Quick skill test · 15 questions · 15 minutes · Free

Dashboard Design and KPI Selection Certification

Tests how to design dashboards people use — choosing KPIs and leading indicators, layout and hierarchy, context and targets, interactivity and avoiding vanity metrics. Pass to earn Dashboard Design and KPI Selection SOA-DKPI.

What is the Dashboard Design and KPI Selection Certification?

The Dashboard Design and KPI Selection Certification is a free 15-minute skill test from Science of Apps. It tests how to design dashboards people use — choosing KPIs and leading indicators, layout and hierarchy, context and targets, interactivity and avoiding vanity metrics. Score 70% or more on its 15 questions to earn a verifiable Dashboard Design and KPI Selection certificate (SOA-DKPI). Every question is based on published standards and research — including Storytelling with Data (Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic), The North Star Playbook (Amplitude), Measuring the User Experience on a Large Scale (HEART framework) (Google Research) — and each answer is explained with its source.

Built for your job title

BI developer, Data analyst, Product manager, Operations manager and UX designer — and anyone who wants quick, verifiable proof of Dashboard Design and KPI Selection skills for a CV or LinkedIn.

  • BI developer
  • Data analyst
  • Product manager
  • Operations manager
  • UX designer

Land the job, not just the certificate

Career guide · 9 min read

Dashboard design and KPI skills for BI and analyst jobs in 2027: what employers test and how to build dashboards people use

Dashboard design and KPI skills for BI and analyst jobs in 2027: choosing KPIs, leading vs lagging, layout and context, interview tasks and a plan.

Read the hiring playbook →

What the test covers

Three skill areas with 5 questions each, drawn from a bank of 10 per area, so a retake brings questions you haven't seen.

  1. 01

    Choosing KPIs

    33%
    • Goals to metrics
    • Leading vs lagging
    • Vanity metrics
  2. 02

    Designing dashboards

    33%
    • Layout and hierarchy
    • Context and targets
    • Interactivity and trust
  3. 03

    Operational and executive dashboards

    33%
    • Audience-specific design
    • Alerts and thresholds
    • Mobile and embedded dashboards

Based on published standards

The questions are original scenarios, and each one names the public standard, official guide or research it draws on — shown under the question while you answer, and linked in your review. These are the sources behind this test:

Try a sample question

Which is the best headline KPI for a support team?

  1. Total tickets ever
  2. Number of macros
  3. Agent logins
  4. Customer issues resolved within target time
Show the answer

D. Customer issues resolved within target time — Outcome-focused KPIs drive the right work. The real test has 15 questions like this.

How the test works

  1. 15 minutes, 15 questions

    One question per screen, with a progress bar and a countdown. Your progress is saved on this device if you need to pause.

  2. Graded on our server

    Answers reach the page only after you submit, so the certificate can only be earned by passing.

  3. Every answer explained

    Pass or not, you see every question with the right answer, why, and the source behind it. Pass mark 70%, distinction 90%.

  4. Your certificate

    Founder-signed, with a QR code and credential ID. Download PDF or PNG, add to LinkedIn, and it's emailed to you.

What you earn

A Science of Apps certificate for Data Analytics & Business Intelligence: ivory paper with a gold medal
LinkedIn-ready certificate

Pass, then add it to LinkedIn in one click

No typing. The Add to LinkedIn button opens your profile’s Licenses & certifications form already filled in: the certificate name, Science of Apps as the issuer, the issue date, your credential ID and a link recruiters can use to verify it.

  1. 1Take the 15-minute test
  2. 2Score 70% or more
  3. 3Click Add to LinkedIn
Free · no sign-up · also emailed to you as a PDF
How it shows on your LinkedIn profile

See every Data & BI certification and test →

Frequently asked questions

What is the Dashboard Design and KPI Selection Certification?

The Dashboard Design and KPI Selection Certification is a free 15-minute skill test from Science of Apps. It tests how to design dashboards people use — choosing KPIs and leading indicators, layout and hierarchy, context and targets, interactivity and avoiding vanity metrics. Score 70% or more on its 15 questions to earn a verifiable Dashboard Design and KPI Selection certificate (SOA-DKPI). Every question is based on published standards and research — including Storytelling with Data (Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic), The North Star Playbook (Amplitude), Measuring the User Experience on a Large Scale (HEART framework) (Google Research) — and each answer is explained with its source.

How do I take the Dashboard Design and KPI Selection Certification for free?

Read the three skill areas on this page, then take the 15-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 Dashboard Design and KPI Selection certificate straight away, on screen, as a PDF and by email, with a credential ID anyone can verify.

Are the Dashboard Design and KPI Selection Certification questions based on real standards?

Yes. The questions are original scenarios written by Science of Apps, and each one is based on a public source you can read: Storytelling with Data (Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic); The North Star Playbook (Amplitude); Measuring the User Experience on a Large Scale (HEART framework) (Google Research); DAMA Data Management Body of Knowledge (DAMA International); F-Shaped Pattern of Reading on the Web (Nielsen Norman Group); Site Reliability Engineering (Google). The source is shown under each question and linked in the answer review. Science of Apps doesn't copy questions from other tests.

What does the Dashboard Design and KPI Selection Certification cover?

Three skill areas with five questions each, drawn from a bank of 10 per area so a retake brings new questions: Choosing KPIs (Goals to metrics, Leading vs lagging and Vanity metrics); Designing dashboards (Layout and hierarchy, Context and targets and Interactivity and trust); Operational and executive dashboards (Audience-specific design, Alerts and thresholds and Mobile and embedded dashboards). Every question is an original scenario based on a published standard, official documentation or research, named under the question.

Who should take the Dashboard Design and KPI Selection Certification?

BI developer, Data analyst, Product manager, Operations manager and UX designer. It suits anyone who wants a quick, verifiable way to show Dashboard Design and KPI Selection skills, from students and career switchers to experienced professionals.

Can I take the Dashboard Design and KPI Selection Certification from any country?

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/.

How long is the Dashboard Design and KPI Selection Certification?

15 questions — 5 from each of 3 skill areas — with a 15-minute limit. You need 70% (11 of 15) to pass and 90% for distinction.

How hard is the Dashboard Design and KPI Selection Certification?

We rate it Intermediate: assumes hands-on experience in the role. It has 15 scenario questions — 5 from each of 3 skill areas — and a 15-minute limit. You need 70% (11 of 15) to pass and 90% for distinction.

How do I prepare for a BI developer job?

BI, analyst and product roles in 2027 test dashboard skill as two things: choosing the right KPIs (tied to goals, with owners, targets and a mix of leading and lagging indicators) and designing a layout people can read in seconds (hierarchy, context, comparison, restrained interactivity). Expect a dashboard critique or build task. Practise redesigning cluttered dashboards around one audience and decision, and prove it with a verified test and a before-and-after portfolio piece. Our full career guide covers the hiring process, interview loop, pay and a prep plan: scienceofapps.com/blog/dashboard-design-kpis-career-guide/

How much do Science of Apps certifications cost?

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.

How are the tests graded?

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.

What happens if I don't pass?

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.

Do the certificates expire?

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.

Can I add the certificate to LinkedIn?

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.

How can an employer verify my certificate?

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.

Are these accredited qualifications?

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.

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