Earning a Microsoft Office Specialist Certification can help differentiate you in today's competitive job market. All Albers undergraduate students are required to pass EXCEL Level I Certification (Microsoft Office Specialist exam 77-727) in order to progress in your BABA or BAE program.
As of Fall 2019 the Excel 2016 or 365/2019 exam is required for new exam candidates. Excel 2013 certification achieved prior to September 1, 2019 will be accepted, but Excel 2010 or earlier is no longer accepted.
For more information about the exam requirements and how to prepare for the certification exam, visit Microsoft's Exam Details page.
Most students will register for a pre-scheduled exam session for their IS 3150 class, or one of the open sessions listed on our Eventbrite pages. Students requiring ADA accommodations will need to apply to Certiport to receive an accommodation, and then contact the Excel Proctor to arrange for an exam session.
Students must also register with Certiport in order to take a Microsoft Certification Exam.
As we transition back to in-person instruction we are also resuming in-person Excel exams - these exams are administered in Pigott 328. The in-person exam experience is superior due to the larger screens and more direct control of the exam computers.
Register for an in-person exam
Due to the impact of COVID-19, Certiport developed a temporary method of exam delivery via a virtual machine within a browser. We are continuing to offer a limited number of remote exams as long as the "Exams From Home" option is available. After the Thanksgiving holiday when most classes will transition to virtual instruction, all exams for the remainder of fall quarter will be remote.
Remote exams are proctored via Zoom meeting. On the day before the exam the assigned proctor will invite you to their Zoom meeting and also send you the link for your exam session.
International students studying from outside the US can register for one of our virtual exams, however our testing center can only schedule exams starting between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Pacific time. If the time zone difference is problematic, international students can locate the exam service provider for their home country; however exam and proctor fees may vary and would be paid directly to the service provider and testing center in that country.
You must register with Certiport.com prior to your test date. It is essential that you input your Seattle U ID in the "Student/Employee ID" field during the Certiport registration process. Failure to input your Seattle U ID may delay the start of your exam session. Please also complete the Microsoft registration at the end of the Certiport registration process. We do not require vouchers at SU so you can disregard the notice about buying a voucher.
You should also login to Certiport.com to register the exam group ID for your class if you are taking the exam for credit in IS-3150.
If you have a disability that might affect your performance on this exam, you will need to apply for an accommodation with Certiport. As of March 2020 you may apply online, you must use the same username for both Certiport and the accommodations application. Approval will take at least two weeks (at least 10 business days) and possibly longer if additional documentation is requested. You may also need to contact ExcelTest@seattleu.edu to arrange an extended testing time.
You will need to register and pay for an exam session at Albers' Eventbrite page (for exams taken as part of an IS-3150 class, you will get a custom registration link from your instructor). There is a $35 charge to register for an exam session, which covers the exam fee charged by Certiport and Albers administrative costs. If you do not pass the exam you will be issued a retake promo code to register for one retake session for free. The exams are currently taken remotely via a browser, Chrome is preferred.
If you fail the exam on your first attempt the Excel Proctor will email you a promo code for a retake. The exam fee includes ONE retake, if you require another retake you will have to pay the additional fee.
After your first exam attempt you must wait 24 hours before taking the Excel exam again. After your second and any subsequent attempts, you must wait 48 hours before taking the same exam again.
GMetrix Skills Management System is an application simulates the exam environment, however it is not exactly the same the official exam. You must use the GMetrix SMS software to run Office practice exams, they cannot be run from the Gmetrix website. GMetrix version 7 is recommended for Office 2016 practice tests.
You will need to create your own account with GMetrix. You can create an account from within the software (using the "Sign up now" link in the lower right corner) or at www.gmetrix.net.
You will also need a GMetrix access code to take a full length practice test. Email ExcelTest@seattleu.edu from your SeattleU email account to get an access code, or you can visit the Albers Front Desk in person to request a code. The code is good for 100 practice test sessions per person.
GMetrix includes three distinct tests and each test is available in two modes, Testing or Training:
You may take any of the practice or training tests as many times as you want, it is recommended that students complete all three practice tests at least once. Students who complete all three practice tests are usually successful on their first attempt to pass the official exam.
GMetrix can be found on the virtual desktop, which is provided on all computers in the computer labs and Lemieux Library. Windows users with Office 2016 installed can also download the exam software to their own computers from GMetrix.net. If you use a Mac or do not have Office 2016 on your own computer, you can access GMetrix by visiting http://desktop.seattleu.edu, downloading the VMWare client if necessary, and connecting to the Seattle University Virtual Desktop. GMetrix is found under Albers Applications.
Lynda.com provides video-based tutorials with downloadable exercise files for you to follow along and perform the same tasks demonstrated in the videos. Seattle University students can use their Seattle Public Library card to access Lynda.com, if you do not have an SPL library card you can apply online. Then visit the SPL lynda.com login page to get access.
You can search for "Excel 2016" to see all available Excel 2016 courses, Excel 2013 Essential Training covers a wide variety of exam topics.
The SU Campus Store carries the Microsoft Office Excel 2016 Core Certification Guide from CCI Learning (ISBN: 978-1-55332-473-7)
For experienced Excel users Microsoft Press offers a more abbreviated study guide outlining the topics covered: MOS 2016 Study Guide for Microsoft Excel.
Microsoft offers an extensive library of training videos arranged by topic on the Office Support website. Links to specific videos and articles are also provided below in the list of Skills Measured.
A. You can take the exam as many times as necessary to pass, however you will only receive one free retake per paid exam session.
A. The exam fee is $35, this covers the cost of purchasing exam inventory from Certiport and related administrative costs incurred by Albers.
A. All business students entering SU summer 2012 or later are required to pass the EXCEL Level I Certification Exam as a requirement for graduation. You can take the exam at any time during your studies up until graduation; however it counts towards your final grade if you take IS 3150.
If you have any further questions, please email ExcelTest@seattleu.edu.
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