Google Ads and Paid Search Fundamentals Certification

The Google Ads and Paid Search Fundamentals Certification is a free 10-minute skill test from Science of Apps. It tests paid search — campaign types, keywords and match types, Quality Score, responsive search ads, bidding and Smart Bidding, Performance Max, conversion tracking and budgets. Score 70% or more on its 10 questions to earn a verifiable Google Ads and Paid Search Fundamentals certificate (SOA-GADS). Every question is based on published standards and research — including About Smart Bidding (Google Ads Help), About Quality Score (Google Ads Help), About responsive search ads (Google Ads Help) — and each answer is explained with its source.

Read the two skill areas on this page, then take the 10-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 Google Ads and Paid Search Fundamentals 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: About Smart Bidding (Google Ads Help); About Quality Score (Google Ads Help); About responsive search ads (Google Ads Help); About Performance Max campaigns (Google Ads Help); Consent mode (Google Tag Platform). The source is shown under each question and linked in the answer review. Science of Apps doesn't copy questions from other tests.

Two skill areas with five questions each, drawn from a bank of 10 per area so a retake brings new questions: Search campaigns (Keywords and match types, Responsive search ads and Quality Score); Bidding and measurement (Smart Bidding, Performance Max and Conversion tracking). Every question is an original scenario based on a published standard, official documentation or research, named under the question.

PPC specialist, Paid search manager, Digital marketer, E-commerce marketer and Agency account manager. It suits anyone who wants a quick, verifiable way to show Google Ads and Paid Search Fundamentals skills, from students and career switchers to experienced professionals.

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/.

10 questions — 5 from each of 2 skill areas — with a 10-minute limit. You need 70% (7 of 10) to pass and 90% for distinction.

We rate it Beginner: no experience needed: fundamentals and clear reasoning. It has 10 scenario questions — 5 from each of 2 skill areas — and a 10-minute limit. You need 70% (7 of 10) to pass and 90% for distinction.

To get a Google Ads or PPC job in 2027, show you can turn ad spend into profitable results: structuring search campaigns, choosing keywords, match types and negatives, setting up accurate conversion tracking, using Smart Bidding and Performance Max with good data, writing relevant ads, and judging success on profit, not clicks. Run a small real campaign with clean tracking and verify your fundamentals with a free test. Our full career guide covers the hiring process, interview loop, pay and a prep plan: scienceofapps.com/blog/google-ads-career-guide/

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.