If You Fail Adwords Fundamentals Exams Is It Able to Get Again

When I started at WordStream in 2013, I was well aware that I'd exist spending my first few weeks preparing for the AdWords certification exam.

Although I was thrilled to have a job at a young and thriving Boston-based company, I wasn't fifty-fifty close to thrilled at the thought of taking a test. At the time my AdWords cognition was slim to none. I didn't empathize what a negative keyword was or accept any clue what the AdWords interface looked similar. But the thought of declining made my shoulders tense up. I was never one for examination-taking…

I knew if I failed the test during my first try I'd be starting off my new job with a wave of embarrassment, and then I took it upon myself to over-study, fifty-fifty coming into the office on a Sunday. And phewf, I passed.

I recently re-took the AdWords certification test and passed, but was somewhat surprised when I felt stumped by a few of the questions. I kept second guessing myself: Well, both of the answers could exist right, but which is more correct? What's the formula for that metric once again? Some the questions struck me equally unexpected and not relevant to my day-to-day.

For those of you lot contemplating getting your AdWords certification or looking to get re-certified, I've created this guide to provide everything you need to know most the procedure, since it has drastically inverse over the last few years. Before getting too deep into this guide you lot should probably ask yourself…

Should I Go Certified?

Opinions tend to vary on whether getting certified is worth the try. WordStream PPC pro Caleb Hutchings shared his opinions in this controversial postal service: Why Google AdWords Certification Doesn't Matter. To say the least, the post evoked a lot of feedback both positive and negative. While I'd similar to stay somewhat neutral on the topic, I definitely agree with Caleb on this statement: "Anyone making information technology to the indicate of taking the AdWords Exam should already know the benefit it tin provide to the business organization." Well said, Caleb, well said.

So, are you a PPC specialist or consultant that would proceeds value from having the certification on your resume? Ofttimes explaining to a potential client that yous're AdWords Certified can help evoke a college level of confidence to assist in convincing the client to work with you lot. If you lot're a PPC specialist, maintaining a AdWords Certification can help strengthen your validity to your current and future employers.

At WordStream nosotros accept all of our sales and client service specialists become certified, because we've found that it does add validity to conversations with leads and customers. Often people experience more secure if they're working with a "certified professional person."

But what almost gaining actual paid search skills? In my stance, mastering paid search and AdWords comes naturally with time and experience, only getting a certification alone isn't going to make you an expert. Rather, working directly in the interface and playing the AdWords auction, measuring results, testing, and optimizing campaigns are the activities that will atomic number 82 to becoming an skilful in paid search.

Virtually the AdWords Certification Examination

Sadly, getting certified requires you lot to take not one, but two exams. You lot won't exist fully certified until you pass the AdWords Fundamentals exam, and i of the additional exams, which include Search Advertising, Brandish Advertising, Video Advertising, Shopping Advertising or Mobile Advertizement (which is currently but available in the U.S.).

Cost: Previously the examination cost $100. Luckily nowadays the exam is completely Gratis !

Time: For the AdWords Fundamentals, Search Advertising, and Brandish Advertising exams you lot have 120 minutes to answer roughly 100 questions for each. For the Video Advertising, Shopping Advertising, and Mobile Advertising yous have 90 minutes to answer roughly seventy questions.

*NOTE that in that location'due south no selection to pause once you've started the examination. The test will fourth dimension y'all until the end even if you shut your reckoner down so make sure y'all mark off the time to focus on passing.

Passing Score: The everyman score to pass is 80%.

Retake Period: Google allows you to re-take the exam later on 7 days if y'all fail.

How Do I Sign Up?

Stride #1: Sign in to Google Partners. If you're non already signed up for Google Partners, make sure to do then. It's like shooting fish in a barrel, and any agency or individual who managing AdWords accounts can sign up. Note, this isn't the same thing as beingness accounted one of Google'southward trusted partners (i.due east. having Google Partner condition), but it does open y'all up to farther opportunities of that nature. Go to google.com/partners to sign upwardly, and scout this video if you demand help.

Step #2: Navigate to Certifications à AdWords.Once yous're signed into Google Partners you'll see the Certifications tab on the left paw side of the screen. Below that, select AdWords, pictured below.

Step #iii: Take the Test. It's that piece of cake. This isn't the SATs. Y'all don't need to sign upwards months in advance to reserve a seat. We're role of the digital world and then as long as yous have a wifi connexion, you tin have it whenever you're ready. Simply select the exam you're gear up to take under the AdWords Exams department, and hit "Take test."

Step #iv: Repeat the Process for the Next Examination of Your Selection. I'd recommend studying for and taking each exam in chunks, starting with the AdWords Fundamentals. Once you've passed that, hold off on popping the champagne, and strategize as to which exam you should take adjacent. As I said above, yous tin take any one of the complementary tests to go certified, and so consider which area of advert you feel would benefit you most. Are the majority of your clients in the e-commerce space? So take shopping as your 2nd exam. Once y'all've passed two exams (ane being the Fundamentals) you'll officially be AdWords Certified.

Training Tips for the AdWords Certification Tests

Before we can even talk well-nigh popping bottles, we should talk nigh prepping for the examination. This might not be the LSAT, but you volition regret not preparing, especially since the passing score has to be above 80, and you're nether a time restriction of 120 minutes.

With that said, it's non necessary to impale yourself with stacks of flashcards and nights of sleep impecuniousness. Yes, some of the questions are framed in a manner that most appears every bit if Google is trying to stump you, simply the for the most role if you lot're confident and comfortable with AdWords and so passing the test shouldn't exist an upshot. The time allotted is more than enough for most, and when in uncertainty on sure questions, there'southward no teacher standing over your shoulder and monitoring your every move – AKA you can cheat a little (every bit bad as that sounds).

You'll want to divide your studies into two parts for the two exams to not overwhelm yourself. Hither are some resource I recommend utilizing to go yous up-to-speed.

• Google's Exam Study Guides: Google has a thorough written report guide center to assist you prepare for each test. Personally, it's a scrap likewise thorough in my opinion. I don't accept fourth dimension to read through the extensive content for each department of each test that seems to pb to more and more than links of data. No thanks, non happening. This but isn't my style, but I do find information technology helpful that their study guides are divided into sections because and so you can opt to go through chunks of information that you may need a refresher on. I wouldn't kill yourself printing out these pages and working through the cloth with a xanthous highlighter. Y'all'll just find yourself with a headache after killing a rainforest of trees if y'all opt for that method.
• iPass Exam: Ah! A much healthier option that won't exit you with a guilty tree-killing witting. I absolutely love this programme, and recommended information technology in my commencement blog mail written for WordStream. Information technology still holds true. Their arrangement is the perfect mode to practice and pass the AdWords exams. The program gives you exercise tests that ask very similar questions to the real exam. I reused the system recently before getting re-certified and noticed several duplicate questions from iPass in the live exam. These practice tests help you determine which areas need a bit more than study love earlier attempting the exam. iPass offers some free written report guide resources, but their tests, which are virtually helpful, do cost a minor fee. I'd recommend trying out the free trial and then making a case to your boss equally the why it's worth the small investment.
• Exercise Existent Work: This is probably the best piece of advice to pass the test with flying colors. Unless yous're required to pass this before doing existent customer or in-house PPC work, then start get some actual AdWords feel nether your chugalug. I guarantee the answers will come much more naturally this way. Fifty-fifty Google recommends on-the-job AdWords experience earlier attempting the certification tests.

Want to prep for the exam fifty-fifty more? Bank check out PPC 101: A Beginner's Guide to PPC

What to Practise One time You've Passed the Exam

You did it! You passed! Once you lot've recovered from your post-commemoration hangover, you might want to start contemplating a mode to promote the fact that you are indeed certified. As we discussed above the certification does help instill confidence in potential clients or employers and so you should have some strategy to flaunt it.

Showtime off, to access and print the certification, sign into your Google Partners account and select "My profile" under the overview section. Beneath your profile picture show y'all'll see the "AdWords Certified" link; click there to access and print your certification.

To go full use of it I recommend doing the following:

• Add together the title to the Certifications section of your LinkedIn profile

• Promote on whatever other social platforms y'all utilize for business organization. For example, if y'all're active on Twitter add it to the description beneath your Twitter profile picture
• Add the certification status to your resume, website, and business organisation cards

Postal service-Exam: Staying Certified

The AdWords certification is valid for one twelvemonth. And then you'll need to renew the AdWords Fundamentals test as well as the second test of choice to maintain your fancy certification condition.

AdWords Certification vs. Partner Badge

You may be wondering the difference. Put simply, individuals typically get certified and agencies get badged. To earn a badge as an agency in that location's a specific procedure you must follow later on your agency joins the partner program (note that you lot exercise not become automatic status past signing upwardly for Google Partners). Learn more hither.

In that location you have it. Whether it's worth the trouble of getting certified, you decide, just this guide is here to navigate yous through the trenches.

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Source: https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2015/07/07/adwords-certification-test

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