At DataCamp, we’re committed to helping you make the most of your learning experience by focusing on areas where you can grow. To support this, we offer test-out assessments for select courses, allowing you to demonstrate existing knowledge and skip content you’ve already mastered.
This is where test-out assessments come in. In some of our tracks, you’ll see this next to some courses:
What Is a Test-Out Assessment?
Some courses offer a test-out option. This allows you to validate your knowledge of the course material by taking a short assessment, typically a mix of multiple-choice questions and/or coding challenges.
- ✅ If you pass, the course will be marked as skipped.
- ❌ If you do not pass, you’ll need to complete the course by going through its regular lessons and exercises.
📌 Note: Not all courses support test-out assessments. If you don’t see the option, it means that test-out is not currently available for that course.
Assessments vs Test-Out Assessments
Assessments are designed to help you measure and track your overall knowledge on different topics. They can be taken multiple times, are found in the Assessments Hub, and are great for identifying strengths and areas for improvement.
Test-Out Assessments, on the other hand, are course-specific, created to let you skip content you already know. You only get one attempt, and they’re not listed in the Assessments Hub, you’ll see them directly on eligible courses within a track, marked with “Already know this?”.
Skipped vs Completed
- Skipped ≠ Completed: Skipping a course means you did not complete the course content, so you will not receive a statement of accomplishment for the individual course.
- However, if you complete the rest of the track—including all other required courses—you will receive a statement of accomplishment for the full track.
Why This Matters
Test-out assessments are designed to respect your time and existing expertise. If you already understand a subject, you shouldn't have to repeat lessons just to check a box. With test-out, you can validate your knowledge and continue progressing efficiently through your track.
What to Expect from a Test-Out Assessment
If you've taken one of our assessments or certifications, a test-out assessment will look very familiar to you. Like our other assessments, you'll first see an introduction page displaying the course title, number of available attempts, number of questions, and a button to start the assessment.Once you press "Start Assessment", the first question will appear. A timer in the top-left corner will show your allotted time for the question—usually 60 to 120 seconds based on the type of question (multiple choice, code input, or written answer).
To proceed, select the correct answer and press submit. At this point, the timer will be paused, and it will only resume after you press "Next Question."
Once you finish all the questions, you’ll land on your score page. Here, you can review your score and see which questions you got right or wrong. If you’ve passed the assessment, clicking “Continue” will take you back to your track page, where you’ll be presented with the option to skip the course. If you decide to skip, click “Skip Course.” Otherwise, you can continue taking the course as usual.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does a Test-Out Assessment Take?
The number of questions in the test-out depends on the length and complexity of the course. On average, you can expect to spend about 10–15 minutes completing a test-out assessment, with 60-120 seconds allotted time per question, depending on the question type.
What Score Do I Need to Pass?
In most cases, the passing score is 75%. You’ll need to answer at least 75% of the questions correctly to skip the course.
I failed the test-out assessment. Can I retake it?
No. Test-out assessments are a one-time opportunity. If you don’t pass, you must complete the course through the standard lessons and exercises.
What happens if I complete a skipped course later?
You can go back and complete a course you previously skipped. It will appear in your learner dashboard, and you’ll receive a Statement of Accomplishment upon completion.
However, if you're using DataCamp through an LMS (Learning Management System), we won’t be able to send the completion data to your LMS. This is because the course was initially marked as skipped.
What courses can be skipped?
You can skip many courses using test-out assessments in supported tracks and technologies. Look for the “Already know this?” box next to a course to check if this option is available.
This means you don’t need to memorize a list—just look for the prompt when exploring your track.
If you have further questions about test-out eligibility or supported courses, please contact our Support Team.
Do skipped courses count towards track completion?
Yes. Whether a course is completed via studying or test-out, it counts toward track completion.
I’m an administrator. Can I disable the ability to skip courses for my learners?
Currently, there is no option to disable test-out functionality.
However, we strongly recommend using test-out assessments—they provide a reliable way to validate your employees’ existing skills, enabling a more efficient and personalized learning experience. They also offer insight into strengths and development areas.
Do I earn XP for skipped courses?
No. XP (experience points) are awarded for completing exercises. Since skipped courses don’t involve exercises, you won’t receive XP for them.
Will a skipped course appear on my portfolio?
No. Skipped courses do not appear in your public portfolio.
However, if you complete a track (even with skipped courses), the full track will appear in your portfolio.
Will skipped courses show in my LMS or impact learning hours?
No. Skipped courses do not send completions to your LMS, and learning hours are not recorded for skipped courses.