A client asks you to complete a translation test before hiring you. Is that normal or is it a red flag?
The answer depends on the test. Some translation tests are a legitimate and valuable part of getting hired. Others are a quiet way for agencies to get free work out of translators who don’t know their own worth.
This guide breaks down the different types of translation tests, when to take one and when to skip it, and how to set a policy so you never have to make that call on the spot again.
What Is a Translation Test?
A translation test is a short sample translation a client or agency asks you to complete before hiring you, used to evaluate your accuracy, style, and subject-matter fit. Translation tests are common in agency recruitment and in-house hiring, and less common with direct clients.
For in-house roles, a test is usually required; you can’t skip it and stay in the candidate pool. For freelance work, you have more control: you can negotiate it, ask for payment, substitute it with portfolio samples, or decline it entirely and still get hired.
The 3 Types of Translation Tests
Not all tests carry the same weight or risk. Know which type you’re looking at before you say yes or no.
1. Paid Translation Tests
If a client offers to pay for the test, treat it as a small paid project because actually it is one. Paid tests signal a professional client who understands translation is skilled labor, not a favor. Accept it, deliver your best work, treat it as step one of a longer relationship.
2. Unpaid “Artificial” Tests
Short texts (typically 200–350 words) agencies keep on hand to benchmark candidates. Usually reviewed by a senior or in-house translator; you may get feedback even without an offer. The most defensible unpaid tests are short and standardized. These tests are reasonable to take early in your career, as long as the checklist below is respected.
3. Unpaid “Real-Life” Tests or Pilot Projects
The agency gives you a portion of an actual client project. This is work the end client will pay for, even though you aren’t paid. If the agency gets paid for the work, you should too, even at a reduced test rate. This is the category most worth scrutinizing.
The One Type Worth Rejecting Outright: Long Tests
Watch the word count regardless of category. A test longer than 500 words will typically take over an hour; most experienced translators cap unpaid tests at 1,000 words. A long, unpaid test with no rate agreed upfront is one of the clearest scam signals in the industry.
When to Take an Unpaid Test: The Checklist
- The source text is 200–350 words
- It will take under 1–2 hours to complete
- You’ve agreed on a rate beforehand, in case you’re hired
- The client or agency is verifiably legitimate
- The opportunity fits your niche and business strategy
Two or more of these missing? It’s reasonable to decline or counter with a paid alternative.
When to Skip a Test Entirely
Most new translators don’t realize this: you can often skip the test altogether and still get hired.
If your portfolio has samples that closely match the client’s subject matter, offer those instead. A relevant sample demonstrates the same skills a test would, without costing you unpaid hours — and it’s the strongest argument for specializing early. The more consistently you work in one field, the more likely your portfolio already covers whatever a new client wants tested.
No matching portfolio yet? That’s normal early in your career but it’s a signal to start building one deliberately, rather than treating every unpaid test as a substitute.
How to Respond When a Client Asks for a Test
If a client doesn’t say whether the test is paid, ask directly:
“Happy to complete a test. My rate is [X] — should I invoice for the test time, or is this an unpaid sample?”
When you ask this, it signals you value your time, and it tells you immediately what kind of client you’re dealing with before you’ve translated a single sentence.
Red Flags That Signal a Scam
- The test exceeds 500 words with no payment offered
- The client is vague about the hiring process or timeline afterward
- The text is clearly a real, in-progress client project, not a sample
- There’s pressure to complete it immediately, with no time to review terms
- The client has no verifiable online presence or industry reputation
Two or more of these present? Walk away. A legitimate client won’t disappear over a translator asking reasonable questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal to be asked to do a translation test?
Yes. It’s standard in both freelance and in-house hiring.
Should I get paid for a translation test?
For paid work and real client projects (pilot tests), yes — even at a reduced rate. For short, standardized agency benchmarking tests (200–350 words), unpaid is an accepted industry norm.
How long should a translation test be?
A fair unpaid test is 200–350 words and takes under two hours. Anything over 500 words without payment is a warning sign.
Can I skip a translation test and still get hired?
Yes — especially if you can offer portfolio samples that closely match the client’s subject matter and style.
How do I decline an unpaid test without losing the opportunity?
Offer an alternative: propose relevant portfolio samples, or ask if a shorter, paid test is possible. Most legitimate clients will work with a reasonable counteroffer.
Stop Guessing Which Opportunities Are Worth Your Time
Every hour spent vetting a test request, chasing a vague agency, or translating for free is an hour not spent on real, paying work.
Weekly Job Window curates real, vetted language industry roles — so you spend less time filtering scams out of your inbox and more time applying to opportunities that are already worth it.
See this week’s language industry jobs → here
