Brain Bench C++ Free Assessment

A friend of mine recently told that BrainBench has a promotion with a free C++ test (to be requested for free before March, 31) and I decided to spend an hour to take it. Here is the test description:

Our C++ test measures your knowledge of programming in C++. Designed for experienced programmers, this test covers the following topics: Construction and Destruction, Encapsulation and Classes, Exceptions, I/O, Inheritance, Non-core Features, Overloading, Standard Template Library, Templates, and Types.

I have been knowing about BrainBench since long ago, if my memory serves me right (since soon after their start, I suppose) and when I took Delphi test. I previously heard that some employers require that candidates pass this kind of test for the employer to have an evaluation of skills, for example from my email archive:

We will ask you to solve a small but fairly difficult low-level API problem in Delphi. If that task is completed in a timely manner, we will then arrange for a personal interview. Part of the personal interview may include passing a test paid for by iolo technologies, LLC from Brain Bench (www.brainbench.com). This test can be taken before or after the interview.

Not my case and seriously I think it makes more sense to evaluate a junior or lower intermediate this way. The test contained a lot of STL and C++ language specific questions which I, having been a C++ engineer for years, have never dealt with in real life. No wonder about STL because I have been ATL/WTL guy but this was true even non-STL questions. And I am pretty sure that many of those would be as surprising and unexpected for the folks I am nip and tuck on a daily basis…

What came to me as surprise was “Percentile”, higher than 99% of those who took a free test:

Score: 4.59
Percentile: Scored higher than 99% of previous examinees

Demonstrates understanding of most advanced concepts within the subject area. Appears capable of mentoring others on the most complex projects.

Strong Areas

• Exceptions
• Construction and Destruction
• Standard Template Library
• Types

Weak Areas

• None noted