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Assess your Affinity — Page layout (Layout) skills for free

Independent 45-question assessment drawn from 80 for Affinity — Page layout (Layout). Identifies skill gaps and recommends targeted training modules.

This assessment measures knowledge and produces a practical diagnostic. Modules are recommended after the test; they are not an offer of paid courses.

Start for free How does the test work?

What is assessed

Questions about practical workplace skills

The test covers different areas of the software, including beginner, intermediate and advanced questions. The score and skill-area breakdown help reveal strengths and topics to revisit.

This is not an official certification and should not be the sole factor in an employment decision.

Who can use it

layout designer

Employees and applicants.
HR professionals.
Employers, managers and team leads.

Assessment learning framework

Modules that may appear in your recommended plan

The topics below form the recommendation framework associated with this assessment. The system selects priorities using individual answers and proposes a plan to use independently with a provider of your choice. We do not deliver these courses through this website.

Topic M01

Creating publications

Choose page dimensions and orientation at document creation • Set margins and column guides • Enable facing pages

Choose page dimensions and orientation at document creation
Set margins and column guides
Enable facing pages
Set suitable bleed allowances
Complete a guided “Creating publications” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M02

Pages and navigation

Use the Pages panel to insert the page • Rearrange pages in the Pages panel • Inspect spreads in facing-pages view

Use the Pages panel to insert the page
Rearrange pages in the Pages panel
Inspect spreads in facing-pages view
Check numbering and sections after rearrangement
Complete a guided “Pages and navigation” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M03

Master pages and repeated items

Place it on a master page • Assign the master page to the relevant pages • Update the item on the master page

Place it on a master page
Assign the master page to the relevant pages
Update the item on the master page
Override the master item locally while preserving other pages
Complete a guided “Master pages and repeated items” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M04

Text frames and flow

Create linked text frames • Monitor text overset indicators • Set column count and gutter width

Create linked text frames
Monitor text overset indicators
Set column count and gutter width
Review frame links after moving content
Complete a guided “Text frames and flow” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M05

Importing text

Place the text file into a suitable frame • Reapply the document's paragraph styles • Review text flow and breaks after importing

Place the text file into a suitable frame
Reapply the document's paragraph styles
Review text flow and breaks after importing
Define a text-update and review workflow
Complete a guided “Importing text” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M06

Alignment and grids

Use a consistent baseline grid • Use recurring guides and spacing • Use guides and numeric position values

Use a consistent baseline grid
Use recurring guides and spacing
Use guides and numeric position values
Check alignment using the grid and guides
Complete a guided “Alignment and grids” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M07

Placed images and resources

Place the image into a picture frame • Scale and position the image within its frame • Check linked resources and their paths

Place the image into a picture frame
Scale and position the image within its frame
Check linked resources and their paths
Check effective resolution at the placed scale
Complete a guided “Placed images and resources” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M08

Character and paragraph styles

Create a paragraph style for headings • Apply a dedicated character style • Update the caption style definition

Create a paragraph style for headings
Apply a dedicated character style
Update the caption style definition
Find local overrides and clean up styles
Complete a guided “Character and paragraph styles” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M09

Editorial hierarchy

Establish hierarchical type styles • Arrange blocks, whitespace and contrast for readability • Define a shared caption and cross-reference convention

Establish hierarchical type styles
Arrange blocks, whitespace and contrast for readability
Define a shared caption and cross-reference convention
Apply established styles instead of local formatting
Complete a guided “Editorial hierarchy” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M10

Text wrapping

Enable wrapping around the picture frame • Adjust text-wrap offset • Use a wrap contour suited to the object

Enable wrapping around the picture frame
Adjust text-wrap offset
Use a wrap contour suited to the object
Check object stacking and text-wrap settings
Complete a guided “Text wrapping” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M11

Tables and data

Create a structured table • Apply consistent header-cell formatting • Adjust cell widths, insets and alignment

Create a structured table
Apply consistent header-cell formatting
Adjust cell widths, insets and alignment
Verify readability, data and line breaks
Complete a guided “Tables and data” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M12

Notes and references

Insert a footnote linked to the passage • Use automatic note numbering • Verify the link between reference and target

Insert a footnote linked to the passage
Use automatic note numbering
Verify the link between reference and target
Review footnote placement on final pages
Complete a guided “Notes and references” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M13

Numbering and sections

Create a section with its own numbering start • Place a page-number field on master pages • Configure numbering formats per section

Create a section with its own numbering start
Place a page-number field on master pages
Configure numbering formats per section
Update and check sections and page numbering
Complete a guided “Numbering and sections” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M14

Contents and indexes

Generate the table of contents from relevant styles • Update the table of contents • Configure which styles are included in the contents list

Generate the table of contents from relevant styles
Update the table of contents
Configure which styles are included in the contents list
Update the index and check its references
Complete a guided “Contents and indexes” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M15

Editorial colour and contrast

Define a consistent section palette • Assess contrast on the intended medium • Review colour conversion and output profile

Define a consistent section palette
Assess contrast on the intended medium
Review colour conversion and output profile
Add shape or labelling cues beyond colour alone
Complete a guided “Editorial colour and contrast” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M16

Preflight and common errors

Check effective resolution of placed images • Inspect overset-text warnings • Check font availability and embedding

Check effective resolution of placed images
Inspect overset-text warnings
Check font availability and embedding
Run a full preflight review and resolve warnings
Complete a guided “Preflight and common errors” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M17

Print PDF and bleed

Enable bleed inclusion during PDF export • Preserve vector content and embeddable fonts • Choose the prescribed PDF preset and colour profile

Enable bleed inclusion during PDF export
Preserve vector content and embeddable fonts
Choose the prescribed PDF preset and colour profile
Review page size, crop marks and usable area in the PDF
Complete a guided “Print PDF and bleed” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M18

Books and long documents

Organise chapters and files using a consistent convention • Maintain a shared editorial style set • Keep a revision log with statuses

Organise chapters and files using a consistent convention
Maintain a shared editorial style set
Keep a revision log with statuses
Cross-check pages, sections and contents lists
Complete a guided “Books and long documents” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M19

Accessible publications

Ensure suitable contrast, text size and spacing • Prepare an appropriate heading hierarchy and bookmarks • Provide a text description in the accessible publishing workflow

Ensure suitable contrast, text size and spacing
Prepare an appropriate heading hierarchy and bookmarks
Provide a text description in the accessible publishing workflow
Test PDF tags and structure with a specialist checker
Complete a guided “Accessible publications” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Topic M20

Client handoff and revisions

Organise resources and frames before transfer • Consolidate comments with page references • Use a clear naming convention for approved versions

Organise resources and frames before transfer
Consolidate comments with page references
Use a clear naming convention for approved versions
Verify the PDF, source, image and licensed-font checklist
Complete a guided “Client handoff and revisions” exercise and quality-check the finished deliverable

3 h

Assessment output

Actionable insight, not a sales pitch

The report provides an overall score, category breakdown and recommended modules. Use it to inform development discussions, document progress or complement candidate assessment.

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