MOS Exam

Prepare for the Exam 

Certiport

To prepare for the MOS exam, you must first create a Certiport account with your Pride email if you have yet to do so. Certiport is a service partnered with the University that offers and facilitates industry-recognized certifications in areas such as Microsoft Office, Adobe, and IT. 

Typically, an account should be provisioned for you, so registration should be simple. If you are having issues creating the account, please reach out to your professor (if taking for a course), or email us at ZarbMOS@hofstra.edu.

Practice Test

The next step to prepare for the exam is to take a practice test. Practice tests provide insight into the structure and content of the real MOS exam. To take official practice tests, register an account via GMetrix. GMetrix is a software that provides access to high-quality practice tests to aid in studying for Microsoft Office Specializations. These tests are required prerequisites to be able to take the MOS exam. 

You may access the GMetrix application through the Pride Desktop or online at GMetrix.net. Students using macOS devices may have issues accessing the application. If this applies to you, please visit the Support section below.

GMetrix will likely ask you for an access code to take the practice tests. If you are taking this class for a course, your professor may provide the appropriate code. If not, please contact us at ZarbMOS@hofstra.edu, and we'll be happy to provide it for you.

Taking the Microsoft Excel exams requires students to take two practice exams (1 and 2) in Testing Mode. You must be awarded a score of 70% or higher on both practice tests, and each practice test must be taken within 6 months of the date you wish to schedule the test. If these requirements are not met, you may be denied the ability to take the exam. 

Scheduling the Exam

Once you have passed both practice tests, you are ready to schedule an appointment to take the official MOS exam. You may schedule an appointment through Calendly. A member from the Zarb MOS team will contact you shortly after with instructions regarding taking the exam.

When scheduling through Calendly, you may be asked whether you require testing accommodations. These accommodations are available to students who have demonstrated a documented need. 

Students approved for accommodations may receive additional time on exam day, but this must be arranged in advance. Please follow the instructions provided in the form (when booking via Calendly) to properly register for extended time. 

If you require additional accommodations beyond extra time, please contact Hofstra Student Access Services at SAS@hofstra.edu or call (516) 463-7075.