CDMM’s IT Proficiency Test is aimed primarily at students and researchers as an advisory help for determining whether their computer skills match the scope and complexity of their envisioned projects and research questions.
OECD research in 2015 has shown that only 7 percent of computer users in Denmark (and similar numbers with small variations for other OECD countries) are highly skilled in computer use, when skill levels are measured as ability to handle a number of operators and operations.
Skill level distribution in Danish computer users (after OECD, 2015. 11% of the populace which cannot use computers are omitted.)
OECD's definition is extensively researched and practical in evaluating computer skills as fluency rather than expertise, and has been used by CDMM for creating a skill level test with students and researchers in the humanities in mind.
It is advised to take the test with the understanding that very few people actually have a high IT proficiency, and that you may thus get feedback that suggests lower computers skills than you would estimate. Long term computer usage may cause users to consider themselves experienced as IT users, without in fact having a broad level of understanding and experience with using various interfaces, advanced settings, or data handling. Being very good with a limited number of tasks and programs is not the same as being an experienced computer user.
If the test result suggests a lower level of IT proficiency than one expects this does not imply that one is not good at what one does. On the contrary the assumption here is that people use computers in ways that are meaningful and suitable for their daily needs - but if new skills are needed the impact of this will depend on one's broader IT proficiency rather than one's stable experience with well-known programs and routines.
The test is a multiple choice test with questions based on different complexity and difficulty levels of daily computer usage situations. The test is purely advisory, and does not serve as a certification.
Taking the IT proficiency test will result in a feedback page including general advice on how to proceed with projects of varying complexity levels. The feedback can be saved by using the print icon at the bottom.
Test input will be kept for research purposes in accordance with GDPR.
Information on the history and underlying design of the test is offered in:
Harlung (2026): A Matrix for Testing IT Proficiency - History and General Design
For a detailed discussion on how OECD's results from 2015 may be related to researchers and students in the humanities, please refer to:
Harlung (2025): Web Archives and Web Archiving - Introduction for Scholars and Students, chapter 3.1-3.4.
Important: The test should be taken on a computer, not a portable device. Ideally it should be taken on the same computer you would be using work and projects. In order to get the most relevant advice, please provide replies directly in accordance with your immediate situation and skills.
In order to start the test, please click below. The test takes approximately 20 minutes.
