Many professionals looking to boost their resumes and demonstrate their skills take certification exams on platforms like LinkedIn Learning. One popular exam is the LinkedIn Excel assessment, which tests a person’s proficiency with Microsoft Excel. A common question people have regarding this exam is how many times you can take the LinkedIn Excel test if you don’t pass on the first attempt. This article will provide a quick overview of the LinkedIn Excel exam, its scoring system, and the rules around retakes.
About the LinkedIn Excel Assessment
The LinkedIn Excel assessment is a multiple choice exam designed to validate a person’s skills with Excel at various levels. There are three main levels of the LinkedIn Excel exam:
- Basic: Covers skills like navigateing worksheets, entering data, basic formulas and functions, and printing.
- Intermediate: Focuses on table formatting, pivot tables, matrices, nested formulas, and data validation.
- Advanced: Tests more complex functions, lookup formulas, macros, data analysis features, and collaboration tools.
Each level has 25 multiple choice questions and simulated Excel problems. You have 60 minutes to complete each level. Your score is measured against a cut score determined by LinkedIn that designates a passing performance at that level.
Scoring and Passing
For all three levels of the LinkedIn Excel exam, the cut score required to pass is 70% or higher. If you score 70% or above correctly, you will receive a passing grade and a digital badge for that assessment level from LinkedIn Learning.
If you do not achieve 70%, you will receive a failing grade on that attempt. Your score will indicate how close you were to the 70% cut score, so you have a sense of how well you need to perform on a retake.
Retake Policy
If you fail to get 70% on any level of the LinkedIn Excel assessment, you can retake the exam up to two more times. Here are some key details on the retake policy:
- You must wait 7 days between retake attempts of the same exam level.
- If you fail on the second retake attempt, you must wait 60 days before you can try that level again.
- LinkedIn keeps your single highest score for each level.
- You can continue taking other exam levels while waiting on retakes.
So in summary, you can take each level of the LinkedIn Excel assessment up to 3 times initially, with a one week waiting period between the first two retakes. If you don’t pass after 3 attempts, you must wait 60 days before retaking that level again.
Strategies for Passing on Retakes
If you did not get 70% to pass on your first try, here are some tips to improve your score on retakes:
- Review your results and see which types of questions you struggled with the most. Focus your studying on those weak areas.
- Carefully read the directions, questions, and answer options. Don’t make assumptions.
- Note the time limit and pace yourself accordingly.
- Use Excel to practice with sample data sets and scenarios.
- Consider taking a prep course to brush up on skills.
- Make flashcards of formulas, functions, and concepts to memorize.
With focused practice and dedication, you can often significantly improve your score on a retake. Be sure to give yourself plenty of preparation time before attempting the exam again.
Checking Your Current Attempts and Scores
You can check how many times you have already taken each level of the LinkedIn Excel assessment and view your scores by following these steps:
1. Access LinkedIn Learning and go to your account settings.
2. Click on “View credentials” under the “Certifications” section.
3. This will display all of the LinkedIn Learning certifications and assessments you have completed or attempted.
4. Find the Excel assessment levels. It will show your number of attempts and highest score for each level.
This information can help you determine if you have retake attempts remaining on a given level, as well as give insights into areas where you may need additional practice.
Conclusion
Being able to retake the LinkedIn Excel assessment up to two additional times per level provides an opportunity to improve your score if you fall short on your first attempt. Make sure to fully review the retake policy, including the waiting periods between attempts. Focus your study plan on building skills in your weaker excel areas and thoroughly familiarizing yourself with the exam structure and expectations. With determination and preparation, passing the 70% threshold on a retake is certainly within reach.
| Exam Level | Number of Initial Attempts | Time Between 1st and 2nd Retake | Time After 3rd Failed Attempt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 3 attempts | 7 days | 60 days |
| Intermediate | 3 attempts | 7 days | 60 days |
| Advanced | 3 attempts | 7 days | 60 days |
Key Takeaways
- You can take each level of the LinkedIn Excel exam up to 3 times before a 60 day waiting period.
- There is a 1 week required waiting period between the first two retakes.
- You need 70% to pass each exam level and get the certification.
- Focus retake study on your weak areas and thoroughly review directions/questions.
- Check your exam dashboard to see number of attempts remaining.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times can you take the basic LinkedIn Excel test?
You can take the basic LinkedIn Excel test a total of 3 times before requiring a 60 day waiting period. There is a 7 day waiting period before you can attempt the exam a second and third try.
What happens if you fail the LinkedIn Excel test 3 times?
If you fail to pass any level of the LinkedIn Excel test after 3 attempts, you must wait 60 days before retaking that exam level again. You do not lose your previous scores and can continue attempting other levels while waiting.
How long do you have to wait to retake the LinkedIn Excel intermediate test?
After an initial fail on the intermediate level, you must wait 7 days before retaking. After a second fail, you must wait another 7 days. If you then fail a third time, a 60 day waiting period goes into effect before retaking again.
Can you take the LinkedIn Excel advanced test more than once?
Yes, you can take the advanced LinkedIn Excel exam up to 3 times before a 60 day waiting period, just like the other levels. You must wait 7 days between the first two retakes. Your highest score will count towards certification.
Should you retake the LinkedIn Excel test right away?
It is recommended you spend time thoroughly reviewing your weak areas from the exam results and completing comprehensive practice in Excel before attempting a retake. Retaking too soon without proper preparation is unlikely to lead to a passing score.
Does LinkedIn allow an appeal after failing the Excel test 3 times?
Unfortunately, after failing any level of the LinkedIn Excel test 3 times, you are not able to appeal or bypass the 60 day waiting period before retaking. This policy is fixed across all candidates as a standard rule.
Putting It All Together
The LinkedIn Excel skills assessment provides professionals with a valuable opportunity to validate their knowledge through an industry-recognized certification. While no one wants to fail, it is a good sign if the test reveals weak areas you can improve. Use the retake policy to your advantage – focus on building up skills, understanding exam approaches and expectations, and you can pass on a subsequent attempt. Be patient with yourself, utilize available learning resources, and demonstrate perseverance if you must retake. The reward of passing is worth the effort.
