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# CGA-Sprint Prep

### General Coding Assessment Information <a href="#general-coding-assessment-information" id="general-coding-assessment-information"></a>

**This assignment is an optional preview of the GCA test.  You are required to take the GCA during Sprint 4, so we encourage you take your first attempt before Sprint 2 Module 2. We will record your highest attempt. You are not expected to know how to do everything on this test at this point in the curriculum. This is an optional preview of the test.**

Follow this link to take the test, after reading the instructions below. You must take the test with your [@lambdastudents.com (Links to an external site.)](https://github.com/lambdastudents.com) email address!

[General Coding Assessment CodeSignal Test (Links to an external site.)](https://app.codesignal.com/get-certified?invite=TGy6wcugpm4LMFEQX)

[GCA FAQ and Info (Links to an external site.)](https://github.com/LambdaSchool/CS-Wiki/wiki/CodeSignal-GCA-Info)

### What is the GCA? <a href="#what-is-the-gca" id="what-is-the-gca"></a>

The GCA is a proctored assessment that provides a certified report you can use when applying for jobs. It is a standardized assessment that provides a high-level score for a candidate's programming skill. It maps programming skills to a score from 300 to 850, combining information about problem-solving and code-writing skills and speed and code quality. It is a measure meant to give recruiters, hiring managers, and educators – as well as the test-takers themselves – a quick view of the test-taker’s skills. Taking the assessment will be a data point that informs how career-ready you are and how you can continue to improve during Labs and Job Search. One key way that hiring managers are assessing new hires during remote work is with automated technical assessment testing, like GCA. This is why we will continue to evaluate how our students perform on these types of tests.

### How do I take the test? <a href="#how-do-i-take-the-test" id="how-do-i-take-the-test"></a>

Be sure to take the test using the link above, and sign up with your [@lambdastudents (Links to an external site.)](https://github.com/lambdastudents) e-mail. You must also select to share your results with Lambda so we can get your score back.

You will also need the following to take the test:

1. Grab your photo ID. Have a government-issued photo ID ready to show (like driver's license or passport).
2. Prepare your computer. Make sure you have the following: Chrome or Firefox, a reliable internet connection, webcam and microphone.&#x20;
3. Time and space. Reserve 1 hour and 10 minutes to take the test somewhere quiet.&#x20;
4. Share your webcam and desktop. When prompted, share your entire desktop screen as well as your webcam. Do not end video or close any windows or screensharing until the test is finished.

Again, you must take the test with your [@lambdastudents (Links to an external site.)](https://github.com/lambdastudents) email address! This may require you to sign out of CodeSignal if you previously created an account and sign in with your [@lambdastudents (Links to an external site.)](https://github.com/lambdastudents) email.

### What is on the test? <a href="#what-is-on-the-test" id="what-is-on-the-test"></a>

Each test draws from a pool of question types. There are four tasks for you to solve. Each test contains a very basic task, a simple data manipulation task, an implementation task (requires writing at least 25-40 lines of code, but the description clearly explains what needs to be done), and a problem-solving task (where you need to come up with the approach yourself).

### How long does it take? <a href="#how-long-does-it-take" id="how-long-does-it-take"></a>

The GCA test is limited to 1 hour and 10 minutes, starting from the time you begin the test.

### Can I retake the GCA? <a href="#can-i-retake-the-gca" id="can-i-retake-the-gca"></a>

You can retake the GCA after a 2 week 'cool off' period.

### Why is the test proctored? <a href="#why-is-the-test-proctored" id="why-is-the-test-proctored"></a>

The test is proctored to guarantee the integrity of the assessment. Since GCA assessments are certified and shared across multiple companies, automated proctoring is required for the GCA. Without automated proctoring, for example, someone else can take the test for the given candidate and provide inaccurate test results. Note that Lambda School does not share your results with companies, but you may do so if you choose.

Virtual proctoring data is reviewed by CodeSignal only and is stored for no more than 15 days.

### Share Your Results on LinkedIn <a href="#share-your-results-on-linkedin" id="share-your-results-on-linkedin"></a>

After the test, you can share your certification directly with employers or add it to your LinkedIn profile! [Click here (Links to an external site.)](https://support.codesignal.com/hc/en-us/articles/360040384033-How-do-I-add-GCA-as-a-certification-on-LinkedIn-) to learn how. (Note that this is optional).&#x20;

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