How to use email digital literacy test

The Using Email Digital Literacy test from Testlify checks whether candidates can use email clearly, safely and professionally at work. Email skills are the abilities people need to use email well at work: writing and replying clearly, choosing between reply, reply all, forward and bcc, handling attachments, spotting spam and phishing, and following basic etiquette. A simulation test checks them in about 30 minutes, so you know a new hire can handle the inbox from day one.

TL;DR

• They cover writing, replying, organizing, attachments, safety and etiquette.
• Most candidates use email daily, but many still misuse reply all, forget attachments or click risky links.
• A simulation-based email skills test shows what candidates do in a realistic inbox, not only what they know.
• Use it for customer service, admin, sales, marketing and any role where email is the main way to communicate.

What is the email digital literacy test?

In short, they’re the skills for using email as a work tool. They cover three areas:

1. Using the inbox: Setting up an account, writing, sending, replying, forwarding and organizing messages.
2. Communicating well: Writing clear subject lines and messages, choosing the right recipients and following etiquette.
3. Staying safe: Recognizing spam and phishing, and handling links and attachments with care.

The first area is about the tool. The second and third are where most workplace problems start.

Email skills list: 12 skills every new hire should have

Use this as a checklist when you write job requirements or review an email digital literacy test results:

1. Setting up and signing in: Creating an account and signing in securely.
2. Knowing an email address from a web address: It sounds simple, but mixing them up is a common beginner error.
3. Writing clear subject lines: So people know what the email is about before they open it.
4. Writing short, clear messages: One topic per email, with the action needed up front.
5. Choosing reply, reply all or forward: Using reply all only when everyone needs to see the answer.
6. Using cc and bcc correctly: Cc keeps people informed. Bcc hides addresses, for example when emailing a large external list.
7. Sending and opening attachments: Attaching the right file and checking size limits. Gmail’s guide to sending attachments covers the basics.
8. Organizing the inbox: Using folders or labels, search and archive to find messages fast.
9. Recognizing spam: Knowing what to delete, block or report.
10. Spotting phishing: Checking senders, links and requests before acting.
11. Handling unfamiliar emails safely: Not opening unexpected attachments or links from unknown senders.
12. Following email etiquette: A professional tone, a proper greeting and sign-off, and prompt replies.

For customer-facing and admin roles, all 12 are needed from day one.

Why email digital literacy test matters at work

Chat apps haven’t replaced email. It’s still where customers, suppliers and job seekers reach your team. It’s also where formal decisions get written down.

Weak habits cost time and trust. A new support agent hits reply all on a complaint thread and shares a customer’s details with 30 people. An admin assistant puts a whole client list in the “to” line instead of bcc. A sales rep forgets the attachment twice in one morning. A finance hire opens an “overdue invoice” from an unknown sender and lets malware in.

The last one matters most. Phishing is one of the most common ways attackers reach staff. CISA, the US cyber agency, explains how to recognize and report phishing. Gmail’s help page on avoiding phishing emails is a good refresher too.

How to show email skills on a resume

If you’re a candidate, skip “excellent communication skills”. Be specific: “Manage a shared support inbox, write clear customer emails, use labels and filters, and spot and report phishing.” A test result adds proof.

Why a simulation is the best way to run an email skills test

Ask “When would you use bcc?” and many candidates will give a fine answer. Watch them send an email to 20 external contacts, and the answer may change.

Here’s how common methods compare:

A simulation gives every candidate the same inbox tasks and scores them automatically. You see what they do with a risky email or a reply all choice. Our guide to hiring with job simulations explains why doing beats describing.

What’s on the Using Email Digital Literacy test?

The Using Email Digital Literacy test is an intermediate-level simulation with 33 tasks that takes 33 minutes. It checks five areas:

These are the kinds of tasks candidates do. There’s no answer key. Each task happens in a real-looking screen.

1. Email basics: registering for an email account, and the difference between an email address and a URL.
2. Writing and sending: composing, sending and replying to emails.
3. Choosing the right action: when to use reply all, forward and bcc.
4. Attachments and spam: managing attachments and recognizing spam.
5. Security, privacy and etiquette: handling attachments, links and unfamiliar emails safely, and following professional email etiquette.

What it doesn’t cover

It’s not a deep writing test, and it doesn’t test a specific email app. For Gmail or Outlook skills, add the Email Skills (Gmail) or Email Skills (Microsoft Outlook) test. For tone and professional writing, add the Email Etiquette test.

Where are email skills tests used?

Customer service and support

Support agents answer customers by email all day. Clear writing, the right recipients and safe handling of personal details are core skills.

Administrative roles

Admin assistants manage calendars, suppliers and leaders’ inboxes. Mistakes with cc, bcc or attachments are visible and costly.

Sales and account management

Sales teams send proposals, follow-ups and contracts. Missing attachments or sloppy replies lose deals.

Finance and HR

These teams send sensitive data and are frequent phishing targets. Safety skills matter as much as writing.

Workforce and training programs

Email is the gateway to job applications and online services. Job centers and adult education programs use the test to see where learners need help, and it pairs well with Career Search Skills.

How to read the results and set a pass mark

Don’t take a cutoff from a blog post, including this one. Have two or three people who already handle email well in the role take the test, and use their scores as your benchmark.

Then read section scores alongside the total. For customer-facing roles, the reply all, bcc and etiquette tasks matter most. For finance and HR roles, weight the security tasks. A candidate who missed the account setup question but handled every safety and reply task is probably ready.

How to set up the email digital literacy test in Testlify

1. Create an assessment and add the Using Email Digital Literacy test.
2. Add related tests. For candidates with mixed digital skills, add Internet Basics. For roles that handle sensitive data, add Cybersecurity Basics.
3. Invite candidates by email or from your ATS.
4. Compare section scores with your benchmark before you shortlist.

Common mistakes to avoid

Judging email skills from the cover letter

A polished cover letter may have had help. It shows nothing about reply all, attachments or phishing.

Testing only writing

Good writers still click bad links. Test safety and tool skills too.

Assuming younger candidates use email well

Many people under 25 use chat apps far more than email. Workplace email habits often need teaching.

Skipping it for “non-office” roles

Frontline staff still get schedules, payslips and HR notices by email, and they’re phishing targets too. For more on assessing communication, see our guide on how to evaluate communication skills.

Key takeaways

• The core skills are writing, replying, organizing, attachments, safety and etiquette.
• Common mistakes, like reply all or a missing bcc, can expose private data.
• Phishing makes email safety a must for every role, not only IT.
• A simulation shows what candidates do in a realistic inbox and scores everyone the same way.
• Weight sections by role: etiquette for customer-facing roles, security for finance and HR.

Ready to see how candidates handle an inbox?

Try the Using Email simulation for free and do the same tasks your candidates will, before your next support, admin or sales hire.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)