Do you use Google Analytics on a regular basis? Are you the go-to person when someone has questions about Google Analytics? Do you love diving into data and getting something really quite useful out of it?
Have you ever considered becoming Google Analytics qualified?
What is the GAIQ Exam and why should I bother?
GAIQ (Google Analytics Individual Qualification) is an exam offered by Google to prove that an individual is proficient in the use and understanding of Google Analytics.
Key Stats
- Costs $50 – you both purchase it and take it online here
- Only available in English
- 70 Google Analytics Related questions (all multiple choice) – chosen at random
- 90 minutes long (test can be paused, expires 5 days after starting)
- 80% is the passing score (you can get up to 14 questions wrong)
- Receive a certificate, and your name is listed in Google's list of Qualified Individuals. Not to brag, but here I am.
- Once passed, certificate expires after 18 months (so if you're reading this in 2015 or later, the link above probably won't work)
Reasons to do the GAIQ test
- Official Qualification from Google
- Can be added to a CV/Resumé/LinkedIN
- To have idea of where you can improve upon (pass or fail, Google give you feedback on the questions you most commonly answered incorrectly)
- If the company you work (or hope to work for) for is interested in becoming a Google Analytics Certified Partner Google say "It is highly preferred to have at least 1 employee who is certified in the GAIQ test."
Gathering Google Analytics Knowledge
In order to pass the GAIQ test, the following is required:
- Knowledge of how to use Google Analytics
- Knowledge of how Google Analytics works (i.e. what cookies it uses etc.)
- Knowledge of RegEx (Regular Expressions)
- Ability to think logically about a problem
List of Google Analytics IQ Resources
- Google Analytics IQ Lessons AKA Conversion University – Google's official presentations about how to use Google Analytics
- Google Analytics – Nothing is really better than using the software itself. Explore everything!
- Regular Expressions Reference Centre – If you find RegEx tricky, I found this reference table really useful
- This guide by Himanshu Sharma - written 2013, quite relevant for the current format
- The "Big Daddy" of resources by Jens Sorensen – written in 2010, still relevant, but some things have changed since then
Doing the GAIQ Exam
In all likelihood, you've probably done some kind of exam at some stage in your life before. The advice you teachers gave you is still sound today.
Some exam advice that your teachers always gave you
- Make Notes – either in a physical notebook or digitally as you work
- Read everything. Read the question, read the possible answers
- Don't Rush
- Re-read your answers
Some GAIQ specific advice
- Be confident before taking it. There's no set date, and it's a waste of time/money to do it before you're ready.
- This is an Open Book exam – have Google Analytics open for reference. I imagine some people know exactly where/how to find something in Google Analytics but maybe forget the terminology.
- You can pause the test to come back to later. If you struggle with concentrating for more than half an hour, you can take a break! Just so long you come back to it within five days of starting.
- Eliminate answers you know are wrong. You can actually score-out incorrect answers for later reference
- If you're not sure what a question is asking, mark it and come back later. The IQ exam has the ability to skip over questions and review them later.
Advice from some Google Analytics Qualified Individuals
Some of the old resources are not relevant and somewhat outdated. The Conversion University itself seems to have dropped some modules such as the cookie ones which may be worth mentioning. There is also a lot more focus on result based reporting – i.e. questions on conversion rates/assisted conversions etc. which will probably throw people off this new test as these are new metrics compared to the original test. Questions are also a lot more logical reasoning based as opposed to direct yes/no direct answers.
- Alan Ng, Data Insights Analyst (Twitter)
I used some notes in a notepad I had saved from last time I took the test. In addition, I used Branded3?s Google Analytics account to look around when I was unsure of some of the terminology
- AJ, Data Insights Account Manager & Analyst
If you have any questions about Google Analytics or the GAIQ test, feel free to send us an e-mail or chat to me on Twitter @ejbarnes89
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