The GO Programming test is designed to evaluate the knowledge and skills necessary for entry-level to mid-level programmers to write, debug, deploy, and maintain programs in Go using libraries, keywords, packages, and tools from the distribution. It measures a broad range of competencies across six key areas: Core Syntax, Data Types, and Control Flow; Functions, Methods, and Interfaces; Data Structures including Structs, Slices, Maps, and Arrays; Error Handling; Concurrency with Goroutines and Channels; and Packages, Modules, and Tooling.

The test assesses practical skills through a variety of question formats, including Multiple Choice, Multiple Correct Answer, and Essay Composition questions, with some questions featuring individual time limits to discourage cheating and improve predictive performance. Questions are drawn from a large pool to further prevent cheating, and one or more questions leverage artificial intelligence in scoring to ensure accurate and consistent evaluation of candidate responses.

The specific attributes measured include:

Following completion, the test produces a Candidate Selection Report that includes an overall score and detailed scores for each attribute.

The Candidate Selection Report also provides expert interview questions that help you probe critical or low-scoring areas, along with a guide for noting your evaluation of the candidate's responses. Consistent use of an interview guide is an important part of gaining better candidate insights and making better hiring decisions.

Note that while the GO Programming assessment is a useful and efficient instrument for confirming a base level of skill or knowledge about this important topic, it is not intended to pinpoint the exact level of candidate or skill. We recommend that skills tests, like this one, be used in parallel with other measurements, such as cognitive ability, job fit, and behavioral history. Each different type of test provides a valuable piece of information you can use when evaluating potential job performance.