The pass mark
Alison's How do Alison courses work article says you need to complete all modules and topics and achieve at least 80% in your assessment to pass. Its How do I get my Certificate article repeats the 80% figure for each assessment and adds an exception: 70% for beginner-level Certificate courses.
Because the two articles differ, aim for 80% on every assessment. If you are on a beginner-level Certificate course and land between 70% and 79%, check whether the course shows as passed in your dashboard before retaking.
Certificate courses versus Diploma courses
If a Certificate course is also part of a Diploma, Alison says completing it separately does not count toward the Diploma: you must take it again within the Diploma. Check which one you want before you start, so you do not repeat work.
| Certificate course | Diploma course | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical length (Alison's average) | 2 to 3 hours | 8 to 10 hours |
| Assessments | One at the end | Several during the course |
| Final score | Your assessment score | Average of the individual assessment scores |
| Pass rule | At least 80% (70% for beginner-level Certificate courses) | At least 80% on each assessment |
| Time limit | None | None |
Retakes and the question pool
- Unlimited attempts: Alison says you can retake an assessment as many times as you like, whether you failed or want a better score.
- Only higher scores count: a new score is saved only if it beats your previous result, so a bad retake cannot lower your mark.
- Different questions: a course may hold 50 possible questions and show you 20. A retake will not necessarily repeat the same 20, so memorizing answers from the first attempt is not a strategy.
- Review mode: after an attempt, Review Your Answers shows the questions you got wrong and the correct answers.
- Revisit lessons: you can reopen any module or topic at any time from the course's Module Tree.
- Language matters: your certificate is issued in the language you chose for the final assessment. Changing it later means retaking in the new language and scoring higher than before.
What passing unlocks
Passing makes the course appear as completed and makes a certificate available to buy in the Alison Shop. Buying is optional. Your Learner Record, which lists completed and started courses with study time, is free to download from Settings, and a free Learner Achievement Verification for a single course shows its details, your study time and your final score.
Alison runs a pre-purchase offer of 20% off a Digital Certificate or Diploma once you have started a course; it expires after one hour and applies only to that course. Since you can retake without limit, the main risk in pre-purchasing is not finishing at all, not failing.
Worked example: a three-assessment Diploma
Suppose a Diploma has three assessments and you score 90%, 76% and 84%. Your average is about 83%, but the 76% is below the 80% Alison sets for each assessment. Review the wrong answers on that one, revisit the related modules from the Module Tree, and retake it. If the retake scores 82%, it replaces the 76%, your average rises to 85%, and every assessment clears the bar.
If the retake scores 74%, nothing is lost: the 76% stays on record because only higher scores are saved.
A routine for passing first time
- Before each module, read its topic list so you know what the questions will cover.
- Take brief notes per topic in your own words. Alison suggests notes because retakes draw different questions.
- Finish all modules and topics before the assessment; incomplete topics block a pass even with a high score.
- Pick the assessment language you want on the certificate before you start the final assessment.
- Use Review Your Answers immediately after each attempt, and write down the topic behind every wrong answer.
- Retake only after revisiting those topics, not straight away.
What Alison does not offer
Alison says there is no tutor support on course content, so you cannot ask an instructor about a question you think was marked wrongly. The assessments are mostly single or multiple choice quizzes. If you need proof of a skill an employer will test in an interview, plan to supplement the quiz with your own project or practice work.
Questions before you decide
What is the pass mark for an Alison assessment?
Alison's help center says at least 80% on each assessment, with one article listing 70% for beginner-level Certificate courses. You must also complete every module and topic.
How many times can I retake an Alison assessment?
As many times as you like. Alison saves a new score only if it is higher than your previous one, so a retake cannot lower your result.
Do I get the same questions when I retake an Alison assessment?
Not necessarily. Alison says a course may have a pool of 50 questions and show 20, and a retake may draw different ones.
Do I have to pay to pass an Alison course?
No. Studying and completing courses is free, and the Learner Record is free. Buying a certificate after passing is optional.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Alison Help Center: How do Alison courses work? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison Help Center: Do Alison courses have assessments? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison Help Center: How do I get my Certificate? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison Help Center: I want to retake the module/topic. How can I do it? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison Help Center: How do I download my Learner Record? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison Help Center: What is Alison pre-purchase offer? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
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