Quick skill test · 20 questions · 20 minutes · Free

Performance Marketing Certification

Tests performance marketing — unit economics such as CPA, ROAS and LTV, search and Performance Max campaigns, paid social, automated bidding and audiences, conversion tracking with first-party data and consent, attribution and incrementality testing, and creative and budget optimisation. Pass to earn Performance Marketing SOA-PERM.

What is the Performance Marketing Certification?

The Performance Marketing Certification is a free intermediate-level, 20-minute skill test from Science of Apps. It tests performance marketing — unit economics such as CPA, ROAS and LTV, search and Performance Max campaigns, paid social, automated bidding and audiences, conversion tracking with first-party data and consent, attribution and incrementality testing, and creative and budget optimisation. Score 70% or more on its 20 questions to earn a verifiable Performance Marketing certificate (SOA-PERM). Every question is based on published standards and research — including Think with Google (Google), About Quality Score (Google Ads Help), About Smart Bidding (Google Ads Help) — and each answer is explained with its source.

Built for your job title

Performance marketer, Paid media specialist, PPC manager, Growth marketer and Digital marketing manager — and anyone who wants quick, verifiable proof of Performance Marketing skills for a CV or LinkedIn.

  • Performance marketer
  • Paid media specialist
  • PPC manager
  • Growth marketer
  • Digital marketing manager

What the test 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

    Metrics and Unit Economics

    25%
    • CPA, ROAS and LTV
    • Funnel metrics
    • Budgeting
  2. 02

    Search and Shopping Campaigns

    25%
    • Keywords and match types
    • Quality Score
    • Performance Max
  3. 03

    Paid Social and Automation

    25%
    • Smart bidding
    • Audiences and creative
    • Learning phases
  4. 04

    Tracking, Attribution and Incrementality

    25%
    • Conversion tracking
    • Attribution models
    • Lift tests and MMM

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

A product has a 40% gross margin. Its break-even ROAS (revenue ÷ ad spend) is

  1. 2.5, because each $1 of ad spend needs $2.50 of revenue to cover costs
  2. 0.4, because the margin is forty percent of each sale's revenue
  3. 1.0, because revenue only needs to equal the ad spend
  4. 4.0, because four is ten times the margin of 0.4
Show the answer

A. 2.5, because each $1 of ad spend needs $2.50 of revenue to cover costs — Break-even ROAS = 1 ÷ margin. The real test has 20 questions like this.

How the test 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 Digital Marketing, SEO, AEO & Growth: 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 Marketing, SEO & AEO certification and test →

Frequently asked questions

What is the Performance Marketing Certification?

The Performance Marketing Certification is a free intermediate-level, 20-minute skill test from Science of Apps. It tests performance marketing — unit economics such as CPA, ROAS and LTV, search and Performance Max campaigns, paid social, automated bidding and audiences, conversion tracking with first-party data and consent, attribution and incrementality testing, and creative and budget optimisation. Score 70% or more on its 20 questions to earn a verifiable Performance Marketing certificate (SOA-PERM). Every question is based on published standards and research — including Think with Google (Google), About Quality Score (Google Ads Help), About Smart Bidding (Google Ads Help) — and each answer is explained with its source.

How do I take the Performance Marketing Certification for free?

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 Performance Marketing certificate straight away, on screen, as a PDF and by email, with a credential ID anyone can verify.

Are the Performance Marketing 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: Think with Google (Google); About Quality Score (Google Ads Help); About Smart Bidding (Google Ads Help); About Advantage+ campaigns (Meta Business Help Center); Trustworthy Online Controlled Experiments (Kohavi, Tang & Xu); About Performance Max campaigns (Google Ads Help). 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 Performance Marketing Certification cover?

Four skill areas with five questions each, drawn from a bank of 10 per area so a retake brings new questions: Metrics and Unit Economics (CPA, ROAS and LTV, Funnel metrics and Budgeting); Search and Shopping Campaigns (Keywords and match types, Quality Score and Performance Max); Paid Social and Automation (Smart bidding, Audiences and creative and Learning phases); Tracking, Attribution and Incrementality (Conversion tracking, Attribution models and Lift tests and MMM). Every question is an original scenario based on a published standard, official documentation or research, named under the question.

Who should take the Performance Marketing Certification?

Performance marketer, Paid media specialist, PPC manager, Growth marketer and Digital marketing manager. It suits anyone who wants a quick, verifiable way to show Performance Marketing skills, from students and career switchers to experienced professionals.

Can I use this for performance marketing course, paid media test or PPC interview questions?

Yes. The Performance Marketing Certification 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 Performance Marketing 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 Performance Marketing Certification?

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 Performance Marketing Certification?

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.

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