What can I expect during the practice test? – Contributor Support Center

The practice test helps you get familiar with how UserTesting works before you start receiving paid test opportunities. During the test, you’ll speak your thoughts out loud and complete a set of realistic tasks—just like you would in an actual customer test.

Even though it's a practice test, your performance helps determine whether you’re ready to join the UserTesting Network.

What happens during the practice test

Here’s what you’ll do:

Share your screen and audio

We’ll need to hear you and see what’s happening on your screen during the test. This all gets uploaded as a recording that our team manually reviews to verify you're comfortable thinking out loud and can follow instructions.

Share your screen and enable your microphone (GIF) (2).gif

Think out loud

As you complete each task, read the instructions out loud and say what you’re doing, why you're doing it, and what you're thinking.

Thinking out loud might sound like:

I’m going to scroll down and see if there’s more information.
This isn’t what I expected. I thought I’d see a different page.
I’m clicking this link because it looks like it might answer my question.
I’m not sure what this is, but I’ll tap it and find out.
This part is confusing. I don’t know what to do next, but I’ll try going back.

Review the scenario

The scenario sets the stage for your test. It lets you know what to keep in mind as you complete your tasks. For example, in your practice test, the scenario will instruct you to search for articles on our support center.

Review the scenario (GIF).gif

Complete a short set of tasks

If you take your practice test on a mobile device, you'll use the task button to review the test instructions and move from one task to another. On a computer, you'll switch between two tabs in your web browser.

Let’s review!

Scenario

The background story for your test. It explains what you’re trying to do during the test—so read it carefully and try to stick with this mindset.

Task

A specific action or step you’ll complete during the test. For example, “Find an article that explains how to reset your password.”

Task button

A tool in the UserTesting app that shows or hides the task instructions. Tap the + icon to view instructions or – to hide them during your test.

What happens after you finish your test

After you submit your test, we’ll review your recording and email you the results. You can also view the status of your practice test in the applicant checklist. While we're reviewing your test, it status will be In Review. When we've approved your test, the status will update to Done.

If your test doesn’t meet the requirements, you’ll receive feedback and may be given one more opportunity to try again. On your checklist, your test status will be Try again.

Common reasons a practice test isn't approved:

Quiet or muffled audio
Not speaking thoughts out loud
Missing or skipping instructions
Poor screen/audio quality

Tips to help you succeed

Give yourself 10 minutes.
Complete the test in one sitting. You can’t pause or resume later.

Find a quiet, distraction-free space.
Turn off notifications and minimize background noise.

Check your microphone.
Make sure it’s unmuted, unblocked, and not too far away—avoid Bluetooth headphones.
↳ Get help with audio issues

Allow screen recording permissions.
Follow prompts carefully, especially on Android or macOS.

Get into the mindset.
Treat the scenario as if you’re genuinely trying to complete the tasks on your own.

Think out loud.
Narrate what you see and do in real time—imagine you’re talking a friend through it.

Reinstall the app if needed.
If something isn’t working, uninstall and reinstall the UserTesting app from the App Store or Google Play.

In this article:

What happens during the practice test

What happens after you finish your test

Tips to help you succeed

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