To qualify for a test or interview, you must meet all of the requested demographic criteria for that particular study. Part of that qualification may require answering one or more questions before you can proceed, and there are a couple of ways this can happen.
Some tests include screener questions, which are short questions written by the researcher to check whether you're the right fit for their study. Other times, if you haven't yet answered a specific demographic question in your profile, we'll ask you to answer it before you proceed. In both cases, your response will determine whether you're eligible to take the test.
Screener Questions
Screener questions are like little quizzes we will sometimes ask you before you start a test. They're not hard—just a few questions to get to know you better. This helps us match you with tests that are a good fit for you. When completing screener questions, you might be asked about things like your age, where you live, or what you like to do. It's important to answer these honestly.
Your answers to screener questions will determine if you are eligible to complete the test. If your answers match what this customer is looking for, you'll be "screened in", which means you will then move on to complete the test. If your answers don't match the customer's needs, you will be "screened out", which means you're ineligible for this test.
Taking tests with screeners
When you are assigned a test with an attached screener, you'll see this clearly displayed on your dashboard:
When you start the test, you can choose to either complete the screener or skip the test and go back to your dashboard.
Screener questions can include single or multi-select questions, just like a regular test. If you are eligible, you can proceed to complete the test. As soon as you are disqualified, you will not proceed to the rest of the screening questions.
Video screeners
Some interviews may ask you to record a short video response as part of your screener questionnaire. This helps researchers decide if you’re the right fit for an interview. You can learn more about how interviews work in our guide to Interviews.
What you need
A desktop or laptop computer with a working camera and microphone.
The latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.
A quiet, well-lit place to record your response.
Mobile devices aren’t yet supported for video screeners. For more details on supported devices and browsers, see our guide to participating in recorded tests.
How it works
If a screener includes a video question, you’ll first see a message explaining that you need to use your camera and microphone. At this stage, you can choose not to continue if you aren’t comfortable recording a response.
Next, you’ll complete a quick setup check to enable recording permissions in your browser and make sure your camera and microphone are working properly.
After setup, click Start test to begin. You’ll see the first video question and can take a moment to read it before recording.
When you click Start recording, a 3‑second countdown will begin before the recording starts. You can start speaking once the countdown ends.
If you’re not happy with your answer, you can click Restart and try again. You'll have up to 3 attempts to successfully record your response to each question.
When you finish your answer, click End recording. Then select Next question to move forward in your screener.
Screeners may include both video and written questions. Always answer honestly, as your responses determine whether you qualify for the interview.
Tips for video screeners
Read the question carefully before you start recording so you know what you’d like to say.
Keep your answer clear and focused.
Make sure you’re in a quiet place with good lighting so researchers can hear and see you clearly.
What happens if I'm screened out of a test?
If you're screened out of a test, don't worry! You'll still receive compensation for your time spent on the screener questions. Even though you didn't get to participate in the full test, we appreciate your effort and want to ensure you're rewarded for your participation.
Being screened out of a test doesn't mean you did anything wrong—it simply means that particular test might not be the best fit for you based on your answers. Remember, there will be more tests available, so keep an eye out for future opportunities that align better with your profile and interests.
Partial match assignments
You may receive an invitation for a test that requires a demographic detail you haven't yet answered in your profile. This means you're already a potential match, but we're missing some information to fully qualify you. Rather than skipping you over for the opportunity altogether, we'll ask you to answer that question when you accept the invitation.
If your answer matches what the researcher is looking for, you'll be able to proceed with the test as normal. If it doesn't, you won't be eligible for that particular test. Similar to being screened out, this doesn't mean you did anything wrong. It simply means this test wasn't the right fit based on your demographics.
Your answer will be saved to your profile automatically, so you'll be better matched for similar tests in the future. You can also answer any outstanding profile questions at any time from your dashboard or your profile settings. The more complete your profile, the less likely this is to happen, and the more tests you're likely to receive.
Unlike screeners, you will not be compensated if you are disqualified from the test based on your profile answers.
Why Are Accurate Responses Important?
It's important to be honest when answering profile and screener questions on UserCrowd. Rushing through the questions or providing false information can result in a poor testing experience for both you and the customer who created the test.
If you try to trick the system by giving different answers each time or by saying you're someone you're not—like lying about your age or job—you may get banned from doing more tests. For example, if you get similar tests multiple times and try different answers to see which one works, that's not allowed and can result in the loss of your earnings, as well as future testing opportunities.
Reporting issues with a screener
If you come across a screener that you find inappropriate, or you just don't want to take it, you can report it to us just like any other test.
To report a screener:
click the symbol at the top left of the question:
Select your reason for skipping the test, then click the Skip the test button:
