# AI Foundations Mock Exam 1

A 60-item, domain-weighted independent mock exam for the OpenAI Academy AI Foundations track, with full explanations and a readiness indicator.

import PracticeExam from '../../../../components/PracticeExam.astro';

This is a full-length, domain-weighted **independent mock exam** for the AI Foundations track. It is built from publicly available OpenAI learning objectives and is **not an official OpenAI assessment** – there is no public OpenAI exam to have questions from. Use it as your **diagnostic**: sit it first to find your two weakest domains before you enrol in and take the real OpenAI Academy assessment. All 60 items are new and do not repeat the domain-page questions or [Mock Exam 2](/openai/foundations/practice-exam-2/).

## Instructions

- **Time:** 75 minutes, matching the length of the Academy AI Foundations course experience. You can also take it untimed the first time.
- **Items:** 60, single-answer and multiple-response. Each item states how many answers to select.
- **Selection:** single-answer items use one choice; multiple-response items say **Select two** and you must pick exactly two – all correct and none incorrect.
- **No guessing penalty:** answer every question; an unanswered item simply scores zero.
- **Target:** aim for **at least 80% raw** (≈ 48/60) before you take the real Academy assessment, because the Academy badge threshold is 80%.

## Domain distribution

| # | Domain | Items here |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | AI and Generative AI Fundamentals | 8 |
| 2 | How Language Models Behave | 10 |
| 3 | ChatGPT Surfaces and Features | 8 |
| 4 | Prompting and Instructions | 12 |
| 5 | Context, Files and Memory | 7 |
| 6 | Verifying and Evaluating Output | 9 |
| 7 | Responsible and Safe Use | 6 |

Total: 8 + 10 + 8 + 12 + 7 + 9 + 6 = **60 items**.

## Readiness interpretation

This is an independent **readiness indicator**, not a score and not a pass mark. Read your raw percentage against these bands.

| Raw score | Band | What it means |
| --- | --- | --- |
| under 70% | Keep learning | Revisit the heaviest domains (Prompting, How Language Models Behave) before retrying. |
| 70–79% | Building confidence | Close to ready; target your weakest one or two domains. |
| 80–89% | Assessment ready | At or above the Academy badge threshold; review any weak domain and proceed. |
| 90%+ | Strong readiness | Consistent across domains; you are well prepared for the Academy assessment. |

The 80% line is deliberate: it matches the OpenAI Academy badge threshold. Remember that an Academy badge or pathway certificate of completion is **not a certification**.

## Take the mock exam

Two ways to use the questions below. The **interactive mode** runs a timed sitting one question at a time and ends with your score, a per-domain breakdown and a full correction. The **review mode** underneath lists every question with its options one per line and the answer hidden until you ask for it.

<PracticeExam exam="openai-foundations" />