Business Communications

NO LONGER OFFERED – Oct 2025

Screen candidates for their ability to effectively communicate in writing, tone, grammar usage and more with the Business Communications test.

The Business Communications test assesses the ability to use basic grammar appropriately, use appropriate business tone, respond with complete and accurate information, and apologize when appropriate.  Measures the ability to effectively communicate in writing focusing on the following five areas of business writing:

• Basic Grammar
• Business Tone
• Responding with Incomplete Information
• Appropriate and Inappropriate Apologies
• Responding with Incorrect Information

What It’s Best Used For

When active, this clerical screening tool was best used during the initial pre-employment phase or internal talent audits to verify that prospective office staff could handle written client interactions professionally.

• Verifying Basic Grammar & Mechanics: The largest portion of the test (11 items) screens for foundational literacy elements like pronouns, run-on sentences, punctuation, parentheses, and dependent clauses.
• Evaluating Business Tone: It measures a candidate’s tact and maturity when drafted into high-friction corporate tasks, such as denying an insurance claim, notifying a customer of a late payment, or responding to a help desk complaint.
• Managing Customer Inquiries: The test evaluates how effectively an applicant requests details when dealing with incomplete information, or how accurately they course-correct when incorrect information is discovered.
• Assessing Conflict Apologies: It tracks whether an individual understands when and how to issue appropriate vs. inappropriate corporate apologies during billing and service errors.

The platform provided immediate online reports to streamline hiring workflows and was entirely legal for use in Canada.

Category: Clerical
# of Questions: 30
Max Time Allowed: 35 Minutes
Test Length: Approximate Completion Time: 35 Minutes

Test Topics – Questions Per Topic

Appropriate and Inappropriate Apologies – 1
Basic Grammar – 11
Business Tone – 7
Responding with Incomplete Information – 6
Responding with Incorrect Information – 4

Question Topic – Question Description – Skill Level

Basic Grammar – Pronouns – Basic
Basic Grammar – Run-On Sentences – Intermediate
Basic Grammar – Parentheses – Intermediate
Basic Grammar – Dependent Clauses – Basic
Basic Grammar – Misused Words – Intermediate
Basic Grammar – Appositives – Intermediate
Basic Grammar – Punctuation – Intermediate
Basic Grammar – Pronouns – Basic
Basic Grammar – Sentence Structure – Basic
Basic Grammar – Run-On Sentences – Basic
Basic Grammar – Run-On Sentences – Basic
Business Tone – Deny an insurance claim. – Intermediate
Business Tone – Acknowledge order not received. – Basic
Business Tone – Inform customer of change. – Advanced
Business Tone – Announce new office address. – Intermediate
Business Tone – Deny an insurance claim. – Advanced
Business Tone – Respond to help desk question. – Intermediate
Business Tone – Notify customer of late payment. – Intermediate
Appropriate and Inappropriate Apologies – Apologize when necessary for billing error. – Basic
Responding with Incomplete Information – Request information. – Basic
Responding with Incomplete Information – Respond to a customer inquiry. – Basic
Responding with Incomplete Information – Deny an insurance application. – Basic
Responding with Incomplete Information – Respond to customer inquiry. – Basic
Responding with Incomplete Information – Respond to customer inquiry. – Basic
Responding with Incomplete Information – Respond to customer inquiry. – Basic
Responding with Incorrect Information – Respond to insurance coverage question. – Basic
Responding with Incorrect Information – Respond to insurance denial complaint. – Basic
Responding with Incorrect Information – Respond to help desk question. – Basic
Responding with Incorrect Information – Respond to employee benefits question. – Basic