The Microsoft Exam 77-726: Word Expert (Office 2016) is designed for individuals who possess advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word 2016. This certification validates the ability to use Word’s complex features to manage documents, apply sophisticated formatting, and customize the user environment to enhance productivity. Candidates aiming for this certification should demonstrate expertise in the following areas:
- Document and Content Management
- Efficient handling of large, multi-page documents tailored to specific professional or academic contexts.
- Advanced Formatting Techniques
- Application of complex formatting options, styles, and layouts to produce polished, publication-ready documents.
- Customization of the Word Environment
- Tailoring Word settings and tools to meet unique project requirements and streamline workflows.
– Examples of Expert-Level Documents
Expert users of Word 2016 are expected to produce high-quality documents that may include:
- Business plans
- Academic research papers
- Books and manuscripts
- Specialized brochures
- Personalized mass mailings (e.g., mail merge documents)
– Target Audience
This exam is ideal for professionals such as:
- Editors
- Project Managers
- Business Information Specialists
- Educators
- Administrative Coordinators
These roles typically require creating and managing detailed documents that go beyond basic word processing tasks.
Exam Details
Exam 77-726: Microsoft Word Expert (Office 2016) is an advanced-level certification designed for business professionals who utilize Microsoft Word at an expert level. The assessment is timed, with a duration of 50 minutes, during which candidates are expected to demonstrate their ability to efficiently use Word’s advanced features in real-world scenarios. This is a proctored exam, meaning it will be supervised to ensure testing integrity. It is not an open-book test, and candidates may encounter interactive tasks that require direct engagement with Word 2016’s interface and tools. The exam is available in multiple languages, including English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Dutch to accommodate a global audience.
Frthermore, the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) 2016 certification exams feature a performance-based testing format that better reflects real-world use of Microsoft Office programs. Notable characteristics of the Word Expert exam include:
- Task Descriptions Without Command Names
- Unlike previous versions, the exam avoids naming specific functions or commands. Instead, it describes actions in a more conceptual way, requiring candidates to understand Word’s functionality thoroughly.
- Multiple Project-Based Assessments
- The exam includes a series of projects, each focusing on different tasks and skills, which test the candidate’s ability to apply knowledge in various scenarios.
Course Outline
The exam covers the following topics:
1. Understand about managing document options and settings (35-40%)
Manage documents and templates
- Modifying existing templates (Microsoft Documentation: Edit templates)
- Copying custom styles, macros, and building blocks to other documents or templates
- Managing document versions (Microsoft Documentation: View previous versions of Office files)
- Comparing and combining multiple documents (Microsoft Documentation: Combine document revisions)
- Linking to external document content (Microsoft Documentation: Embed or link to a file in Word)
- Enabling macros in a document (Microsoft Documentation: Enable or disable macros in Microsoft 365 files)
- Display hidden ribbon tabs (Microsoft Documentation: Show or hide the ribbon in Office)
- Changing the application default font (Microsoft Documentation: Change the default font in Word)
Prepare documents for review
- Restrict editing, mark a document as final, protect a document with a password (Microsoft Documentation: Restrict changes to files)
Manage document changes
- Track changes, manage tracked changes, lock or unlock tracking, add comments, manage comments (Microsoft Documentation: Track changes in Word)
2. Learn designing advanced documents (20-25%)
Perform advanced editing and formatting
- Find and replace text by using wildcards and special characters, find and replace formatting and styles, set advanced page setup layout options, link text boxes, set paragraph pagination options, resolve style conflicts by using Paste Options (Microsoft Documentation: Find and replace text)
Create styles
- Create paragraph and character styles, modify existing styles (Microsoft Documentation: Customize or create new styles)
3. Understand about creating advanced references (20-25%)
Create and manage indexes
- Mark index entries, create indexes, update indexes (Microsoft Documentation: Create and update an index)
Create and manage references
- Customize a table of contents, insert and modify captions, create and modify a table of figures (Microsoft Documentation: Create or change a table of figures)
Manage forms, fields, and Mail Merge operations
- Add custom fields, modify field properties, perform mail merges, manage recipient lists, insert merged fields, preview merge results (Microsoft Documentation: Insert mail merge fields)
4. Creating custom Word elements (15-20%)
Create and modify building blocks, macros, and controls
- Create Quick Parts, manage building blocks, create and modify simple macros, insert and configure content controls (Microsoft Documentation: Use Quick Parts and AutoText in Word and Outlook)
Create custom style sets and templates
- Create custom color sets, create custom font sets, create custom themes, create custom style sets (Microsoft Documentation: Create and save a custom color scheme)
Prepare a document for internationalization and accessibility
- Configure language options in documents, add alt text to document elements, manage multiple options for +Body and +Heading fonts, utilize global content standards (Microsoft Documentation: Make your Word documents accessible to people with disabilities, Add alternative text to a shape, picture, chart, SmartArt graphic, or other object)
Microsoft 77-726 Exam FAQs
Microsoft Certification Exam Policies
To ensure the integrity and global recognition of its certification program, Microsoft enforces a comprehensive set of exam policies. These policies are crafted to deliver a secure, fair, and standardized testing experience for all participants, regardless of whether they choose to take their exams remotely or at an authorized testing center. Compliance with these policies helps preserve the high professional standards and credibility that Microsoft certifications represent worldwide.
Exam Retake Guidelines
Candidates who do not succeed on their initial attempt must wait 24 hours before retaking the exam. If additional attempts are necessary (from the second to the fifth), a mandatory waiting period of 14 days applies between each attempt. Microsoft enforces a maximum of five exam attempts within a 12-month window, starting from the date of the first try. This policy is in place to maintain the integrity and fairness of the certification process.
Rescheduling and Cancellation Terms
Microsoft provides candidates with the flexibility to reschedule or cancel their exams when needed. Adjustments made at least six business days prior to the scheduled exam date incur no penalty. However, changes made within five business days may result in additional fees. Candidates who miss their exam appointment or cancel less than 24 hours before the scheduled time will forfeit their exam fee entirely. In cases of documented emergencies or accessibility-related needs, candidates may submit requests for exceptions, which Microsoft evaluates on a case-by-case basis with supporting documentation.
Microsoft 77-726 Exam Study Guide
Step 1: Understand the Exam Objectives
Begin your preparation by thoroughly reviewing the official exam objectives provided by Microsoft. These objectives outline the key skill areas covered in the exam, such as managing advanced document options, applying custom formatting, creating references, and managing macros. Familiarizing yourself with these core topics will help you understand what to expect and allow you to focus your study efforts on the areas with the highest weight. Make a checklist or a study plan based on these objectives to track your progress as you learn.
Step 2: Use Official Microsoft Training Resources
Leverage Microsoft’s official self-paced learning paths and instructor-led courses tailored for Word 2016 Expert-level users. The self-paced modules are ideal for individuals who prefer to learn at their own speed and include hands-on labs, video tutorials, and interactive content. For those who benefit from structured classroom instruction, instructor-led training offers guidance from certified professionals and allows real-time interaction, which can be particularly useful for clarifying complex concepts. Both formats are aligned with the exam structure and ensure you’re learning from verified and up-to-date materials.
Step 3: Join Study Groups and Online Communities
Engaging with study groups—either in-person or online—can enhance your understanding of difficult topics through discussion and collaboration. Platforms like Reddit, LinkedIn groups, Microsoft Learn Community, and tech-focused forums host active discussions where exam candidates share insights, study tips, and real-world use cases of Word features. Participating in these communities can expose you to different learning styles, help clarify challenging areas, and keep you motivated throughout your preparation journey.
Step 4: Take Practice Tests for Exam 77-726
Once you’ve gained a solid understanding of the material, begin testing your knowledge with practice exams specifically designed for Exam 77-726. These mock tests simulate the actual exam environment and are instrumental in assessing your readiness. They can highlight areas where you need further review, reinforce your time management skills, and reduce test-day anxiety. Many practice exams also provide detailed explanations for correct and incorrect answers, which can deepen your understanding of the subject matter.
