Google is rolling out updated exams for its popular adwords platform, and also analytics package. But do you actually learn anything worthwhile?
The short answer is – it depends. At the moment of writing the only two exams publicly available are the AdWords fundamentals exam and Google Analytics Individual Qualification exam.
Update 2010-04-12: my public test record has now been updated by Google with actual results from a beta test of the Display exam that I took earlier this year as part of a smaller group, so I expect this exam to be readily available to the public shortly
Starting with the AdWords fundamentals exam, this will later be followed up by:
- Adwords advanced exam
- Reporting & analytics advanced Exam
- Display advertising advanced Exam
The adwords fundamentals exam is just that; very basic. Similarly to it’s predecessor, it covers tedious things such as billings and questions such as “at which tab do you find x?”. It’s worth pointing out that the new fundamentals exam is immensly improved compared to the old system (which had duplicate questions and errors in showing radio buttons when you’re supposed to select two options…).
The purpose of this exam is merely to get users new to the system to grips with the basic concept of using search and content network. Anyone seasoned with adwords day to day management will likely score in the high 90′s by just skimming through the learning modules. So while it’s a good induction to adwords, it’s merely a prerequisite to the more advanced exams and achieving a Google Qualified status.
Spending 90 minutes over the Easter break to take the Google Analytics IQ exam did however prove more rewarding. While I don’t use Google Analytics as much as Adwords on a day to day basis, the technical level of the questions are much higher. It is however in the concept of an “open book” exam (which I didn’t realise until a question told me to go to the analytics help center and use a regex generator), it still required more attention and preparation. By going through the learning center prior the exam, I learned about technical aspects that are very useful in my use of Google analytics. Therefore, I’d recommend anyone using the tool to also consider taking the exam.
Anyone taking the exams can also create a public test record to ensure clients and employers that they actually know their stuff (albeit it proves very little…). Here’s what my Google test record looks like.
I look forward going through the advanced modules once they are released, and will updated this post with my impressions.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
How much are the exams? I can’t find the price any where please help!
US$ 50 last time i checked