User:Vinitpatel87/Excel with Business

Excel with Business (EwB) is an online-only Microsoft Excel (spreadsheet) testing and training business.

Excel with Business was founded by former strategy consultants to teach those elements of Microsoft Excel fundamental to business. They have two core products: the EwB Test and the EwB Course.

What is the EwB Test?
The EwB Test measures Microsoft Excel proficiency. It is a 30-minute, 40-question, computer-adaptive, online test which assesses key areas of competency. Computer-adaptive tests (as used in the GMAT) become harder as you answer questions correctly, allowing for higher scores and a more precise Excel IQ result. The test is therefore able to more accurately measure a wide range of abilities. Individuals who complete the test receive a certificated Excel IQ score, a competency band and a breakdown in each of the five key competency areas: (i) spreadsheet administration, (ii) orientation and efficiency, (iii) data handling, (iv) data analysis and (v) presentation.

What is the Excel IQ™ score?
Excel IQ is a measure of Microsoft Excel ability relative to a wider universe of Excel users as pioneered by Excel with Business (EwB) for use in their EwB Tests.

The Excel IQ™ is modelled on traditional and well-established means of IQ scoring (e.g. a score of 100 is 'average') and is an accurate and efficient method of assessing a user's ability. It enables third parties (e.g. recruiters, managers, training teams) to objectively compare their staff or recruits, whilst giving Excel IQ-holders (e.g. students, employees) a meaningful, certified and recognised verification of their Excel skills. Furthermore, the Excel IQ™ aims to establish a set of consistent descriptors for different scores, as developed by H. Dreyfus and S. Dreyfus, these categories being: novice, beginner, competent, proficient and advanced.



How is it calculated?
The Excel IQ™ score is calculated in the same way as an Intelligence Quotient (IQ) score. The average score of test-takers is 100, and the spread of scores is adjusted so that 95% of candidates score between 70 and 130. The scores of people taking the test are approximately normally distributed and makes use of a T-score which allows for variations in the difficulty of the test whilst ensuring results are directly and objectively comparable. The Excel IQ takes a ‘raw score’ (the number of questions you answer correctly) and uses the equation to the right, where w is the weighted score, ŵ is the average weighted score of test-takers, and σ(w) is the standard deviation of weighted scores of test-takers. The equation is:

$$T-score=\frac{15\times(w-\bar w)}{\sigma(w)}+100$$