How much do Upwork tests matter?

[scioncopywriting]

Hello, my fellow freelancers!

I've started taking some Upwork tests today and after a while I wondered about how important they are.

I've heard that your proposal can show up higher if you have taken some tests that are relevant to the job offer. Is it true?

Is there any other benefit? Please, let me know!

[petra_r]

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@Konstantinos K wrote:

I've started taking some Upwork tests today and after a while I wondered about how important they are.

I've heard that your proposal can show up higher if you have taken some tests that are relevant to the job offer. Is it true?

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 Personally I think they can't actually do any harm. I don't think they do a hell of a lot of good in general but when you have a terribly low JSS just about anything may be better than nothing.

[medardo_lacayo]

Hi... In the world of IT test results validate a certain level of competance and think that there is value in them.

I am new to the community and plan on taking a few myself.

Good luck with your tests.

[scioncopywriting]

Hello, Medardo!

I am a content marketing writer, but I found out that there are a lot of tests related to marketing and I think I will take them along with many writing tests.

Thanks for your answer and keep it up!

[browersr · Accepted solution]

It's been a number of years since I took any tests on this platform and of course everyone's area is different. I can tell you though that in my area, the tests are absolutely abysmal (as of several years ago). If a client knew just how irrelevant the tests are to actual work, they wouldn't give it a sniff. Having said that, when someone is new to the platform and doesn't have a history to fall back on, this is one tool to try and provide some certification of competence. No, it in no way actually does that, but in the absence of having any history, it's all you have. Once you start getting jobs though, tests should never be thought about or taken again. 

[scioncopywriting]

Thanks, Scott.

I thought so, yeah. But since it's not such a big deal for me to take every one that is relevant to my skills, I decided to take them anyway.

[scioncopywriting]

Thanks, Petra.

Though, I didn't think it would help me with the JSS when I started taking the tests, you got me wondering if there is any relation between the two. Turns out it there isn't.

But they're so fun I'll probably take a dozen more! lol

As for the JSS, you reminded me that I need to create another thread about it since after reading a couple of things regarding it, I still have some questions unanswered.

[jmalassaad]

My question is: Can the test have a negative impact (in the eyes of the potential client), when for example your rating is under Top 30% ?...

[prachi163]

You can hide test results if you feel they are not good.

[petra_r]

At the moment, because of some "test" Upwork are running some / many / all clients (unknown) don't actually see any tests at all anyway.

Personally I would currently not waste my time on them.

[martina_plaschka]

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@Konstantinos K wrote:

Hello, my fellow freelancers!

I've started taking some Upwork tests today and after a while I wondered about how important they are.

I've heard that your proposal can show up higher if you have taken some tests that are relevant to the job offer. Is it true?

Is there any other benefit? Please, let me know!

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 If I were a client and looked at two almost identical profiles, I would hire the freelancer that has taken at least some tests over one that has taken no tests, because they have demonstrated a willingness to invest some of their time and are not totally lazy. 

[petra_r]

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@Martina P wrote:

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@Konstantinos K wrote:

Hello, my fellow freelancers!

I've started taking some Upwork tests today and after a while I wondered about how important they are.

I've heard that your proposal can show up higher if you have taken some tests that are relevant to the job offer. Is it true?

Is there any other benefit? Please, let me know!

---

 If I were a client and looked at two almost identical profiles, I would hire the freelancer that has taken at least some tests over one that has taken no tests, because they have demonstrated a willingness to invest some of their time and are not totally lazy. 

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 How often *DO* you come across two almost identical profiles with the same price-point though?

I took a bunch of the tests when I first started, the tests are uniformly **Edited for Community Guidelines** -poor and easily cheated.

Personally I think they are meaningless and should be done away with altogether as they are at best useless, at worst misleading as they may indicate skills that do not exist.

[yitwail]

The usefulness of the tests varies. For instance, I’ve taken tests related to my work area (web development), as well as more general tests involving language skills (spelling, vocabulary, etc). The language-related tests seemed decent to me while the more technical tests were very outdated. But for a new freelancer, it can’t hurt to have a few *good scores* in the profile. I doubt anything below top 30% will impress many clients.

[Anonymous-User]

I avoided them for a long time because I had read here somewhere that the answers to most of the tests are online elsewhere. But the other day I decided to pick a couple in my field (writing) and try it. I scored high but one question was repeated 4 times in a row on the test. Some questions showed up twice in differnet areas. 

I would like to see the tests removed altogther. They're obviously flawed and have become a way for people who have failed on UW to go make money online selling UW tests to other people who rely on them. 

Whenever I am asked that stock question from potential clients "What UW tests have you taken..." blahblah - I politely respond that I do not rely on tests since my professional experience and past client satisfaction is visible on my profile and they should go check it out. 😄