LinkedIn assessments are online tests that allow you to showcase your professional skills and subject matter expertise to recruiters and hiring managers. They provide a way to validate your knowledge, skills and abilities in areas relevant to your career field or industry. As LinkedIn continues to grow as a recruiting platform, an increasing number of companies are using LinkedIn assessments as a screening and hiring tool.
What types of LinkedIn assessments are available?
LinkedIn offers over 140 different assessment tests across 9 categories:
- Programming
- Software Engineering
- IT Infrastructure and Ops
- Data Science
- Accounting and Finance
- Sales and Marketing
- Administrative and Clerical
- Design
- Writing
Some of the most popular assessments include:
- JavaScript
- HTML5
- CSS
- Python
- Java
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- AutoCAD
- SAP
- Microsoft Excel
The assessments use a variety of formats including multiple choice questions, code writing challenges, short answer questions, design mockups and more. They are designed to objectively measure your knowledge and skills in a specific domain.
Who can take LinkedIn assessments?
LinkedIn assessments are available to anyone with a LinkedIn profile. However, you must apply to take each assessment individually. When you apply, LinkedIn reviews your profile and assesses whether you meet the basic requirements to take that particular test based on your background and experience.
Requirements may include having a certain degree, amount of work experience, skills, or other credentials. If approved, you can schedule a time to complete the assessment online.
How do I apply to take a LinkedIn assessment?
Follow these steps to apply for a LinkedIn assessment:
- Log into your LinkedIn account
- Go to the LinkedIn Assessments page
- Browse the available assessments and select the one(s) you want to take
- Click “Take Assessment” on the individual assessment page
- Review the requirements and instructions provided
- Click “Apply to take” and complete the application
- LinkedIn will review your application and notify you if you meet the requirements to take the test
- If approved, schedule a time to take the assessment
You can take LinkedIn assessments directly on the LinkedIn website. There is no need to go to a testing center or schedule an in-person proctored exam. Everything is done online.
What does it cost to take LinkedIn assessments?
LinkedIn assessments are free for candidates to take. You do not have to pay anything to apply for or complete a LinkedIn assessment.
How long does it take to complete a LinkedIn assessment?
LinkedIn assessments are designed to take around 30-60 minutes to complete. However, the exact duration will vary depending on the structure and length of the particular assessment. Simpler multiple choice exams may take 30 minutes, while more complex assessments requiring coding, writing samples or design work may take a full hour.
You will be able to see the expected completion time when you apply for the assessment.
When are LinkedIn assessments available?
Once your assessment application is approved, you can schedule it at a time that works for your schedule. LinkedIn assessments are available on-demand 24/7. You can take them any day, time, including weekends and evenings.
When scheduling your assessment, be sure to allot sufficient time to complete it within the specified time limit. It’s important to take the assessments in a quiet environment where you can concentrate without interruptions or distractions.
What score do I need to “pass” a LinkedIn assessment?
You do not need to “pass” a LinkedIn assessment per se. Each assessment simply measures your performance and capabilities in that skill area.
LinkedIn uses your results to create a skill profile showcasing your strengths. Higher scores demonstrate greater proficiency, allowing you to stand out from other candidates.
Scores are presented as percentiles benchmarking your performance against others who have taken that assessment globally. For example, a score of 80% means you performed better than 80% of people who have taken this assessment.
Do LinkedIn assessments expire?
Yes, LinkedIn assessments expire after one year. You will need to retake the assessment if you want to extend your results past the one year validity period.
Retaking an assessment also allows you to demonstrate skill growth over time. As your expertise develops, your scores should improve relative to your previous performance.
How long do assessment results take to process?
LinkedIn aims to process assessment results within 48 hours. However, it may take up to 5 business days during peak periods. You will receive an email notification when your results are available.
To view your results, go to your LinkedIn profile and look under the Skills section. Any completed assessments will appear there along with your scores.
How often can I retake a LinkedIn assessment?
If you want to retake an assessment to try to improve your score, you must wait at least 90 days before retaking the same test.
This policy prevents candidates from repeatedly taking an assessment in a short time period to “game” the system and achieve artificially high scores.
You can, however, take a different assessment in the same skill area without waiting. For example, if you take the HTML5 assessment, you could immediately take the CSS or JavaScript assessment without having to wait 90 days.
Can I practice for LinkedIn assessments?
LinkedIn does not offer practice tests or sample questions for their assessments. The contents of the assessments are proprietary. However, you can prepare for LinkedIn assessments by:
- Reviewing the official skill topics and competencies tested in each assessment
- Studying education materials related to those competencies
- Taking practice tests from third-party providers
- Gaining work experience applying those skills
- Ensuring your knowledge is up-to-date on the latest versions of software, programming languages, techniques, etc.
How are LinkedIn skill assessments different from LinkedIn Skill Assessments?
LinkedIn Skill Assessments and LinkedIn skills assessments are the same thing – standardized tests that measure your capabilities in specific skill areas relevant to the professional world.
The “Skill Assessments” label is LinkedIn’s official branding for these tests. But many people refer to them informally as simply “skills assessments.” So both terms basically mean the same thing.
Are LinkedIn skill assessments worth it?
Yes, LinkedIn assessments are worth taking for several reasons:
- Validate your skills – Assessments provide objective verification of your knowledge
- Stand out to recruiters – High scores showcase your expertise vs. peers
- Increase profile visibility – Skills and scores make your profile more searchable
- Track skill growth – Retaking assessments display your progress over time
- Apply for jobs – Many jobs now require taking related assessments
- Build confidence – Passing assessments boosts your confidence in job interviews and work performance
In short, LinkedIn assessments give you credentials and measurable insights to grow your career. They serve as proof that you actually have the hard and soft skills needed to succeed in today’s competitive job market.
What are some tips for taking LinkedIn assessments?
Follow these tips to achieve your best scores on LinkedIn assessments:
- Review the content areas and skills tested before taking the exam
- Give yourself plenty of uninterrupted time to complete the assessment
- Take the assessment in a quiet space without distractions
- Read each question carefully and thoroughly before answering
- Watch out for double negatives or tricky wording
- Answer questions to the best of your ability without overthinking
- Check your work before completing the assessment
With practice exams and diligent preparation, you can excel on LinkedIn assessments to advance your career goals.
Conclusion
LinkedIn assessments provide quantified, standardized measurements of professional skills and expertise. They allow you to demonstrate your capabilities to prospective recruiters and hiring managers. While LinkedIn offers over 140 different assessments, they share some common features:
- Cover in-demand skills across industries
- Are available on-demand 24/7
- Take 30-60 minutes to complete
- Measure proficiency vs. peers with percentile scores
- Expire after one year
- Can be retaken after 90 days
With millions of people using LinkedIn assessments, they have become essential tools for recruitment, screening, hiring, and professional development. Investing the time to complete relevant assessments can directly strengthen your candidacy and attract exciting new career opportunities.
