Data Science Certification Test

The Data Science Certification Test is a free intermediate-level, 20-minute skill test from Science of Apps. It tests applied data science skill — statistics and experimental thinking, data wrangling in Python and SQL, machine learning modelling and evaluation, and communicating results — at the level employers expect from data scientists in 2026 and 2027. Score 70% or more on its 20 questions to earn a verifiable Data Science certificate (SOA-DATA). Every question is based on published standards and research — including Introductory Statistics 2e (OpenStax (Rice University)), Machine Learning Crash Course (Google for Developers), Machine Learning Crash Course: Precision and recall (Google for Developers) — and each answer is explained with its source.

Take the free Data Science Certification Test on Science of Apps. It tests statistics, Python and SQL, and feature engineering against a 2026–2027 syllabus, and passing earns a verifiable certificate you can add to LinkedIn.

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 Data Science 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: Introductory Statistics 2e (OpenStax (Rice University)); Machine Learning Crash Course (Google for Developers); Machine Learning Crash Course: Precision and recall (Google for Developers); Metrics and scoring: quantifying the quality of predictions (scikit-learn); e-Handbook of Statistical Methods (NIST); The SQL language (PostgreSQL). 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: Statistics and Experimentation (Distributions and inference, Hypothesis testing and A/B tests); Data Wrangling with Python and SQL (pandas, SQL joins and aggregation and Data quality); Machine Learning Modelling (Algorithms, Feature engineering and Validation); Evaluation and Communication (Metrics, Imbalanced data and Storytelling and ethics). Every question is an original scenario written to the 2026–2027 standard, with the published source named under it.

Data scientist, Junior data scientist, Data analyst moving into data science, Machine learning engineer and Analytics engineer. It suits anyone who wants a quick, verifiable way to show Data Science knowledge in 2026 and 2027, from students and career switchers to experienced professionals.

A certificate helps most when it proves applied skill — choosing the right statistical test, avoiding data leakage, picking the right metric. This test checks exactly those, so the credential reflects what hiring managers screen for.

No live coding, but the questions use Python (pandas, scikit-learn) and SQL snippets you should be able to read.

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.