Taking assessments on LinkedIn is a great way to showcase your skills, gain insights into your knowledge, and demonstrate your abilities to recruiters and hiring managers. LinkedIn allows members to take free assessments directly through the platform in a variety of topics and competencies. Here is a quick overview of how you can take assessments on LinkedIn.
What types of assessments are available on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn offers over 150 different types of assessments covering a wide range of professional skills and knowledge areas. Some of the major categories of assessments available include:
- Software and programming skills like Java, Python, MySQL, SAS, Tableau, etc.
- Design skills such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign
- Office productivity software like Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint
- Business and management skills including project management, Six Sigma, finance, etc.
- Marketing and communications skills in areas like digital marketing, social media, public relations
- Healthcare certifications for skills like medical coding, healthcare management, patient care
Within each broader category, there are multiple specific assessments to choose from. For example, under programming skills there are individual tests for Java, Python, C++, Ruby, PHP, and more. The wide range helps demonstrate skills for many different specialties and industries.
Who can take LinkedIn assessments?
Taking assessments on LinkedIn is open to any LinkedIn member with a registered account. You do not need a paid premium account to access or take the assessments. Both regular LinkedIn members and LinkedIn Premium subscribers can take as many assessments as they want for free.
Here are the steps to take assessments on LinkedIn:
- Log into your LinkedIn account
- Go to the Skills section of your profile
- Click on the skill for the assessment you want to take. Assessments will be listed below the skill name.
- Take the assessment directly on LinkedIn. You will get your results as soon as you submit the test.
How are LinkedIn assessments formatted?
LinkedIn assessments use multiple-choice and multiple-response formats. You will be presented with a series of questions and asked to choose the best answer(s) from the options provided. For example:
Question: What does the SQL SELECT statement do?
- A. Updates existing data in a database
- B. Inserts new data into a database
- C. Retrieves data from a database
- D. Deletes data from a database
The questions will test your applied knowledge and understanding of concepts related to the skill being assessed. You will not need to write any code or essays when taking LinkedIn skill assessments.
How are LinkedIn assessments scored?
When you complete a LinkedIn assessment, you will get your results and score immediately. Scores are presented on a scale of Beginner, Intermediate, and Expert. Each level corresponds to a different score range:
- Beginner: 0% – 49% correct
- Intermediate: 50% – 74% correct
- Expert: 75% – 100% correct
Along with your score tier, you will also see your percentage score within that tier. So you may score Beginner (37%) or Intermediate (65%). Scoring Expert is considered exceptional knowledge in that skill area.
Do you get a certificate for passing LinkedIn assessments?
Unfortunately LinkedIn does not offer official certificates for passing assessments. You will not get a diploma or certificate document for scoring well on a test. However, your LinkedIn profile will showcase your assessment results. Passing assessments can verify your skills right on your profile for recruiters to see.
Can you retake LinkedIn assessments?
If you don’t get the score you want on an assessment, you cannot immediately retake the same test. Here are the rules on retaking LinkedIn assessments:
- Beginner result – Retake after 1 week
- Intermediate result – Retake after 1 month
- Expert result – One-time assessment, cannot retake
You will have to wait the required time before the Retake button appears so you can take that assessment again. Use the waiting time to brush up on your skills!
Do assessment results expire?
LinkedIn assessment results do not expire. Your scores will remain visible on your profile indefinitely so long as you keep the result posted on your profile. You control which assessment results are displayed on your profile.
Even if you retake an assessment and get a new score, both the old and new scores will display on your profile to demonstrate your progress. Recruiters can see how you have improved over time.
Who can see your assessment results?
Your LinkedIn assessment results are displayed on your profile page beneath the corresponding skill. Anyone who views your profile will also be able to see your assessment scores. You can choose to toggle any result on or off your profile.
How long do LinkedIn assessments take?
LinkedIn assessments are meant to be relatively quick tests of your knowledge. Here’s an overview of the time length per assessment:
- True/False Verbal Reasoning tests: 3 minutes
- Multiple Choice Verbal Reasoning tests: 10 minutes
- Technical Skills assessments: 15-30 minutes
More advanced certifications may take a bit longer, closer to 30 minutes. Expect around 10-15 minutes on average per regular skills assessment.
Can you cheat on LinkedIn skill assessments?
It is possible to look up answers online while taking some LinkedIn assessments, but this is considered cheating and violates LinkedIn’s terms. Cheating provides no valuable indicator of your real skills.
Many assessments have time limits, questions that shuffle order, and immediate result display upon completion, which minimizes the chances to cheat effectively. Getting caught cheating also leads to serious consequences.
What happens if you cheat on LinkedIn assessments?
If LinkedIn detects cheating or other fraudulent activity, your account may be subject to punishment including:
- Assessment results invalidated
- Assessments permanently locked
- Profile flagged or removed
- LinkedIn account suspension
These punishments can seriously damage your professional reputation. It is not worth the risk to cheat on LinkedIn assessments.
Can you showcase certifications and test scores beyond LinkedIn assessments?
Absolutely. Your LinkedIn profile has options to showcase professional certifications, licenses, test scores, and other credentials beyond just LinkedIn’s assessments. To showcase your credentials:
- Go to your LinkedIn Profile
- Find the Licenses & Certifications section
- Click +Add new license or certification
- Enter details like Certification name, Organization, Issue date, Expiration date, Certification ID, etc.
- Click Save. The certification will now appear on your profile.
Adding external credentials along with passing LinkedIn assessments can make your profile really stand out and show your dedication to your field.
Do LinkedIn skill assessments really matter?
| Benefit | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Verify your skills | Passing assessments proves you have the skills and knowledge you claim. Recruiters trust assessments over just listed skills. |
| Get noticed by recruiters | Profiles with assessments stand out. LinkedIn profiles with assessments are 40% more likely to get contacted by recruiters. |
| Benchmark your knowledge | Assessments show your starting knowledge level and help identify areas for future improvement. |
| Fill skill gaps | Low assessment scores signal skills gaps. You can focus learning on weak areas. |
| Practice job interview questions | Many assessments test the types of practical skills employers want. Passing helps prepare for interviews. |
Overall, passing LinkedIn skills assessments provides tremendous value. They indicate real verified skills to help your profile stand out and show preparation for job requirements.
Conclusion
LinkedIn assessments provide an incredible free opportunity to showcase your professional knowledge and skills. The wide range of available assessments makes it possible to get verified skills for your industry and specific role. Passing LinkedIn assessments requires some preparation and effort, but the rewards are worth it. Investing the time to pass assessments can enhance your visibility with recruiters, demonstrate your job readiness, and boost your professional credibility.
