2. Exams

2.1. How much do LPI exams cost?

Our intention has always been to provide testing at the lowest possible cost. In most locales our exams cost $155 US. However, the LPIC-3 Certification exam (LPI-301) costs $200 US.

2.2 Why do I have to pay in US$ when taking the test elsewhere?

Our exams are delivered through VUE and Thomson Prometric. They may charge their fee per exam in US$, wherever it is taken or in local currency.

2.3 How many tests does it take to be certified?

The answer depends on how many levels of LPI certification you intend to pursue. There are currently 2 exams for the first level, 2 exams for the second, and one for the third. However, LPIC-3 also has additional "speciality" exams. Visit our program description for more information.

2.4 Where can I take the exams?

Our exams are offered through the test centers of Pearson Virtual University Enterprises (VUE) and Thomson Prometric. Visit their web pages to find a testing center near you.

2.5 How can I offer the exams to my students/clients?

You will need to become either a VUE or a Thomson Prometric testing center. You may also work with a testing center near you. Local testing centers can offer tests at your facility.

2.6 There is no VUE/PROMETRIC testing centers near me. What can I do?

Our suggestion is to contact your nearest testing center. Testing centers can administer exams onsite, so if a center is able to bring its equipment to you, you might be able to work something out. If there is a group of people in your area interested in getting certified, you might be able to get the testing center to schedule a day of exams for you. You can also approach local companies - typically computer training or services companies - and encourage them to become a testing center.

2.7 Why aren't you offering exams across the web?

We would have liked to offer exams through the web, but until we can get around the fact that someone else could take the exam for you - or be right with you as you take the exam - there's really no way to securely offer the test online.

2.8 Do all LPI exams use computer-based testing?

In order to deploy our exams globally and to include the largest number of people, we deliver our exams by computer-based testing through Pearson VUE and Prometric. Occasionally, we do hold exam labs where paper-and-pencil exams are given.

2.9 What about the testing obstacles presented to individuals for whom English is not their native tongue?

LPI recognizes this as a demand issue. Some time ago we created Japanese and German translations of our exams. We also make some exams available in Chinese, French, Portuguese and Spanish. If you believe there is sufficient demand for a translation to a specific language please help us to identify this need and we will consider it.

2.10 There are many questions about obscure options for commands. Why are we supposed to know them? I am an experienced Linux professional, and I still consult the man pages!

Although we try to avoid focusing on test items like these, they are, psychometrically speaking, useful and valid. The goal of LPI's tests is to identify competent, experienced people from among unqualified people. Experienced people tend to know more of these options than inexperienced people. For example, an experienced administrator might answer 50% of these questions correctly, versus only 10% by novices. So, as much as you may dislike them, these questions serve as an excellent differentiator. Moreover, in our item pilot testing process we investigate the quality of new pilot (unscored) test items. If nobody answers the item correctly (or if everybody does), the item is useless and is removed. All scored test items on our exams have characteristics that are useful in making the distinction between qualified and unqualified persons.

2.11 How are the test scores computed? How many questions do I need to answer correctly to pass? What is the maximum score? How good is my score of ...?

For LPIC-1, from December 2002 to February 2003, concurrently while the beta exam data was being collected, an Angoff standard setting project was underway. A number of experienced Linux professionals were contacted to participate in the standard setting study. In the study, seven participants provided ratings for the items from Exams 101 and 102. Average Angoff ratings were calculated for each item and these ratings were utilized to set the minimum passing score for each form. During the standard setting process and to create a passing standard, we utilized an analysis method called Rasch IRT (Item Response Theory). Rasch methods create examinee scores in a scale called logits (log-odds unit) which are especially useful for this kind of project.

Rather than providing logit measures to examinees and to create a more useful interpretation of scores, LPI provides scaled scores to examinees. LPIC-1 scaled scores are created in such a way that the minimum passing score is always 500, the standard deviation is 100 and scores generally fall between 200 and 800. The average scaled score for the LPIC-1 exams is usually around 480, slightly less than the minimum passing score. Below is a table that describes the current test forms and the minimum passing scores. Please keep in mind that although these tables list the number of items scored, there may be additional items that are presented on the examinations that are being pilot tested and thus are not scored.

For LPIC-2, the process is similar, but at the time Rasch IRT was not being used, so the minimum passing raw score from its Angoff standard setting study was directly used for the passing standard. Scaled scores were created in a similar way, but a scaled score of 500 was predetermined to be the mean score, rather than the minimum passing score. It is likely that after LPIC-2 is revised, it too eventually will be predetermined to have the minimum passing score set to 500. For LPIC-2, below is a table that describes the test forms and the minimum score needed to pass.

2.12 So how good are your tests?

We feel that our exams are very good, since we apply psychometric principles throughout the exam development and scoring process and have experienced, dedicated Linux community members to assist us as subject matter experts for our projects.

In terms of statistics in an item analysis we ran on LPIC-1 data, the overall exam reliabilities from all the forms ranged from .86 to .92, which indicates that our exams measure the Linux professional abilities of examinees consistently well. Reliability coefficients range from 0 to 1, and a reliability of .8 or higher is generally expected for high-stakes exams.

Other statistics that we scrutinize for individual items are the point-biserial statistic and a Rasch fit statistic. These statistics indicate if there is some unusual or unexpected response pattern for an item, such as when the failing examinees get an item correct more often than do the passing examinees. We use these statistics to aid our subject matter experts when revising items or in the process of selecting items for a new form. In the last LPIC-1 analysis, all forms generally had less than 5% of the items with unusual statistics, indicating that the exams and the measurement scaling are behaving as we would expect it should.

Because of these statistics and the excellent psychometric properties of our exams, we feel our exams are tough, but fair.

2.13 How long will it take for LPI to send out my certificate once I've passed?

The total time to receive your certificate once you've been notified that you have passed an exam is between 2 to 5 weeks. It will take approximately 1-2 weeks for processing and up to an additional 3 weeks for international mail delivery. Please note, however, that it is critical that you notify LPI if you change mailing addresses during this time.

2.14 Do LPI certifications expire?

LPI's recertification policy is outlined in our policies section (see item #6)