Koroberi Blog

Having recently passed the Google Adwords Professional exam to become a Qualified Individual in the Google Advertising Professionals program, I thought it would be constructive to sit down and create a short list of items I found helpful while preparing for and taking the exam. Obviously, being a multiple choice test, the usual test-taking tips apply (use process of elimination, go with your first impression, etc.), but here are a few ideas that you may or may not want to use in your Google Adwords exam preparation.

1) Use the Adwords Learning Center lessons and quizzes

Though it seems obvious, I cannot stress enough how helpful the Adwords Learning Center lessons and quizzes can be. I prefer the text lessons, though others may be partial to the video lessons. Also, I noticed that the exam frequently borrowed and reworded questions from the sample quizzes, making the practice quizzes a valuable asset as well. Either way, taking advantage of the learning center when studying for the exam can be tremendously helpful and should not be ignored.

2) Take a practice exam

There are plenty of practice exams floating around the web – do yourself a favor and track one down. The best thing you can do before taking the exam (other than studying, of course) is to get a feel for the wording and pressure of the 100+ question test. Taking a (free) practice exam gives you an idea of what to expect before actually sitting down to take the real exam.

3) Make smart use of your browser tabs

Google allows users to keep other windows and tabs open while taking the exam – use this to your advantage. Is there a specific section that you’re worried about? Open up a tab and visit the Adwords Learning Center lesson on that topic just in case you need to refer back to it during the test. Keeping the learning center and Google Adwords help page open during the test provides some optional support during the exam (though don’t spend too much time looking up answers – there is a 90-minute time limit).

4) Create a “cheat sheet”

While much of the exam is based on Adwords practices and techniques, there are a few questions on the exam that are strictly memorization. If you’re worried that you might forget the answers to these types of questions, make a “cheat sheet” comprised of a few particularly obscure subjects. Not everyone is blessed with the world’s best memory, so keeping a short list handy can help relieve the stress of having to remember that mobile ads contain 2 lines of ad text with a maximum of 12-18 characters on each line.

5) Know the Adwords interface

Finally, my primary piece of advice is to make yourself as familiar as possible with the Adwords interface. Several questions on the exam use this form: “If you wanted to perform/view X, you would visit the Y page in your Google Adwords account.” These questions can be tricky, so familiarizing yourself with the Adwords layout and sections is a big part of making a passing grade.

These are just a few techniques I picked up while studying for the exam, so if you have any other helpful suggestions be sure to let me know. Though the exam is difficult and sometimes confusing, it’s far from impossible. Several hours of studying combined with a firm grasp of the Adwords program should be more than enough to help you get through the exam with a passing 75%. And remember, if at first you don’t succeed, you can always take the exam a second (or third) time.