CIPD Level 5 Practice Test

The CIPD Level 5 Practice Test is a free intermediate-level, 20-minute skill test from Science of Apps. It tests knowledge for the CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management — organisational performance and culture, evidence-based practice, professional behaviours and valuing people, and employment relationships, talent and reward — written to the CIPD Level 5 units, the CIPD Profession Map and UK employment guidance (Acas) for 2026. Score 70% or more on its 20 questions to earn a verifiable CIPD Level 5 Readiness certificate (SOA-CIPD). Every question is based on published standards and research — including CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management: units and assessment (CIPD), CIPD knowledge hub (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development), The CIPD Profession Map (CIPD) — and each answer is explained with its source.

Yes. Science of Apps has a free CIPD Level 5 Practice Test built on the current CIPD exam outline for 2026 and 2027. It covers organisational performance and culture, evidence-based practice, and employment law, scores you instantly and issues a verifiable certificate.

Read the four skill areas on this page, then take the 20-minute test online — no fee, course or sign-up. You see every answer explained when you finish. Score 70% or more and you get a CIPD Level 5 Readiness certificate straight away, on screen, as a PDF and by email, with a credential ID anyone can verify.

Yes. The questions are original scenarios written by Science of Apps, and each one is based on a public source you can read: CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management: units and assessment (CIPD); CIPD knowledge hub (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development); The CIPD Profession Map (CIPD); Equality Act 2010 guidance (Equality and Human Rights Commission); Inclusion and diversity in the workplace (CIPD); Acas advice (Acas). The source is shown under each question and linked in the answer review. Science of Apps doesn't copy questions from other tests.

Four skill areas with five questions each, drawn from a bank of 10 per area so a retake brings new questions: Organisational Performance and Culture (Strategy and structure, Culture and Change); Evidence-Based Practice (Sources of evidence, Data and analytics and Decision making); Professional Behaviours and Valuing People (Ethics, Inclusion and Wellbeing); Employment Relationships, Talent and Reward (Employee relations, Talent management and Reward). Every question is an original scenario written to the 2026–2027 standard, with the published source named under it.

HR advisor, People partner, HR officer moving to Associate level, L&D specialist and HR generalist. It suits anyone who wants a quick, verifiable way to show CIPD Level 5 knowledge in 2026 and 2027, from students and career switchers to experienced professionals.

Mostly through written assignments set by the CIPD and marked by your study centre, one per unit, rather than exams. Completing the diploma qualifies you for Associate membership (Assoc CIPD).

Organisational performance and culture in practice (5CO01), Evidence-based practice (5CO02) and Professional behaviours and valuing people (5CO03), plus specialist units such as employment relationship management, talent management and reward.

No. It is an independent practice test written to the publicly available CIPD Level 5 content outline for 2026 and 2027, for checking your readiness before you book the real exam. Passing earns a Science of Apps certificate rather than the official credential.

Yes. The test is online, in English and free everywhere — people take it from India, the US, the UK, Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Your certificate is dated with your own local date and can be verified from anywhere at scienceofapps.com/certification/verify/.

20 questions — 5 from each of 4 skill areas — with a 20-minute limit. You need 70% (14 of 20) to pass and 90% for distinction.

We rate it Intermediate: assumes hands-on experience in the role. It has 20 scenario questions — 5 from each of 4 skill areas — and a 20-minute limit. You need 70% (14 of 20) to pass and 90% for distinction.

Nothing. There is no fee to take a test, to receive the certificate, to have it emailed or to verify it, and no sign-up.

On our server, not in your browser. The answers never reach the page until you submit, so a certificate can only be earned by passing. Each certificate gets a unique credential ID stored by Science of Apps.

You see your score for each area and every question with the correct answer and why, with the published source behind it. You can retake after 30 minutes, and the retake draws questions you haven't seen yet.

No. Every certificate is dated, so it always shows when you passed. Retake a test any time for a newer date or a higher score.

Yes. After you pass, Add to LinkedIn opens the Licenses & certifications form with the certificate name, Science of Apps as the issuer, the issue date, your credential ID and the verification link filled in. You can also download it as a PDF or PNG, and it's emailed to you as a PDF.

Every certificate has a credential ID and a QR code. Scanning it, or entering the ID at scienceofapps.com/certification/verify/, shows the holder's name, the certification, the score and the issue date from our records.

No. They are Science of Apps' own assessments of applied skill. They aren't issued by a university or standards body, and they work best alongside a portfolio that shows the skills in real work.