Quick skill test · 20 questions · 20 minutes · Free

Debugging Quiz

Tests systematic debugging skills — reproducing and isolating bugs, using debuggers, breakpoints and logs, reading stack traces and error messages, finding regressions with git bisect, and debugging web, concurrency and performance issues, then preventing them with tests. Pass to earn Debugging SOA-DEBU.

What is the Debugging Quiz?

The Debugging Quiz is a free intermediate-level, 20-minute skill test from Science of Apps. It tests systematic debugging skills — reproducing and isolating bugs, using debuggers, breakpoints and logs, reading stack traces and error messages, finding regressions with git bisect, and debugging web, concurrency and performance issues, then preventing them with tests. Score 70% or more on its 20 questions to earn a verifiable Debugging certificate (SOA-DEBU). Every question is based on published standards and research — including Debugging: The 9 Indispensable Rules (David J. Agans (2002)), Debugging in Visual Studio Code (Microsoft), The Pragmatic Programmer (20th anniversary ed.) (Thomas and Hunt (2019)) — and each answer is explained with its source.

Built for your job title

Software developer, QA engineer, Support engineer, Junior developer and Site reliability engineer — and anyone who wants quick, verifiable proof of Debugging skills for a CV or LinkedIn.

  • Software developer
  • QA engineer
  • Support engineer
  • Junior developer
  • Site reliability engineer

What the quiz covers

Four 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

    Reproduce and Isolate

    25%
    • Reproduction
    • Isolation
    • Hypotheses
  2. 02

    Tools: Debuggers and Logs

    25%
    • Breakpoints
    • Stepping
    • Logging
  3. 03

    Reading Errors and Stack Traces

    25%
    • Error messages
    • Stack traces
    • Common errors
  4. 04

    Web, Concurrency and Prevention

    25%
    • Browser debugging
    • Race conditions and performance
    • Prevention

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 quiz:

Try a sample question

A bug report says "the app sometimes crashes". The best first step is to

  1. rewrite the module from scratch
  2. add random fixes and see what happens
  3. close the report as not reproducible
  4. reproduce it reliably and note the exact steps
Show the answer

D. reproduce it reliably and note the exact steps — You can't fix what you can't reproduce. The real quiz has 20 questions like this.

How the quiz works

  1. 20 minutes, 20 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 Software Engineering & Web Development: 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 20-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 Software & web dev certification and test →

Frequently asked questions

What is the Debugging Quiz?

The Debugging Quiz is a free intermediate-level, 20-minute skill test from Science of Apps. It tests systematic debugging skills — reproducing and isolating bugs, using debuggers, breakpoints and logs, reading stack traces and error messages, finding regressions with git bisect, and debugging web, concurrency and performance issues, then preventing them with tests. Score 70% or more on its 20 questions to earn a verifiable Debugging certificate (SOA-DEBU). Every question is based on published standards and research — including Debugging: The 9 Indispensable Rules (David J. Agans (2002)), Debugging in Visual Studio Code (Microsoft), The Pragmatic Programmer (20th anniversary ed.) (Thomas and Hunt (2019)) — and each answer is explained with its source.

How do I take the Debugging Quiz for free?

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

Are the Debugging Quiz 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: Debugging: The 9 Indispensable Rules (David J. Agans (2002)); Debugging in Visual Studio Code (Microsoft); The Pragmatic Programmer (20th anniversary ed.) (Thomas and Hunt (2019)); Chrome DevTools documentation (Google); Google Cloud Observability documentation (Google Cloud); Test Driven Development (Martin Fowler). 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 Debugging Quiz cover?

Four skill areas with five questions each, drawn from a bank of 10 per area so a retake brings new questions: Reproduce and Isolate (Reproduction, Isolation and Hypotheses); Tools: Debuggers and Logs (Breakpoints, Stepping and Logging); Reading Errors and Stack Traces (Error messages, Stack traces and Common errors); Web, Concurrency and Prevention (Browser debugging, Race conditions and performance and Prevention). Every question is an original scenario based on a published standard, official documentation or research, named under the question.

Who should take the Debugging Quiz?

Software developer, QA engineer, Support engineer, Junior developer and Site reliability engineer. It suits anyone who wants a quick, verifiable way to show Debugging skills, from students and career switchers to experienced professionals.

Can I use this for debugging interview questions, software debugging practice questions or troubleshooting code quiz?

Yes. The Debugging Quiz is free and covers all of these: 20 scenario questions in 20 minutes, each answer explained with the source it comes from, so it works as interview and exam practice. It isn't a full course, so use the areas you miss as your study list. Scoring 70% or more earns a verifiable certificate.

Can I take the Debugging Quiz from any country?

Yes. The quiz 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 Debugging Quiz?

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.

How hard is the Debugging Quiz?

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.

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.

All free · no sign-up

990 more certifications to collect

Keep exploring

Read before you test

Pass it on

Challenge a friend or your team

Send them this test. It's free, takes minutes, and you can compare scores — every certificate can be verified.

Join free

Get the ideas, not the noise.

Sign up with Google and we’ll send you short UX psychology tips by email — why people tap, stall and leave, and what to do about it. Unsubscribe anytime. Prefer something to keep? Get the free Laws of UX guide as a PDF.

Get the free Laws of UX PDFFree · no spam · unsubscribe anytime
Free PDF · 74 pages · 2 editions

The Laws of UX, in one field guide

60 research-backed principles in 6 categories — what each one means, why it works on the human brain and how to use it on your own screens. Written by Sushant Singh, founder of Science of Apps, who has scaled consumer apps to lacs of users and spent 10+ years leading product across startups and digital businesses in the US, EU & India.

Pick your edition
Free PDF · 74 pages

Get Laws of UX by email

Choose your edition

You’ll also get occasional UX psychology tips. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy

Free PDF · 90 pages · 2 editions

100+ Subscription Paywalls, decoded

110 real paywalls from top apps, taken apart, rated out of 5 and decoded with the Laws of UX — plus the frameworks, copy and checklists to ship your own. By Sushant Singh, founder of Science of Apps.

  • 110 paywalls rated
  • 34 Laws of UX
  • 12 frameworks

Which paywall scored 4.8 out of 5, and which scored 2.6? It’s all inside.

Pick your edition
Free PDF · 90 pages

Get 100+ Paywalls, Decoded by email

Choose your edition

You’ll also get occasional UX psychology tips. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy