The Microsoft SQL Server Database Administration assessment is designed to measure the knowledge and skills of job candidates and employees in administering and maintaining Microsoft SQL Server environments, with a primary focus on database configuration, maintenance, and operations. The test evaluates a broad range of competency areas including Backup and Restore, Security Management, Index and Statistics Management, Monitoring and Troubleshooting, SQL Server Agent and Job Automation, and Database Integrity and Maintenance. It assesses practical skills such as managing installations and upgrades, implementing high availability solutions, configuring tempdb, and automating tasks through T-SQL scripting and stored procedures. Questions are drawn from a large pool to reduce the risk of cheating, and the assessment includes a mix of Multiple Choice, Multiple Correct Answer, and Essay Composition question types. AI-assisted scoring is applied to one or more questions, and certain questions are subject to individual time limits to further deter cheating and enhance the predictive validity of results.

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 Microsoft SQL Server Database Administration 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.