GH-300 exam domains
The GH-300 exam is weighted across 6 domains. Pick any domain below to drill it — or read the full breakdown in the FAQ.
| Exam domain | Exam weight | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Use GitHub Copilot responsibly | 18% | Practice this topic |
| Use GitHub Copilot features | 28% | Practice this topic |
| Understand GitHub Copilot data and architecture | 13% | Practice this topic |
| Apply prompt engineering and context crafting | 13% | Practice this topic |
| Improve developer productivity with GitHub Copilot | 14% | Practice this topic |
| Configure privacy, content exclusions, and safeguards | 14% | Practice this topic |
Sample GH-300 questions
A sample of the GH-300 questions on this hub. Each links through to the full question, the correct answer, and an explanation of why every other option is wrong.
- A developer is using Copilot Chat in the IDE. They first ask, "Write a Python function that validates an email address using regex." Copilot responds…View question
- A developer on your team wants to prevent Copilot from using a directory of sensitive configuration files as context for suggestions. They ask you whe…View question
- A repository administrator configures a content exclusion rule in the repository settings to block Copilot from accessing a directory containing propr…View question
- A developer at a company using Copilot Business reports that when they open `config/prod-secrets.yaml`, which is covered by a repository content exclu…View question
- A platform team adds a content exclusion rule so that files under the `config/secrets/` directory are excluded from Copilot. A developer who normally…View question
- A developer at Contoso reports that files under a proprietary /vendor directory are still receiving Copilot code completions, even though a repository…View question
- An administrator adds a new content exclusion rule in the repository settings to prevent Copilot from using files in the '/config/credentials' directo…View question
- A security lead configures content exclusions in the organization settings to block Copilot from using a directory named 'secrets/' that contains cred…View question
- Your team configured content exclusions so that files under `/config/secrets/` are excluded from Copilot. A developer is editing `app.py` (not exclude…View question
- An organization has configured content exclusions for a repository named 'payments-core' so that Copilot ignores its files inside developers' IDEs. A…View question
Key GH-300 terms
Start with these terms, then explore the full glossary. Each links to a plain-English definition written for the GH-300 exam.
GH-300 frequently asked questions
What is the GH-300 certification?+
GitHub positions GH-300 as validating expertise in using GitHub Copilot across its plans and surfaces, including responsible AI use, prompt engineering, and privacy safeguards, with a working knowledge of GitHub fundamentals and at least one programming language.
It covers responsible AI, Copilot features in the IDE and CLI (including Agent Mode, Copilot Edits, and MCP), how Copilot handles data, prompt engineering, productivity gains, and configuring privacy and content exclusions.
What topics are on the GH-300 exam?+
The GH-300 exam is organised into six weighted domains. The percentages below are the midpoints of GitHub’s published ranges, normalized to total 100. Using Copilot features is the largest single area.
Use GitHub Copilot responsibly (18%)
Covers responsible AI principles — the risks and limitations of generative AI, ethical use, and identifying potential harms and mitigations — plus validating AI output and operating Copilot responsibly.
Use GitHub Copilot features (28%)
The largest domain. It covers Copilot in the IDE (inline suggestions, chat, CLI, agent mode), the GitHub Copilot CLI, advanced features such as Agent Mode, Copilot Edits, MCP, Spaces, and PR summaries, and managing organization-wide settings, policies, and audit logs.
Understand GitHub Copilot data and architecture (13%)
Covers how Copilot handles data — usage, flow, and sharing, input processing and prompt building, proxy filtering and post-processing — plus the code-suggestion lifecycle and the limitations of LLMs and Copilot.
Apply prompt engineering and context crafting (13%)
Covers crafting effective prompts (structure, context, zero-shot and few-shot prompting, best practices) and engineering prompts for performance, including prompt process flow and chat-history usage.
Improve developer productivity with GitHub Copilot (14%)
Covers using Copilot for code generation, refactoring, documentation, modernizing legacy code, and generating sample data, plus supporting testing and security with generated tests, edge cases, and security and performance suggestions.
Configure privacy, content exclusions, and safeguards (14%)
Covers managing privacy settings and content exclusions, understanding ownership and limitations of outputs, enabling the public-code matching filter, and troubleshooting suggestions and content exclusions.
Is the GH-300 hard?+
GH-300 is an approachable exam for developers who already use Copilot, but it goes beyond casual use — it expects you to know features like Agent Mode, MCP, and organization policy, plus responsible-AI and data-handling details.
The main challenge is the breadth of Copilot surfaces and settings, and keeping current as the product evolves quickly. Practising questions across all six domains, not just the features you use daily, is the key.
How many questions are on the GH-300 exam and how long is it?+
GH-300 is a proctored multiple-choice exam of roughly 60 questions with about 90 minutes to complete it, delivered online or at a test center through GitHub’s testing partner.
Our full-length practice mock uses a 60-question, 90-minute session so you can rehearse pacing under realistic time pressure before test day.
What score do you need to pass the GH-300?+
GitHub scores GH-300 on a scale to 1,000, and a score of 700 or greater is required to pass. That is a scaled score rather than a raw percentage, and there is no penalty for wrong answers, so you should never leave a question blank. Our practice mock uses a 70% threshold to give you a comparable target.
How much does the GH-300 exam cost?+
The GH-300 exam fee is set by GitHub — historically around $99 USD, but check the official GitHub certification page for current pricing. The certification is renewable through GitHub’s program. Everything on this hub is free.
Who should take the GH-300?+
GH-300 is aimed at developers, engineers, and technical leads who use GitHub Copilot and want to demonstrate that they use it productively, responsibly, and securely.
GitHub recommends familiarity with GitHub fundamentals and experience with one or more programming languages, plus hands-on use of Copilot, though there is no formal prerequisite.
What jobs and salaries can the GH-300 lead to?+
GH-300 is relevant for software developers, DevOps and platform engineers, and engineering leads adopting AI-assisted development, where using Copilot well is increasingly part of the job.
How much any certification affects pay depends heavily on geography, seniority, and hands-on experience, so treat any single salary figure with caution. GH-300 is best viewed as a way to demonstrate AI-assisted-development skill rather than a guaranteed raise on its own.
How long does it take to study for the GH-300?+
Developers who already use Copilot often need two to four weeks; those newer to it should plan longer. The most efficient path is to work through the six domains while using Copilot in your editor, then drill practice questions domain by domain.
Review every explanation, including for questions you answered correctly, because GH-300 distractors are built from plausible but incorrect Copilot behaviors or settings. Use the per-domain results here to find and shore up your weakest area, then finish with full-length timed mocks.
How should you prepare for the GH-300?+
Study the six domains above, giving the most time to Copilot features, then drill practice questions domain by domain. Every MockAPI question reveals a full explanation and tells you why each wrong answer is wrong — the fastest way to learn Copilot’s surfaces and settings.
When you can answer topic drills comfortably, move to a full-length timed mock to rehearse pacing, ideally alongside hands-on use of Copilot in the IDE and CLI. Use the glossary to keep the features straight, and aim to score consistently above the pass mark before you book.
Can you take the GH-300 exam online?+
Yes. GitHub delivers GH-300 through its testing partner, both at test centers and online with remote proctoring. The online exam requires a private, quiet room, a clear workspace, a webcam and microphone, a stable connection, and government-issued photo ID, with a proctor monitoring you throughout.
If you do not pass, a waiting period applies before you can retake the exam, and each attempt needs its own registration and fee. Check GitHub’s current certification policies for exact retake details.
What certification should you take after the GH-300?+
After GH-300, GitHub offers other certifications such as GitHub Actions, GitHub Advanced Security, GitHub Foundations, and GitHub Administration, depending on your focus.
For many, the real next step is embedding AI-assisted development across a team. Pairing GH-300 with hands-on Copilot experience is what turns the certificate into a career advantage.