In Aug. 2006, Claims Magazine published the National Claims Writing Test, a series of 25 objective questions that aimed to give claim professionals a “snapshot” of a their writing skills when writing up reports. Part two of the test goes further, offering even more breadth and accuracy in helping to assess the talents of new hires, and showing which people should be on a fast track toward management. It also helps identify the specific needs of future writing training.

You are about to answer 25 questions about writing skills. These questions range across a number of writing topics that were either missing from the earlier test or were mentioned in passing, including the formatting of inside addresses of letters, capitalization, organization, breaking up lengthy sentences, misused words, jargon, tone, use of apostrophes, serial commas, slash constructions, visual appeal of letters, and correct spelling.

Please note that these questions are not aimed at measuring knowledge of the claim industry; they are meant to measure skills in and sensitivity to business writing, using common problems found in property/casualty claim correspondence as its milieu. Of course, writing is only one aspect of a claim professional's job. They must also be decisive, adaptable, and versatile problem solvers — coincidentally, a skill set shared by effective writers. Good luck!