Practice tests help us get to know you as a panelist before you start taking studies for real customers. They let you get comfortable with the way UserCrowd studies work, and they let us check the quality of your responses before anything you do affects your tester rating.
There are two practice tests: a standard practice test that everyone completes when they join the panel, and a recorded practice test that's optional, but required if you want to take recorded tests, live website tests, or participate in live interviews. These study types tend to pay more, so it's worth taking the recorded practice test once you're comfortable with how UserCrowd works.
We don't provide compensation for practice tests.
The standard practice test
Once you've verified your email address and phone number during sign-up, you'll be prompted to complete the standard practice test. This one is mandatory. It includes a few simple tasks along with a couple of open-ended written questions, and it's designed to show us that you read instructions carefully and can provide a thoughtful, detailed response.
We review every practice test with a mix of automated and manual checks, so it may take a few days for your response to be fully reviewed. As long as your response is initially approved by our automated system, you'll become eligible to start receiving standard test assignments right away without needing to wait for the manual review to be completed.
If your practice test is rejected at either review step, you won't be able to retake it, and you won't receive any further test assignments. Make sure to read each question carefully and answer the written questions in as much detail as possible.
The recorded practice test
If you'd like to be considered for recorded tests, live website tests, or interviews, you'll also need to pass the recorded practice test. Unlike the standard practice test, this one is optional. You can keep taking standard, unrecorded tests without ever completing it, but you won't be offered these higher-paying study types until you pass it.
You can start the recorded practice test any time from your panelist dashboard after signup:
What the test involves
The recorded practice test is a single live website task on a real website, recorded in the same way an actual recorded test would be. That means we'll ask for permission to record your screen, camera, and microphone, and we'll ask you to think out loud as you go.
Here's what to expect:
You'll be asked to briefly introduce yourself on camera: your first name, your city, and the time of day where you are.
You'll complete a short task on a real website, speaking your thoughts out loud the whole time.
You'll answer a few follow-up questions about the task while the recording is still running. These are quick multiple-choice, rating, or ranking questions rather than written questions, so there's no need to stop and type.
The whole thing usually only takes a few minutes, but plan for a little longer to allow time for the introduction and think-aloud commentary.
The recorded practice test must be taken on a desktop or laptop device using Chrome, Edge, other Chromium-based browsers, or Firefox (version 151 and above). Safari is not supported.
How your response is reviewed
Our QA team reviews your recording and grades your response, the same way we'd grade a real recorded test. Whether you pass, fail, or are eligible for a retake, we'll let you know the outcome by email and on your dashboard.
If you don't pass on your first attempt, we'll let you know if you're eligible to retake the test. If you are, we'll provide feedback on what specifically needs to be improved, for example:
You will not be eligible to retake the test if you give a particularly poor response (e.g. very low effort, keyboard smashing, vulgarity, etc.) on your first attempt.
If you receive this notification, you'll remain eligible for standard, unrecorded tests only.
Tips for passing your practice tests
Read every instruction carefully. Both practice tests are designed to show us if you're paying close attention, so don't rush through the tasks.
Answer written questions in full. For the standard practice test's open-ended questions, give a complete, detailed answer rather than a one-word response.
Keep talking during the recorded practice test. Speak your thoughts out loud from the moment the recording starts, including during the task itself, not just when answering questions.
Be yourself. Practice tests usually include simple questions about your location, background, or likes and dislikes. These should be easy to answer honestly, so there's no need to overthink them.
Check your setup beforehand. Make sure your camera and microphone work, and that you're using a desktop device with Chrome, Edge, or another Chromium-based browser before you start the recorded practice test.