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Shell Test

The Shell online test uses scenario-based multiple-choice questions to evaluate a candidate's knowledge and skills related to shell scripting fundamentals, file and directory management, text processing and manipulation, command-line tools and utilities, process management and control, networking and system administration, and shell scripting best practices and design patterns. The test aims to assess the candidate's proficiency in Unix shell scripting and their ability to perform system administration tasks using shell scripts.

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Screen candidates with a 35 mins test

Test duration:  ~ 35 mins
Difficulty level:  Moderate
Availability:  Available as custom test
Questions:
  • 10 Shell Scripting MCQs
  • 5 Linux MCQs
Covered skills:
Shell commands
Shell Scripting
File Handling
Memory Management
Concurrent execution
Troubleshooting
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Adaface skill assessments measure on-the-job skills of candidates, providing employers with an accurate tool for screening potential hires.

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Use the Shell Assessment Test to shortlist qualified candidates

The Shell Test helps recruiters and hiring managers identify qualified candidates from a pool of resumes, and helps in taking objective hiring decisions. It reduces the administrative overhead of interviewing too many candidates and saves time by filtering out unqualified candidates at the first step of the hiring process.

The test screens for the following skills that hiring managers look for in candidates:

  • Able to write shell commands and scripts to automate tasks
  • Proficient in handling files and directories in the shell environment
  • Knowledgeable in memory management and optimization in shell scripting
  • Skilled in concurrent execution and multitasking in the shell
  • Capable of troubleshooting and resolving issues in the shell
  • Familiar with common shell commands and their usage
  • Able to manipulate and extract data from files in the shell
  • Experienced in using shell scripting for automation and repetitive tasks
  • Knowledgeable in process management and job control in the shell
  • Proficient in shell scripting techniques and best practices
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Screen candidates with the highest quality questions

We have a very high focus on the quality of questions that test for on-the-job skills. Every question is non-googleable and we have a very high bar for the level of subject matter experts we onboard to create these questions. We have crawlers to check if any of the questions are leaked online. If/ when a question gets leaked, we get an alert. We change the question for you & let you know.

How we design questions

These are just a small sample from our library of 15,000+ questions. The actual questions on this Shell Test will be non-googleable.

🧐 Question

Easy

Commands
Solve
Which of the following unix commands change the case of first three lines of file “classified” from lowercase to uppercase
 image

Easy

Expressions
Solve
What does this shell script output?
 image

Easy

Loops
Solve
What are fourth and sixth lines output by this script:
 image
🧐 Question🔧 Skill

Easy

Commands

2 mins

Shell Scripting
Solve

Easy

Expressions

2 mins

Shell Scripting
Solve

Easy

Loops

2 mins

Shell Scripting
Solve
🧐 Question🔧 Skill💪 Difficulty⌛ Time
Commands
Shell Scripting
Easy2 mins
Solve
Expressions
Shell Scripting
Easy2 mins
Solve
Loops
Shell Scripting
Easy2 mins
Solve

Test candidates on core Shell Hiring Test topics

Shell commands: Shell commands refer to the commands that are executed in a shell or terminal to interact with an operating system. This skill is essential in assessing a candidate's knowledge and proficiency in working with command-line interfaces and executing various operations such as file manipulation, process management, and system configuration.

Shell Scripting: Shell scripting involves writing sequences of commands in a scripting language to automate tasks and perform complex operations. Assessing this skill is crucial as it demonstrates a candidate's ability to create efficient and reusable scripts that enhance productivity and streamline system administration.

File Handling: File handling encompasses the operations performed on files, such as creating, reading, writing, modifying, and deleting files. Evaluating this skill allows recruiters to gauge a candidate's understanding of file systems, their ability to manipulate files, and their knowledge of file permissions, file formats, and file system organization.

Memory Management: Memory management refers to the management of computer memory resources to optimize the utilization of memory for efficient execution of programs. Assessing this skill helps recruiters assess a candidate's understanding of memory allocation, deallocation, memory leaks, and the ability to optimize memory usage in shell scripts.

Concurrent execution: Concurrent execution pertains to the ability to overlap multiple tasks to improve overall system performance. Evaluating this skill is significant as it demonstrates a candidate's familiarity with concurrent programming, process synchronization, scheduling, and efficient utilization of system resources.

Troubleshooting: Troubleshooting involves identifying and resolving issues or problems that may arise during the execution of shell scripts or system operations. This skill is vital to assess as it indicates a candidate's ability to analyze and debug errors, perform system diagnosis, and apply effective troubleshooting techniques to ensure smooth execution and optimal performance.

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Have questions about the Shell Hiring Test?

What roles can I use the Shell Assessment Test for?

Here are few roles for which we recommend this test:

  • Linux Deveoper
  • Bash Developer
  • Shell Scripting Developer
  • DevOps Engineer
Can I combine Shell Test with Linux questions?

Yes, you can request a custom test combining Shell Test with Linux questions. For more details on assessing Linux skills, check out our Linux Online Test.

How to use Shell Test in my hiring process?

Use the Shell Test as a pre-screening tool. Include a link to the test in your job post or invite candidates via email. This replaces traditional resume screening and helps find skilled candidates early.

What are the main technical aptitude tests?

Our technical aptitude tests include Shell Online Assessment Test, Linux Online Test, and PowerShell Online Test.

Do you have any anti-cheating or proctoring features in place?

We have the following anti-cheating features in place:

  • Non-googleable questions
  • IP proctoring
  • Screen proctoring
  • Web proctoring
  • Webcam proctoring
  • Plagiarism detection
  • Secure browser
  • Copy paste protection

Read more about the proctoring features.

What experience level can I use this test for?

Each Adaface assessment is customized to your job description/ ideal candidate persona (our subject matter experts will pick the right questions for your assessment from our library of 10000+ questions). This assessment can be customized for any experience level.

I'm a candidate. Can I try a practice test?

No. Unfortunately, we do not support practice tests at the moment. However, you can use our sample questions for practice.

Can I get a free trial?

Yes, you can sign up for free and preview this test.

What is Shell Test?

The Shell Test evaluates a candidate's proficiency in shell scripting, Linux commands, and related topics. It's used by recruiters to identify skilled candidates for roles that require expertise in shell programming and Linux system administration.

What topics are evaluated in the Shell Test?

The Shell Test covers shell commands, shell scripting, file handling, memory management, concurrent execution, and troubleshooting.

Can I test Shell Scripting and Linux together in a test?

Yes, we recommend combining Shell Scripting and Linux in a test. It provides a comprehensive assessment. Check out our Shell Online Assessment Test.

Can I combine multiple skills into one custom assessment?

Yes, absolutely. Custom assessments are set up based on your job description, and will include questions on all must-have skills you specify. Here's a quick guide on how you can request a custom test.

How do I interpret test scores?

The primary thing to keep in mind is that an assessment is an elimination tool, not a selection tool. A skills assessment is optimized to help you eliminate candidates who are not technically qualified for the role, it is not optimized to help you find the best candidate for the role. So the ideal way to use an assessment is to decide a threshold score (typically 55%, we help you benchmark) and invite all candidates who score above the threshold for the next rounds of interview.

Does every candidate get the same questions?

Yes, it makes it much easier for you to compare candidates. Options for MCQ questions and the order of questions are randomized. We have anti-cheating/ proctoring features in place. In our enterprise plan, we also have the option to create multiple versions of the same assessment with questions of similar difficulty levels.

What is the cost of using this test?

You can check out our pricing plans.

I just moved to a paid plan. How can I request a custom assessment?

Here is a quick guide on how to request a custom assessment on Adaface.

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