Quick answer. Common marketing test tasks include planning a small Google Ads campaign, reading a channel performance table, outlining an SEO blog post, building a one-week social calendar, and auditing a landing page. For each one, show your reasoning, state your assumptions, keep it to one page, and hit the deadline.

A test task scares people more than it should. You get a take-home assignment, a tight deadline, and a blank page, and your brain freezes. I have set these tasks for junior hires, and I have graded a lot of them, so I know what makes one stand out.

Here are five realistic examples you might actually get for an entry-level marketing role in the US, with how I would approach each. Test tasks are not super common, plenty of jobs skip them, but they show up sometimes, so it helps to be ready before one lands in your inbox.

How do you plan a small Google Ads campaign on a 1,000 dollar budget?

This is the classic paid search task. They hand you a fake product, a 1,000 dollar monthly budget, and ask for a plan. They are not testing whether you can predict the future. They want to see structure and a clear goal.

Build it in layers: one campaign for the product, then two ad groups split by intent (for example, one for branded or high-intent terms and one for problem-aware searches). Inside, pick 5 keywords that a buyer would actually type, like "buy running shoes online" rather than just "shoes." Write 2 headlines per ad that match the search, such as "Lightweight Running Shoes" and "Free Returns, Ships Today."

  • Campaign: Running Shoes - Search
  • Ad group 1: high intent ("buy running shoes," "running shoes online")
  • Ad group 2: problem aware ("best shoes for flat feet," "shoes for long runs")
  • Metric to optimize: cost per conversion (CPA), not clicks

The CPA point is the part most beginners miss. Clicks feel like progress, but the business pays for sales, so anchor your plan to cost per conversion and say so out loud.

How do you decide what to scale or cut from a channel table?

The analytics task usually gives you a small table: three channels with spend, clicks, and conversions. They want to see if you can turn numbers into a decision instead of just describing them.

Do two quick calculations for each channel. CPA equals spend divided by conversions. ROAS equals revenue divided by spend (if they give you an order value, use it; if not, state the one you assume). Then rank the channels.

  • Scale the channel with the lowest CPA and healthy ROAS, since more budget there should bring more profitable sales.
  • Cut or pause the channel with a CPA above what a sale is worth, because every dollar there loses money.
  • Hold and watch the middle one, and say what number would make you change your mind.

Show the math in a tiny table so the grader can follow it. A decision backed by CPA and ROAS beats a paragraph of opinion every time.

How do you outline an SEO blog post for a test task?

The content task asks you to pick a blog topic and plan it for search. Keep the topic close to the company's product so it reads like real work, not a school exercise.

Choose one target keyword that a customer would search, for example "how to clean running shoes." Then sketch an H2 outline that answers the question fully, and write a meta title and description that would earn the click.

  • Target keyword: how to clean running shoes
  • H2 outline: What you need, Step-by-step cleaning, How to dry them safely, Mistakes that ruin shoes, How often to clean
  • Meta title: How to Clean Running Shoes (Without Ruining Them)
  • Meta description: A simple step-by-step guide to clean and dry your running shoes safely, with the mistakes to avoid. Under 160 characters.

You do not need to write the whole article. You need to prove you understand search intent and can structure a page that actually answers it. Free tools like Google's autocomplete and the "People also ask" box give you real subtopics in minutes.

How do you build a one-week social media calendar?

The social task is usually a five-post Instagram plan for one week. They want to see that you can think in hooks and formats, not just "post nice photos."

For each post, give three things: the hook (the first line or visual that stops the scroll), the format (reel, carousel, single image, story), and the CTA (what you want the viewer to do). Spread the formats so the week does not feel repetitive.

  • Mon: Reel, hook "3 mistakes that wear out your shoes fast," CTA save this post
  • Tue: Carousel, hook "How to pick the right size," CTA comment your size
  • Wed: Single image, hook customer result or before/after, CTA shop the link
  • Thu: Story poll, hook "Which color would you pick?," CTA vote
  • Fri: Reel, hook "A day in our workshop," CTA follow for more

Tools like Canva make the visuals easy, but the calendar is graded on thinking, not design. A clear hook and a real CTA on every post show you understand how people move from scroll to action.

How do you audit a landing page in five points?

The audit task gives you a live page or a screenshot and asks for improvements. The trap is listing random nitpicks. Tie every point to a reason, because the reason is what proves you understand why it matters.

  • Clearer headline: the value is buried, and visitors decide in seconds whether to stay.
  • One obvious call to action: there are three competing buttons, so the visitor hesitates instead of clicking.
  • Add proof: no reviews or trust signals, and new buyers need a reason to believe you.
  • Faster load and mobile fit: most traffic is on phones, and a slow or cramped page loses people before they read.
  • Shorter form: seven fields is friction, and asking for less usually lifts sign-ups.

If you can, point to where on the page each issue lives so the feedback feels concrete. Five sharp points with reasons land better than fifteen vague ones.

Whatever task you get, the same simple template keeps your answer clean and easy to grade. Drop it at the top of your document and fill it in:

  • Goal: what success looks like in one line
  • Assumptions: anything you had to guess, stated plainly
  • Plan: the actual work (campaign, table, outline, calendar, or audit)
  • What I would measure: the metric you would watch, like CPA or sign-ups
  • Next step: what you would do after this if it were a real job

Key takeaways

  • Show your reasoning, not just the answer, because graders are testing how you think.
  • State your assumptions, keep it to one page, and hit the deadline every time.
  • Anchor paid and analytics tasks to CPA and ROAS, not to clicks.
  • Test tasks are not common, but be ready so one does not catch you off guard.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a marketing test task take?
Aim for two to three hours of real work, even if they give you a few days. Graders can tell when someone spent twenty hours polishing, and that is not the skill they are buying. They want clear thinking under a normal time limit. If the task is huge, do the core parts well and note what you would add with more time.
What if the task is missing information I need?
State your assumptions and move on. Real marketing work is full of gaps, and a hiring manager wants to see you make a sensible call rather than freeze. Write one line like "I am assuming an average order value of 60 dollars" and keep going. Naming your assumptions is a sign of maturity, not weakness.
Should I use AI to do the test task?
Use it like a calculator, not a ghostwriter. AI can speed up keyword ideas or a first draft, but graders can spot generic AI output instantly, and it usually misses the company's specifics. Add your own reasoning, real numbers, and a clear point of view. The thinking is what gets you hired, and that has to be yours.
Is it normal to get a test task for an entry-level job?
It happens, but it is not the norm. Plenty of junior roles hire on a resume, a portfolio, and an interview alone. Some companies add a small take-home to see how you think, and a few use it to filter a big applicant pool. Treat it as a chance to show your work, since most candidates rush it.