each punctuation mark that you come across.

Determine whether they have been used appropriately and whether or not they make sense. If a punctuation mark does not serve the purpose, you can omit it or alter the sentence structure.

5. Identify the frequent errors

Different authors write in different ways and are prone to particular mistakes.

As you go through a document, you will notice frequent errors such as overuse of phrases, repetition of words, and misspelling of a particular word.

To make the work easier, use the search feature in your word processor to identify those words and make the required changes. You could omit them or use their synonyms.

When proofreading, you must give much attention and mental focus to whatever you do.

Avoid distractions as much as possible. Get a quiet environment, and maybe turn off the notifications from your phone.

It is also wise to take breaks, especially if you need more time to concentrate on this work.

7. Use a grammar check

There are digital writing assistance tools, such as Grammarly, that can make your proofreading task easier.

Once you are done proofreading, run the document through such a platform. You might notice some inconsistencies or errors that need correction.

Proofreading resources that better your skills

Along with the tips outlined above, there are other resources that you can use to perfect your proofreading skills. You can find these resources online.

There are proofreading exercises with answers that will enlighten you on punctuation, adverbs, propositions, nouns, sentence styles, spelling, and so much more.

Luckily, you can find these platforms online for free. So, take advantage and practice until you make your proofreading skills perfect.

Here are links to online platforms that offer proofreading tests and quizzes:

Proofread quiz
Purdue OWL Exercises
SfEP: Self-Test in Proofreading
Skills Practice: Find the Mistakes
UEfAP Exercises

You can also network with professionals to learn what they do. Having people who understand what you do makes the learning process easy.

Content is very important, but you run everything down the drain due to spelling mistakes, poor sentence structures, and wrong wording, among other grammatical errors.

Thorough proofreading is vital for producing and delivering professional and quality documents. It can help you to successfully communicate your intended message to your readers.

Effective proofreading enables you to create outstanding essays, winning marketing copies, and CVs that will hire you. It also maintains the reputation of your business.

Whenever you write or are given a proofreading job, don’t rush to submit it. Take your time to review the document and make the necessary corrections.

If you apply the tips outlined above, you will improve your proofreading skills. You will be in a position to produce clear, readable, and interesting content.

Tell me the mistakes you have found in this article!

While publishing this article, it has not been proofread or edited.

Since you are a proofreader or aspiring to be one, I’ll appreciate it if you could identify any mistakes in the article.

Once you’re done reading, you can share your findings in the comments section.

This way, you’ll sharpen your proofreading skills while learning how to make money on Amazon as a beginner proofreader.

I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Don't forget to share this post!

About the author

Joseph Nyambura

I started this website to help bloggers by sharing everything I’ve learned in the past decade working as a professional digital marketer, web designer & developer. I help passionate bloggers like YOU start and supercharge their own glossy blogging journey and enjoy the flexibility to work from home. I will help you master content creation, making money, and build an audience blogging online.

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How to Prepare for a Proofreading Test (15 Practical Tips)

This article may contain affiliate links. Please see our affiliate disclaimer in the footer menu for more information. Thank you for your support!

How you prepare for a proofreading test depends on the type of exam you’ll be taking. For example, you may be taking an assessment to secure a position as an administrative assistant, to earn a certificate for a proofreading class you’ve completed, or to become a proofreader at a company.

No matter what type of test you plan to take, these tips will provide you with everything you need to know to be ready to ace the assessment!

Table of Contents

1) Know the details to prepare for a proofreading test.

One of the best ways to get ready is to know the particulars beforehand. If you’re unsure what the test entails and can ask someone questions, do it! 😊

When I was preparing for the final evaluation in the proofreading course I took , I asked a few general questions so that I was as prepared as possible.

I had to use The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) to proofread a document for my assessment.

Since some rules in CMOS have an alternative, I asked a clarifying question regarding a CMOS guideline.

I may have been overly concerned with something specific, but it made me feel better to ask.

The more you know about the test, the more comfortable you’ll feel.

Try to nail down the following details about the exam:

Is it timed?
What’s the format? (proofread a document, multiple choice, fill in the blank, etc.)
Do I need any software ?
Do I have to follow a style manual or a house style?
In what English dialect—US, UK, Canadian, or Australian—should I proofread?
Does it focus on anything in particular?
proofreading symbols (unlikely)
how to format citations
industry-specific terminology
What resources can I use during the exam?

You may be taking a test that doesn’t allow aid from certain sources.

However, most proofreading exams let you use anything that could assist you with identifying and correcting errors (e.g., spellcheckers, grammar checkers, Grammarly , PerfectIt ).

But remember that software isn’t foolproof, so you’ll need to carefully evaluate any suggestions it makes.

2) Develop a study plan you can stick to.

Your exam may be tomorrow, or it may be two months from now.

Consider the time you have to prepare and figure out when you can fit study sessions into your schedule.

Remember that consistency is key, even if you only have a small chunk of time daily.

You may want to write down the time and duration of your study sessions if that would help you stick to them.

And planning what you’ll learn or review during each session will ensure you can study all the topics you need to.

3) Brush up on weak areas.

You may be well aware of your weak areas, or you may need help identifying them. You can do this by taking online assessments.

If you want to assess your grammar know-how, I recommend the grammar practice test on GrammarBook.com.

After you’ve worked on your weak points, you can take GrammarBook.com’s grammar mastery test to reassess your skills. The mastery test is on the same page as the practice test; the above link will take you there.

Also on that page are practice and mastery tests for punctuation.

4) Use reference books and online resources to study.

Fortunately, the internet is full of resources you can take advantage of.

For example, my article about sites that help you practice grammar will give you several suitable options for reviewing and practicing grammar rules.

I also have articles with practical tips for boosting your grammar game and pumping up your punctuation proficiency if you think that would help the most.

Finally, I have an article containing brief descriptions of my favorite proofreading reference books if that suits your fancy.

5) Become familiar with the indicated style guide (if needed).

Some proofreading evaluations require you to proofread according to a style guide. If this is the case for you, be sure to know the guide well.

Most importantly, you need to know how to efficiently navigate it to find answers.

6) Practice proofreading to hone your skills.

If you’re already a proofreader, you probably tend to proofread everything you see—at least to some degree. It’s a natural reflex! 😉

You’re always searching for spelling stumbles, grammar goofs, and punctuation problems.

No matter if you’re a proofreader, you’ll want to practice proofreading prior to your exam.

In addition to practicing with books, magazines, and newspapers, you may want to try spotting slipups in the following:

comments on YouTube videos
social media posts
Amazon reviews
restaurant menus
instruction manuals

These sources should be enough to help you sharpen your eagle eyes!

7) Take proofreading tests to help you get ready.

Another practical way to prepare is to take proofreading tests and quizzes .

The more practice assessments you take, the more confident you’ll be. If you know your evaluation is timed, try to impose a reasonable time limit on yourself for finishing each practice assessment.

Unfortunately, most practice exams you find online aren’t timed, so you’ll want to establish a time limit for yourself.

8) Develop a checklist tailored to the exam.

Checklists can be a useful proofreading tool. If you can use one during your test (you probably can), try to create one.

Even if you never use it, it will help you remember the mistakes you need to look for.

If you tend to forget to check for a particular type of mistake, put that at the top of your list.

When creating your checklist, you can be as general or as specific as you want.

A general checklist would remind you to look for mistakes with errors and inconsistencies with these elements:

punctuation
capitalization
missing or repeated words
adherence to a style guide

If you’d like more specific suggestions, you can check out this post on Om Proofreading .

9) Get good sleep in the days leading up to your test.

Being well rested for any test is a plus—especially a proofreading test.

Getting good sleep during the period before the assessment will help you remember the info from your study sessions.

And you’ll want to score as many z ’s as possible the night before the exam so you can enjoy enhanced concentration and relaxation the next day.

10) Have a positive mindset to set yourself up for success.

We know that a positive mindset helps us achieve desirable outcomes.

Make it a point to foster a positive attitude that stays with you, even if challenging moments arise during the assessment.

11) Make your test-taking space as comfortable as possible.

Hopefully, you’ll have control over where you take your exam. If so, you’ll want a quiet spot where you won’t be bothered. If that’s not possible, noise-canceling headphones can go a long way in creating a more peaceful environment.

Before you begin the evaluation, ensure that everything is dialed in: you have a stable internet connection, adequate light, a reasonably comfortable chair, a glass of water, and any necessary resources.

Setting the temperature slightly cooler than usual can help with alertness.

You know what you need, so leave time to set up your space before you start correcting errors like a boss!

12) Read the directions twice.

With construction work, they say to measure twice and cut once. With proofreading tests, read the directions twice and take the test once.

They may give you guidelines as part of the evaluation.

To illustrate, an essential part of any proofreading job involves tailoring it to your client, which could be an individual or a business. You may need to follow a specific style guide , house style, or other instructions.

Your ability to accommodate clients’ preferences is part of the job.

The instructions may require you to use a specific software, download a file and give it a particular name, or leave all instances of a certain word or phrase as is.

Bottom Line: Make sure you proofread following the specifications they give you.

13) Use effective proofreading strategies.

You’re likely aware of some proofreading tactics, while others have yet to be added to your toolbelt.

For example, reading what you’re proofreading out loud and listening to your computer read it to you using the text-to-speech function are two solid strategies.

Learn some other helpful hacks before you sit for your exam.

My article about proofreading tips should help round out your knowledge.

14) Take your time if there’s no limit.

I recommend taking your sweet time if there are no limitations. Once you’ve finished the test, return to it several hours later (ideally the next day), and go over it again.

You probably know that leaving a piece of writing and coming back to it later is one of the best ways to find errors you overlooked.

Furthermore, you’ll want to perform several passes if your exam involves proofreading a document. Each time you read through the text to check for mistakes is one pass.

Some people find it helpful to focus on finding one type of error per pass.

For example, you may want to perform one pass for grammatical errors only.

15) Manage your time well if it’s limited.

Some proofreading exams are timed since proofreaders sometimes have to meet tight deadlines. For timed tests, I’d encourage you to use the age-old strategy of not spending too much time on any one question.

Your evaluation may be multiple choice, or you may be required to proofread one or more documents. No matter the format, you can apply this technique.

For example, if you’re responsible for proofreading a text, don’t spend too much time finding mistakes in any given section.

Likewise, don’t dedicate too much time to figuring out how to fix any one error.

No one is perfect, so move on to what you know instead of spending time on an area of uncertainty.

I hope this article has provided all the practical tips you need to prepare for a proofreading test.

I wish you luck with your assessment and will be cheering you on in spirit!

Best wishes to you!

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” – Theodore Roosevelt

Lindsay Babcock

Lindsay is the creator of Om Proofreading. She has a BA in psychology and earned a certificate in proofreading by passing the final exam in Proofread Anywhere’s general proofreading course. She shares what she’s learning in the field and through research to inform and inspire her readers.

9 top proofreading skills: What employers look for, and how to assess proofreaders

9 Most Important Proofreading Skills featured image

Proofreading is more than just giving a piece of writing a quick check-over for misplaced apostrophes. Professional proofreaders ensure content is appropriate and easy to understand, needing a thorough eye for detail and understanding of the English language.

But that’s not all – talented proofreaders are also objective, motivated, and great team players . Without these skills, technical talent only goes so far, and you can’t measure these effectively with experience checks alone.

Employers can , however, measure proofreading skills reliably with talent assessments .

Below, we explore nine proofreader skills all applicants should develop and that recruiters should prioritize when building a proofreader test.

9 fundamental proofreader skills employers look for, how to assess editing and proofreading skills, the 9 key skills for proofreading and how to test for them, proofreading skills: more than just an eye for detail, skills of a proofreader: faqs.

We recommend the following skills for proofreading success:

Linguistic knowledge

Attention to detail

Critical thinking

Motivation and self-discipline

Communication

Time management

Technical knowledge and adaptability

Sticking to a style guide

If you’re hiring for these skills, skip ahead to the next section and find out what to include in your proofreader test.

In the meantime, let’s break down these skills and why they’re so valuable.

1. Linguistic knowledge

Since proofreaders work intensively with words and punctuation, they need strong reading and writing skills that go beyond finding simple common mistakes. They must be able to quickly recognize misspellings and grammatical errors in written content and then fix and explain those mistakes.

In an age where some companies use artificial intelligence (AI) for revising written work, studies show that skilled human proofreaders are still much more effective at grammatical accuracy and content planning.

Strong language and content skills help successful proofreaders improve copy so it’s easy to read, adheres to brand style guides, and presents a professional face.

These are important for businesses because customers see bad grammar and spelling as unprofessional and untrustworthy. Studies show that online advertisements with mistakes and typos lose up to 70% of their potential customers.

2. Attention to detail

To keep the text error-free, proofreaders must read each line of copy slowly and carefully.

Industry experts claim proofreaders likely need to process around 3,000 words per hour , although this can vary depending on the project.

However, it’s not work you should rush. As Rosemary Shipton writes in her essay “The Mysterious Relationship: Authors and Their Editors,” editing professionals are expected to account for around 95% of all errors in the text.

A proofreader with a strong eye for detail might notice a document uses Oxford commas when a style guide advises against them, has hyphens in place of em dashes, or interchangeably switches between first-person to second-person narrative.

Attention to detail is a skill that proofreaders improve through efficiently organizing their schedules, minimizing distractions, and creating technical checklists.

3. Critical thinking

Critical thinking in proofreading is all about making unbiased decisions that obey style guides.

For example, sometimes, more than one way of phrasing an idea is technically correct, though very few of them fit the writing brief.

Therefore, proofreaders with strong critical thinking skills decide which sentences and phrases make the most sense in any given context.

Thinking critically when proofreading also means being decisive with the words used. If there's a more concise way to get a message across, the best proofreaders know what to remove.

Proofreaders develop this skill by asking insightful questions of their clients and reflecting on their thought processes.

4. Motivation and self-discipline

Becoming a proofreader means being a self-starter and often working independently when reviewing text. A proofreader needs to be motivated to stay on task and complete projects.

Since they’re often the last line of defense against mistakes , proofreaders might not always have someone else to turn to for answers. Therefore, they have to be independent thinkers.

Freelance proofreaders have even more independence. They don't have supervisors present and often work on several projects through their proofreading services simultaneously.

Self-disciplined proofreaders give each piece of work the same attention and effort, meaning its quality is consistently high.

5. Communication

Whether proofreaders work alone or within a team, they need to communicate effectively with writers, clients, and colleagues.

Communication skills keep documents moving efficiently through the editorial process. Proofreaders often work on various teams or multiple projects, too, so they have to be able to communicate in ways best suited for the person they’re talking to.

Proofreaders can develop communication skills by listening actively to requests and even applying their proofreading logic to their own communication channels.

6. Time management

Written material usually reaches proofreaders just before it’s published online or goes into design. That means there’s usually pressure on them to turn around text quickly, and some professionals juggle multiple projects.

Proofreaders have to prioritize their work to meet deadlines. They usually manage their time themselves, especially if they work remotely, and must find ways to stay focused.

Healthy time management skills ensure proofreaders are more productive and precise because they're well-rested and motivated to do their best .

7. Technical knowledge and adaptability

The best proofreaders are highly flexible and confident when using various tools to check text and make comments. Much like how accountants use calculators, proofreaders must use tools like spell-checkers wisely and to their maximum potential.

Mainly, good proofreaders need word processor skills that can carry over across different programs such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs.

They also work with PDF files and markup software to make comments and changes to text already in the design process.

It’s also useful if proofreaders are familiar with collaboration and meeting tools, such as Zoom and Slack, so they can connect with the editorial team.

8. Sticking to a style guide

Every proofreading project should have a style guide that covers elements such as international vocabulary, tone of voice, branding elements, and formatting.

Proofreaders must be flexible and work within the guidelines set for each project . That means being willing to adapt their knowledge and skills to fit a brand's needs.

In marketing and journalism, for example, many projects require writers and proofreaders to use the concise and direct Associated Press stylebook, but other projects may require following the Chicago Manual of Style.

Attitude is just as important as skill here, meaning proofreaders must willingly respect the guidelines set for them.

9. Research

Although much of the work proofreaders do takes place on-page, they need to be ready to find different resources beyond the writing process.

For instance, a proofreader editing social media marketing for the first time could benefit from researching the etiquette required for this type of writing. There’s always room to develop.

Proofreaders must be ready to balance physical editing with research and referencing. It's an ideal role for people who are highly skilled with words but who are always willing to learn.

There are plenty of people out there looking for proofreading jobs. It’s one of the six most-searched-for marketing roles online:

However, you need to cut through the pack to find talented individuals with proven proofreading and editing skills.

When recruiting for a proofreader, let applicants show you what they can do rather than tell you through resumes .

Take the example of Contentoo, a content marketing firm that regularly hires online proofreaders. Since moving to TestGorilla, the company has confirmed that its hiring process is more motivational for candidates. Now, applicants feel more pushed to "achieve something" and move ahead.

Skills-based hiring is objective, reliable, and efficient. By testing proofreader candidates with specialized assessments, you learn more about how they attack problems.

Let's look at how you can assess proofreading and editing skills during recruitment and how TestGorilla's assessment library can help.

It's wise to test candidates' mastery of the specific languages you need them to work with. You could use our English (proficient/C1) test for proofreading in English, for instance.

This proofreading assessment tests applicants’ grammar knowledge, writing competence, and vocabulary scope:

An example question from TestGorilla's English (proficient/C1) test

If you work in more languages, feel free to book a 30-minute demo with TestGorilla and explore our library further.

Attention to detail is reasonably easy to measure by asking applicants to complete trial exercises.

Beyond this, we recommend running the Attention to Detail test . You can use this proofreading assessment test to measure an applicant’s ability to double-check for the consistency of information, compare two versions of a text, and filter information:

An example question from TestGorilla's Attention to Detail test

Again, you could test a candidate’s ability to think and proofread objectively with a trial article or run proofreading tests.

The Critical Thinking test accurately measures how well proofreaders can resolve problems they encounter.

This test evaluates how well a candidate can analyze data, make decisions independently, and think critically when expected to make arguments:

An example question from TestGorilla's Critical Thinking test

It’s a generic talent assessment that helps you find candidates with the ability to complete tasks independently and resolve job challenges effectively.

TestGorilla’s Motivation test is another generic assessment that grades people on their ability to self-start and manage their own workloads. It also measures how well a candidate aligns with your job profile.

This test is highly customizable, meaning you can adjust it to fit the profile of a proofreader and find talented people who are enthusiastic to work with you. You can learn more about this in our product tour .

Ready to hire the best proofreaders with TestGorilla’s talent assessments? Sign up for your free forever plan today!

The Communication skills test evaluates how well applicants interpret written communication and how effectively they can summarize their ideas and recommend the next steps.

This test also evaluates professional etiquette, so you can be sure your proofreader communicates requests for edits kindly:

An example question from TestGorilla's Communication test

In addition, the test measures a candidate’s ability to understand non-verbal cues and listen actively. These are important traits for any proofreader attending online meetings.

Testing proofreaders on time management is important because you can’t afford to wait forever for clean copy.

We recommend offering a trial project, setting a clear deadline, and checking to see which candidates are the most punctual.

Then, ask your candidates insightful questions regarding how they approach projects and tasks. The easiest way to get started is with our Time Management test .

This test measures how well applicants can plan, prioritize, and finish tasks on time. This test also measures communication, reflection, and execution.

An example question from TestGorilla's Time Management test

Proofreaders need to use advanced features on current versions of the tech you use to create and distribute content. That means testing their knowledge of word processors, content management systems, and editing tools.

When hiring remote proofreaders, consider prioritizing applicants skilled in Microsoft Word and Google Docs, two of the most commonly used word-processing tools to create and collaborate on content.

Our Microsoft Word test measures whether proofreaders can make comments, track changes, fix formatting issues, add page numbers, and create headers and titles.

To explore a sample test, click here and get a preview of the type of Word-related questions you’d be asking candidates to answer.

Style guides and research

You can use several TestGorilla assessments to measure how skilled proofreaders are at understanding and following detailed style guides or instructions and how they read and use the information they find during research.

For instance, the Reading Comprehension test measures how effectively a candidate understands written instructions and content.

An example question from TestGorilla's Reading Comprehension test

This is important if you have a highly specific style guide and want to determine whether an applicant follows instructions by directing them to only proofread a portion of text, for example.

Meanwhile, our Verbal Reasoning test helps to measure how well candidates draw conclusions from written material, find analogies, and understand written information in-depth.

Let’s quickly summarize the skills required for proofreading and how recruiters can measure them .

As you can see, hiring a proofreader isn't just a case of choosing someone good with words. You also need someone with excellent time management, critical thinking, communication, and attention to detail.

Like Contentoo, you can use TestGorilla skill assessments to make better-informed and more incisive proofreader hiring decisions . Take a product tour and see our testing platform and proofreading tests in action.

Want a bit more detail? Be sure to sign up for a free demo for the complete lowdown.

And now you know how to assess proofreading skills, we suggest you register for a free forever plan and start grading applicants – with no strings attached.

Let’s close with some common questions about skills for proofreading and why they’re important.

What skills do you need to proofread?

We recommend the following skills required for proofreading:

Expert knowledge of linguistics

Self-motivation and discipline

Strong interpersonal communication

Technical adaptability

Knowledge of different editing styles and guidelines, such as AP and MLA

Scroll up to the "9 fundamental proofreader skills" heading to learn more about these skills and why they’re important.

What is a proofreading assessment test?

A proofreading assessment test evaluates job applicants' ability to follow style guides and identify and fix grammatical mistakes. It can also determine if an applicant knows proofreading conventions and common software programs used on the job. An editing and proofreading skills assessment should also evaluate your ability to communicate effectively, collaborate with others, and take direction.

What makes a great proofreader?

A great proofreader has solid grammar, formatting, spelling, and punctuation knowledge in their chosen language. They're also reliable self-starters who manage their own projects and deadlines and make critical, unbiased decisions in accordance with style guides. A great proofreader is confident working independently and with others, and is an open communicator with people at all levels of their team.

What are the three main focuses of proofreading?

The three main focuses of proofreading are to address and remove grammar and punctuation errors, improve word choice, and ensure writing is correctly formatted to a brief or style guide. However, this is a job with a lot of nuances that vary from project to project, meaning that what’s a priority for one client’s style guide might not be for another’s.

What is the difference between proofreading and editing skills?

Proofreading focuses on fixing technical errors in writing, such as spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes. Editing, meanwhile, focuses on how readable a piece of writing is and if it flows well. Proofreading is usually the last stage of writing checks, taking place after copyediting and before you submit a draft.

We have more information on how to hire an editor in our guide.

What are examples of proofreader skills?

Software management

Critical decision making

Self-organization

Project management

Other responsibilities, such as fact-checking and narrative flow, typically fall to copy editors, who read and check copy before proofreading skills come into play.

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Proofreading Quizzes & Tests With Answers

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Caitlin Pyle, the founder of Proofread Anywhere , went from broke to a $3000 income daily so quickly after she quit her 9-5 sucking job to build a 9-figure online business.

And she is sharing her secrets on how she was able to attain her success in a FREE 76-minute workshop to show others how they can do the same by following her formula.

This formula is not some complicated thing that will take a lot of brainwork. It just works straight up for people who haven’t even heard of it before.

The formula works for anyone-beginners or experts of all genders-male or females and people of all ages-young or old.

It works in all electronic devices that have access to the internet, including iPhone, Android devices, desktop PCs, or laptops.

The demand for proofreaders is always high because;

Most employers are beginning to embrace a virtual workplace, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, where people were forced to work from home . As a result, freelancing careers like proofreading, which can be done from anywhere, have become popular.

Some companies cannot afford to pay in-house copyeditors, proofreaders, graphic designers, and other similar employees. When such jobs are available, employers will always outsource such experts’ services on a contract or freelance basis .

Proofreading is a task needed in almost every field. A publisher, songwriter, court reporter, blogger, copywriter, news anchor are all people who will need the services of a proofreader often. Therefore, as a proofreader, you cannot lack work at any given time. Moreover, there are too many no experience proofreading jobs online hiring now .

The number of professional and highly experienced proofreaders is very low. If you believe you are a highly skilled proofreader with exceptional expertise, then your services will always be in demand.

Proofreading is one of the best lucrative work from home careers where you can make a full-time income and even become a six-figure online millionaire. Check out the story and case study of a six-figure proofreader here . If this is a job that can make you a millionaire, why would it not be in high demand?

Proofreading apps and machines will never replace humans. Yes, people always use proofreading software like Grammarly . However, when it comes to serious content like search engine optimization content or ebooks, a human proofreader will always do a better job because they can make the piece match searcher intent more.

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WHY TAKE LEGAL PROOFREADING QUIZ?

Some employers will require you to take a proofreading quiz to test your expertise before offering you a job. For instance, before you get a proofreading job at Cambridge, you must pass their Cambridge Proofreading Quiz .

Some employers will even require that you take an approved online course. They will demand that you submit a certificate of completion before review your application. For example, Transcript Proofreading: Theory and Practice e-course offered at Proofread Anywhere by Caitlin Pyle is one such recommended course you can take.

The advantage of taking Caitlin Pyle’s e-course is that she will first give you a FREE 76-minute Webinar , which will help you determine if you should pay for the course’s paid version.

PROOFREADING QUIZ WITH ANSWERS

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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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

Copy Editing Tests || Copy Editor Testing || Editor Testing || Tests For Editors || Proofreader Testing || Proofreading Tests Tests For Writers || Writer Testing

PROOFREADING TESTS

Over 48,000 proofreading tests served, over 48,000 potential proofreaders have challenged our proofreading tests for employee assessment purposes. for ten years, companies and individuals around the world have successfully used our proofreading tests for assessments of employee proofreading skills., contact form.

Your opinion matters. We want to know what's wrong . . . or right.

TESTING FEATURES

Testing benefits.

Test your potential employees/proofreaders on their proofreading skills and abilities before you hire them and before they are in a position where professional writing and editing skills are required. Your search will be rewarded with …

Are You Ready To Test Your Proofreading Skills?

Even the most grammar-savvy amongst us benefit from a thorough proofreading of our work.

You may rely on an editor to check your work, or like many writers, it might be tempting to do a quick scan of your writing without thoroughly proofreading it.

But proofreading is as essential to your writing as writing is. It allows you to fix any errors that may obscure your intended meaning or distract your reader. It also helps you catch grammar and spelling mistakes , misused words, and punctuation errors.

If you have an editor, he or she can polish your work much more easily (and less expensively) if you’ve given it the careful once-over before the editing process.

If you don’t have an editor, proofreading can save you from embarrassing and critical comments from your readers.

Proofreading makes you a better, more mindful writer and, over time, it will cement the skills you need to be an accomplished writer.

Proofreading Test

Review this letter for mistakes:, corrected letter.

Here’s a checklist of actions you should take to properly proofread your writing:

Remove any distractions so you can concentrate on proofing your work.
Look for one type of writing problem at a time (first spelling errors, then word usage, etc.).
Read your writing out loud and silently.
Print a copy of your work to proofread it on paper.
Read it backward to spot any spelling mistakes .
Look out for homonyms (words that share the same spelling and pronunciation).
Double check contractions and apostrophes for common mistakes (like it’s and its or there and their).
Review carefully for punctuation mistakes. Look up anything you aren’t sure about.
Ask a friend to read your writing after you proofread it to check behind you.

So, why not spend a few minutes assessing your own proofreading skills with an easy and entertaining test?

woman on Mac computer at desk Proofreading test

To make this proofreading test more challenging, I’ve thrown in a variety of hurdles for you to spot and clear as you make your way to the finish line.

May you find the following proofreader and copy editor test as helpful and enjoyable as it was excruciating to write. Don’t let my agony be in vain.

Dear Ms. Adams;

We’ve recieved your manuscript and have read enough of it to offer this constructive critique, which we hope you’ll take unto consideration before sending us another sample of your work, we do value you’re time.

1. The beginning of your story is week. Try to evoke an emotional response within the first few paragraphs.

2. You use to many semicolons. Its distracting.

3. You use third person omiscient POV, which in our humble opinion, weakens the impact of your main characters painful situation.

4. You tell more then show what your characters are feeling. As Anton Checkov wrote: “Dont tell me the moon is shining, show me hte glint of light on broken glass.”

5. You switch points of view, jumping from one persons head to another without warning, it’s confusing and you risk loosing your reader’s trust end attention

6. The dialogue feels forced and unathentic: the southern accent is overdone and painful too read.

7. Your use of ellipsis is… awkward. And you use them quite alot. Consider removing most of them. Noone pauses that much..

8. You’re love of dashes is evident. Please eliminate most of them, and and make your sentences shorter clearer, and less wordy.

9. Please please please stop using dialog tags like “he grinned” or “she sighed”. You can’t sigh or grin words. It can’t be done. Stick with “said” but try to make it more obvious who is saying whom without using dialog tags for every quote. If you must indicate sighs, grins, and other nonverbal gestures set them apart from teh quotes with periods rather than commas .

10. Your main character launches into a stream of conscience monologue and his dialoge partner somehow doesn’t lapse into a coma before he finishes this is wishful thinking and makes it hard to sympathize with the mane character who’s soliloquy is way too long to keep you’re readers attention. We tired but had to skip to the end wear he finally sums it up nicely.

11. We dont really get to now your secondary character well enough to care about what happens to her. She listens to the main character and throws in a few responses hear and their but is otherwise bland and two dimensional. Her boyfriend the main character, does most of the talking, and she stairs out the window a lot and I mean a LOT. Yet we never find out weather she’s waiting for someone or something or if shes just really board. She’s certainly stiff as a board (see what i did they’re?).

12. My fellow editers here at Proper Publishing House agree with all the statements in this letter which I spent ours perfecting ought of sincere gratitude for your efforts and true dat concern for yore development as a writer.

13. We recommend you contact the services of a inexperienced proofreader or copyediter before submitting to us any future writing samples. Good proofreading makes such a deference!

In short let us offer you hour best hopes for the improvement of your writing don’t be discouraged keep at it and remember Proper Publishing House will always bee honest with you because

Sincerely and optimystically

Sarah jane Smythe

Cheif Editer

Now, it’s time to compare your corrections with the letter below. Keep in mind that not all your copyediting corrections have to look exactly like mine. There’s room for some creative improvisation. I’ve highlighted the errors and everything added or crossed out.

Dear Ms. Adams :

We’ve received your manuscript and have read enough of it to offer this constructive critique, which we hope you’ll take into consideration before sending us another sample of your work . We do value your time.

1. The beginning of your story is weak . Try to evoke an emotional response within the first few paragraphs.

2. You use too many semicolons. It’s distracting.

3. You use third person omniscient POV, which , in our humble opinion, weakens the impact of your main character’s painful situation.

4. You tell more than show what your characters are feeling. As Anton Chekhov wrote , “ Don’t tell me the moon is shining ; show me the glint of light on broken glass.”

5. You switch points of view, jumping from one person’s head to another without warning. It’s confusing, and you risk losing your reader’s trust and attention.

6. The dialogue feels forced and inauthentic ; the Southern accent is overdone and painful to read.

7. Your use of ellipses is… awkward. And you use them quite a lot . Consider removing most of them. No one pauses that much.

8. Your love of dashes is evident. Please eliminate most of them, and and make your sentences shorter, clearer, and less wordy.

9. Please , please , please stop using dialogue tags like “he grinned” or “she sighed .” You can’t sigh or grin words. It can’t be done. Stick with “said , “ but try to make it more obvious who is saying what without using dialogue tags for every quote. If you must indicate sighs, grins, and other nonverbal gestures, set them apart from the quotes with periods rather than commas.

10. Your main character launches into a stream of consciousness monologue, and his dialogue partner somehow doesn’t lapse into a coma before he finishes . This is wishful thinking and makes it hard to sympathize with the main character , whose soliloquy is way too long to keep your reader’s attention. We tried but had to skip to the end where he finally sums it up nicely.

11. We don’t really get to know your secondary character well enough to care about what happens to her. She listens to the main character and throws in a few responses here and there but is otherwise bland and two-dimensional . Her boyfriend , the main character, does most of the talking, and she stares out the window a lot — and I mean a LOT. Yet we never find out whether she’s waiting for someone or something or if she’s just really bored. She’s certainly stiff as a board (see what i did they’re?).

12. My fellow editors here at Proper Publishing House agree with all the statements in this letter , which I spent hours perfecting out of sincere gratitude for your efforts and true dat concern for your development as a writer.

13. We recommend you contract the services of an experienced proofreader or copyeditor before submitting to us any future writing samples. Good proofreading makes such a difference !

In conclusion , let us offer you our best hopes for the improvement of your writing . Don’t be discouraged , keep at it , and remember Proper Publishing House will always be honest with you . because

Sincerely and optimistically ,

Sarah Jane Smythe

Chief Editor

Writing Samples to Help You Practice Proofreading

Jul 27, 2022
Proofreading Tips

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At Knowadays , we love to help you improve your proofreading skills. So today, we’re giving you three short passages of text to practice on. They are written in American English.

Just copy and paste each passage into a Microsoft Word document and make any changes you feel are necessary (focusing on clear errors rather than style, phrasing, etc., for this exercise). After that, you can compare the changes you made to our suggestions further down the page.

Sample 1: Excerpt from a Blog Post

Dream interpretation is a skill that any one can acquire. It is the art of divining knowledge that is buried in our sub-conscious. It can help us know our selves and solves problems. What more could you ask in a facility that’s freely to your disposal whenever you fell asleep. All you really need is a pen and a paper. Get as relaxed as you can before bed (some book recommend meditation, breathing exercises, or yoga), and then repeat to your self, “I will remember my dreams, and after each dream I will wake up and write them down.” Then, when you wake up, immediately write down your dream. When you come to interpret the dream, look at the events, objects, peoples, colors, and etc., and ask yourself what they do mean to you. This is your own sub-conscious, so your personal interpretation is vial. Once you have done this, you can consult a book or online database of dreams symbols.

Sample 2: Personal Statement

I am a highly driven Manager with over ten years experience. My hands-on approach has led to many significant contract wins. My out standing networking skills have secured several important clients, and my ability to develop professional relationships has resulted in a 22% percent increase in sales for my organization. I employed modernist management methods, tailored to insure maximum productivity. I was also directly involved in the development of strategies that enhanced work flows and reduced redundancy through the organization. I am currently seeking a new challenge that will benefit from my meticulous attention to detail, and and friendly professional manor.

Sample 3: Paragraph from an Essay

In the minds of many scholars and parents, the picture-book has long been soley for children It is well-known that children find images more immediately and naturally accessible than text. As is so often the case, though, it benefits the scholar (and, indeed, the parent) to have a healthy suspicion of so-called “well-known” facts. The statement has an element of truth inasmuch as picture of a tree should in some respects resemble a tree, where as the word “tree” is a purely arbitrary symbol; however, this should not lead us to assume a natural association between the iconic representation and the tree it self. The addressee – the child – must have some concept of the appearance of a tree. He must also understand, to some degree, how pictures work: that he is looking, not at lines and blocks of color, nor at a piece of paper, but at image intended to represent something seperate from the page. There are, therefore, less differences between words and images than one might except.

Dream interpretation is a skill that any one anyone can acquire. It is the art of divining knowledge that is buried in our sub-conscious. subconscious . It can help us know our selves, ourselves and solves solve problems. What more could you ask in from a facility that’s freely to at your disposal whenever you fell fall asleep . ? All you really need is a pen and a paper. Get as relaxed as you can before bed (some book books recommend meditation, breathing exercises, or yoga), and then repeat to your self yourself , “I will remember my dreams, and after each dream, I will wake up and write them down.” Then, when you wake up, immediately write down your dream. When you come to interpret the dream, look at the events, objects, peoples people , colors, and etc., and ask yourself what they do mean to you. This is your own sub-conscious subconscious , so your personal interpretation is vial vital . Once you have done this, you can consult a book or an online database of dream symbols.

Some of the errors in this passage suggest that the author’s first language may not be English. In some places, for example, the author has separated single words into two parts (e.g., any one ). There are also places where the noun and verb disagree (e.g., some book recommend ) and some misused prepositions (e.g., to your disposal ). These are common errors among writers who speak English as an additional language.

I am a highly driven Manager manager with over ten years years’ experience. My hands-on approach has led to many significant contract wins. My out standing outstanding networking skills have secured several important clients, and my ability to develop professional relationships has resulted in a 22% percent increase in sales for my organization. I employed modernist modern management methods, tailored to insure ensure maximum productivity. I was also directly involved in the development of strategies that enhanced work flows workflows and reduced redundancy through throughout the organization. I am currently seeking a new challenge that will benefit from my meticulous attention to detail , and and friendly professional manor manner .

Here, the author has cited their meticulous attention to detail, but they have also made some noticeable mistakes. These include using insure to mean ensure , redundancy (i.e., using the percent symbol and the word percent together), confusing the words modern (i.e., up to date) and modernist (i.e., related to modernism), a homophone-based error where manor and manner were mixed up, and an unnecessary comma plus repetition of and in the final sentence. Such errors would undermine the author’s message, so they will need to be corrected!

In the minds of many scholars and parents, the picture-book picture book has long been soley solely for children . It is well-known well known that children find images more immediately and naturally accessible than text. As is often the case, though, it benefits the scholar (and, indeed, the parent) to have a healthy suspicion of so-called “well-known” facts. The statement has an element of truth inasmuch as the picture of a tree should in some respects resemble a tree, where as whereas the word “tree” is a purely arbitrary symbol; however, this should not lead us to assume a natural association between the iconic representation and the tree it self itself . The addressee – – – the child – must have some concept of the appearance of a tree. They must also understand, to some degree, how pictures work: that they are looking not at lines and blocks of color, nor at a piece of paper, but at an image intended to represent something seperate separate from the page. There are, therefore, less fewer differences between words and images than one might except expect .

This passage misused hyphens in various places. One key issue is the hyphenation of well-known : this is fine when the word precedes the term it is modifying (i.e., “well-known” facts ). But this term is not hyphenated otherwise, so we have removed the hyphen when it is used in the sentence starting It is well known that children… in this passage.

Another interesting case is the use of less in place of fewer . This traditional “error” is now so widespread that it is considered acceptable in some situations (e.g., on signs for checkout lines saying 10 items or less ). But in formal writing, such as an essay, it would need correcting.

There were also some typos (e.g., misspelling solely as soley ; use of a hyphen in place of a parenthetical en dash; the misspelling of separate ; the confusion of except and expect ). And there were two sentences where articles were missing (e.g., inasmuch as picture and but at image ).

Becoming a Proofreader

How did you do? Did your edits match the ones we’ve provided above? Of course, in some cases, there are other changes that could have been made to address the issues in the text: e.g., rather than adding an apostrophe after years in ten years experience , we could have rephrased to say ten years of experienc e. But as long as you identified the problems and made relevant changes, you’ll have done the job required!

For more practice passages and a wealth of information about proofreading, try our Becoming A Proofreader course. With a free trial available, you can start learning today. See how Becoming A Proofreader could help you develop a rewarding career in proofreading!

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Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading

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Page owner: Professional standards director

Anyone can be a proofreader, can't they? How hard can it be? All they do is find typos, don't they?

See for yourself!

If you're thinking of training to become a proofreader, or if you're just curious, here's a chance to see whether you would enjoy some of the things that editors and proofreaders do.

It's based on straightforward text that contains a number of very common errors. See if you can spot all twenty errors, then check the answer sheet. If you haven't found everything, that doesn't mean that you won't be a good proofreader: it takes training and experience to do it well, and the CIEP can help.

Take the test (118KB PDF) See the answers (130KB PDF)

Take our quizzes just for fun!

Challenge yourself to take our language quizzes. They're just for fun but you'll test your knowledge of grammar and current usage, and we'll explain what we think are the right answers. There's a new one every two months, so check back here when you want to tackle the next one.

Quiz 1 : Punctuation
Quiz 2 : Language use
Quiz 3 : Spellings, phrases and punctuation
Quiz 4 : More punctuation, dashes and hyphens
Quiz 5 : Spooky Halloween-themed language dilemmas
Quiz 6 : Fa-la-la-la, it's a festive one
Quiz 7 : Pluralisation, superfluities and easily confused words
Quiz 8 : Numbers, names, italics and accents
Quiz 9 : Getting into summer with subjunctives, pronouns and more
Quiz 10 : All about publishing terminology
Quiz 11 : Parenthesis, capitalisation and ampersands, with a sprinkling of dogs, bats and stars
Quiz 12 : Santa, Charles Dickens and cheese. It must be another festive edition!
Quiz 13 : To-ing and fro-ing with titles, numbers and italics
Quiz 14 : Verbs, references, Star Wars and Pringles
Quiz 15 : Adverbs, possessives and word definitions, with crisps and cosy crime
Quiz 16 : Internal dialogue, interjections, and interruptions by leopards in this fiction-themed edition
Quiz 17 : Another quiz for Halloween (or should that be Hallowe'en?)
Quiz 18 : From reindeer to superheroes, apostrophes to false ranges
Quiz 19 : Slashes, flares and portmanteaus
Quiz 20 : Aluminium, cheese footballs and a not-so-silent ‘h’
Quiz 21 : Are things going downhill or uphill? Plus school holidays, Pulitzer Prizes and the complicated letter C
Quiz 22 : Sleepy cats and suncream, word endings and Westward Ho!
Quiz 23 : From football excitement to citing right

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Practice Skills Tests for Job Applicants

April 24, 2020 by Lori Lee

Do you have an upcoming test session with a prospective employer? Wondering how your skills measure up? Or just want to keep your skills fresh and ready for the perfect job opportunity? Practice your typing speed and accuracy (a.k.a. keyboarding), proofreading, and/or spelling skills at home. Choose one test or all three. TestGenius provides Continue Reading...

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Proofreading Worksheets Editing Practice
Effective Proofreading Tests
Proofreading Worksheets PDF
Proofreading Marks and How to Use Them--Grammar Tutorial
Proofreading Practice
10 Best Proofreading Tests to Test Your Skills & Abilities

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IELTS READING TEST ✍️ ACADEMIC
Master Your Career: How to Write a Resume That Lands Interviews
From Test to Hired: A Comprehensive Guide for Aspiring Proofreaders
IELTS READING PRACTICE TEST 2023 WITH ANSWER
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IELTS READING PRACTICE TEST 2023 WITH ANSWER

COMMENTS

Free Proofreading Quiz
Freelance Writing. This multiple-choice examination on proofreading by Proofread Anywhere tests your American English skills. The company offers in-depth general proofreading and transcript proofreading courses which you can enroll in anytime. Caitlyn Pile is a proofreader-turned-blogger who developed the short test.
10 Best Proofreading Tests to Test Your Skills & Abilities
This is a great website to use if you want to challenge yourself and your proofreading skills. 4. Om Proofreading. The Om Proofreading test is a multiple-choice proofreading quiz that focuses on spelling mistakes. Most of the words are homophones, which are words that sound the same but are spelled differently.
12 Free Proofreading Tests to Check Your Skills
08. LoveToKnow. Who they are: LoveToKnow is an online media company that features news, content on parenting and family life, resources for pet owners, home and garden advice, and more. The test: The LoveToKnow site has a downloadable proofreading test, which features an email containing lots of errors.
Proofreading Tests
The actual proofreading tests, writing tests, and grammar tests available from ProofreadingTests.com follow a rigorous, five part process that tests all facets of the written English language. Become acquainted with Editingtests.com's proofreading tests free of charge. Select from our catalogue of free sample tests, and find out firsthand how ...
Top-Tier Proofreading Tests and Quizzes (over 450!)
I own and love this book! The site is a fantastic resource for proofreaders and copy editors as it teaches the rules for English grammar, punctuation, and usage. It includes 4 free tests and 52 free quizzes. Hundreds of additional quizzes are available with a paid subscription. Go to the Tests and Quizzes!
Can You Ace This Basic Proofreading Quiz?
If so, here's a fun proofreading quiz for you to take. Take our quiz to test your basic proofreading knowledge and see if you can catch every single typo. See if you can get every question right and ace the entire quiz. And don't look for any of the answers online, so you can really step up to the challenge!
10 Free Proofreading Tests (To Boost Your Editing Skills)
10. Sporcle. What draws my attention to Sporcle's proofreading test is that it has 25 questions and is much longer than standard proofreading tests. Also, unlike many other free proofreading tests, you only have a fixed time of 8 minutes to solve all 25 questions.
16 Online Proofreading Exercises To Test Your Editing Skills
In most cases, proofreading job opportunities have tests in their hiring process to test job applicants' skills. Proofreading exercises online can help build your confidence when applying for proofreading jobs. The more you practice, the more comfortable they become with the process and your ability to handle the job.
How to Prepare for a Proofreading Test (15 Practical Tips)
1) Know the details to prepare for a proofreading test. One of the best ways to get ready is to know the particulars beforehand. If you're unsure what the test entails and can ask someone questions, do it! 😊. When I was preparing for the final evaluation in the proofreading course I took, I asked a few general questions so that I was as ...
How to assess proofreading skills
A proofreading skills assessment evaluates how well job applicants can follow style guides and identify and fix grammatical mistakes. The assessment can also determine if an applicant knows proofreading conventions and common software programs used on the job. A proofreading skills assessment should also evaluate adjacent skills that may not ...
Proofreading Quizzes & Tests With Answers
Get the best proofreading quiz with answers to self test in proofreading skills. Proofreading marks quiz, proofreading quiz pdf and Cambridge proofreading quiz also included! ... before you get a proofreading job at Cambridge, ... For example, Transcript Proofreading: Theory and Practice e-course offered at Proofread Anywhere by Caitlin Pyle is ...
English Proofreading Skills Test For Hiring
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. Candidates have 15 minutes to answer 25 questions.
The Best Proofreading Quiz with Answers to Test Your Skills
This proofreading quiz is a valuable tool that can be used over and over again as you gradually increase your skills. Practice your proofreading exercises online, or download a blank copy of the proofreading quiz PDF and a copy of the answers to utilize in a classroom setting, for training purposes, or for your own personal use as you hone your ...
Proofreading Tests: Proofreading Tests for Employee Assessments and
EditingTests.com provides proofreading tests in conjunction with detailed, personalized reports on the proofreading skill levels of each proofreading test candidate. These proofreading skill level tests and corresponding reports can be used in pre-hire evaluations or in employee assessments and testing for proofreading skills — an essential tool for any business.
Take The Proofreading Test
Read your writing out loud and silently. Print a copy of your work to proofread it on paper. Read it backward to spot any spelling mistakes. Look out for homonyms (words that share the same spelling and pronunciation). Double check contractions and apostrophes for common mistakes (like it's and its or there and their).
Writing Samples to Help You Practice Proofreading
Sample 1: Excerpt from a Blog Post. Dream interpretation is a skill that any one can acquire. It is the art of divining knowledge that is buried in our sub-conscious. It can help us know our selves and solves problems. What more could you ask in a facility that's freely to your disposal whenever you fell asleep.
Practice Skills Tests for Job Applicants
Practice your typing speed and accuracy (a.k.a. keyboarding), proofreading, and/or spelling skills at home. Choose one test or all three. TestGenius provides practice tests for individual users to get a good idea of their marketable job skills. While you can't always know which skills testing software vendor an organization is going to use ...
Test yourself
Challenge yourself to take our language quizzes. They're just for fun but you'll test your knowledge of grammar and current usage, and we'll explain what we think are the right answers. There's a new one every two months, so check back here when you want to tackle the next one. Quiz 1: Punctuation. Quiz 2: Language use.
Online Practice Tests for Job Applicants
Online resources and practice tests for job applicants who want to be proactive about getting the job they want. (800)999-0438 (800)999-0438 Live Chat Offline. Contact ... Sample Test (Proofreading Only) Sample Test (Spelling Only) Resources. Blog; Articles & Links; HR Training; Job Applicants; Time to Employ a TestGenius®!
20 FREE Proofreading Exercises! Ready To Download Right Now!
Download File. These free proofreading practice exercises are suitable for adults and children, including key-stage 4 pupils, keystage 5 pupils, high-school students, middle-school students, college students, university students and ESL students. And if you don't find these exercises particularly challenging, it could be you're a proofreading ...
proofreading test
Do you have an upcoming test session with a prospective employer? Wondering how your skills measure up? Or just want to keep your skills fresh and ready for the perfect job opportunity? Practice your typing speed and accuracy (a.k.a. keyboarding), proofreading, and/or spelling skills at home. Choose one test or all three.
Proofreading Skills Test
Test Candidate's Proofreading Skills. Web-based test can be administered on-site or remotely. Testing website includes customizable email invitations and detailed reporting. No subscription or annual fee required - order only the tests you need (5 test minimum) Get Free Test Validation with your purchase (a value of $50 - $125) to support ...
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