Get the Most Accurate Information and Prep for the Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT) in 2021

CCAT Word Problem Sample Question

Jasmine walks every Sunday for 5 hours. Half of the way she walks at A mph and the remainder she covers at 3A mph. How long will it take her to complete her entire walk if she proceeds at a constant speed of 3A mph?

1. 3 hours
2. 2.5 hours
3. 1.25 hours
4. 4 hours
5. 3.5 hours

Answer and Explanation

It is possible to solve this question in the traditional way, using the X = V * T formula. However, it will take a lot of time, even for people highly skilled in this type of problem. In a cognitive ability test, this is simply not an option.

So let’s see how you can solve it much, much faster:

The first thing to notice is that we are not given (nor are we requested to find) the distance Jasmine had walked. That indicates that it is possible to solve the question without using the distance (x).

Let’s now make a very simple table of each scenario, with the time it took Jasmine to walk each half of the way:

Scenario 1 – Second half at 3A speed

In this case, Jasmine walks the second half at 3 times the speed as the first half, and therefore one-third of the time.

The overall time to complete the walk is 3t + t = 4t. (Yes, it is 5 hours, keep that in mind).

Scenario 2 – Second half at 3A speed

In this case, both halves of the way take Jasmine (t) time to complete.

The overall time to complete the walk is t + t = 2t. This is precisely half the time scenario 1 took.

So the final answer is therefore 5 / 2 = 2.5 hours.

The correct answer is B.

CCAT Number Series Sample Question

5, 9, 18, 34, ?

1. 43
2. 53
3. 68
4. 67
5. 59

Answer and Explanation

When approaching a number sequence question, it is recommended to first see if any relationships are revealed within the first few seconds. The more you practice with various types of sequences, the faster and more often you will be able to recognize the pattern.

However, if no such pattern emerges, the next step is usually to create the series of differences between the numbers of the original sequence:

The pattern is now clear - the series of differences is the series of squares of natural numbers, starting with 2.

The next number in THAT series should, therefore, be 25.

Calculating backward, we add 34 + 25 to come up with the final answer: 59.

The correct answer is E.

CCAT Tables & Graphs Sample Question

Approximately how much will be saved per month on the first year of replacing an air conditioner with ceiling fans?

1. $8.5
2. $45
3. $36
4. $438
5. $28

Answer and Explanation

There is quite a lot of information on this table, but looking at the question carefully will let us know exactly what we need:

• Approximately – that directs us toward an estimate rather than an accurate calculation.
• Replacing an air conditioner with ceiling fans – that directs us to only the data presented in the first line.
• Per month – that tells us we will need to divide the eventual sum by the number of months in a year (12).
• The first year – that is the trickiest part of the question. It notes that the cost of the replacement should also be included in the calculation (had we been asked about a long period of time, this becomes negligible, but in the first year, these $100 have quite a meaning.

So, the “pseudo-calculation” will be formulated as:

Saving per Month = {(Saving per Annum) - (Typical Cost)} / (No. of Months)

= (438-100) / 12

Using estimation, we can easily evaluate this drill as:

340 / 12 ~ 360 / 12 = $30

The final answer is slightly smaller than 30, and therefore the correct answer is E ($28).

CCAT Sentence Completion Sample Question

Despite the fact that over time the originally antagonistic response to his novels had lessened, to this day, hardly any critics____ his writing.

1. applaud
2. castigate
3. disregard
4. devaluate
5. check

Answer and Explanation

1. The keyword is “despite”, which indicates a contrary relationship between the first half of the sentence to the second.
2. The sentence core is “despite… antagonistic response lessened, hardly any critics _____ his writing.”

Combining these two data pieces, we know while the first half of the sentence conveys a negative message, the second half should convey a positive one. The only word with a positive context of the answer options is 'applaud'.

The correct answer is A.

CCAT Word Analogies Sample Question

STRINGS is to GUITAR as:

1. WOOD is to CELLO
2. PIANO is to KEYS
3. BARS is to XYLOPHONE
4. VIOLIN is to FLUTE
5. SOUND is to MUSIC

Answer and Explanation

Let’s form a sentence for the original analogy and apply it to all answer choices:

STRINGS are the part of the GUITAR which makes the music.

1. WOOD is the part of the CELLO which makes the music.
2. PIANO is the part of the KEYS which makes the music.
3. BARS are the part of the XYLOPHONE which makes the music.
4. VIOLIN is the part of the FLUTE which makes the music.
5. SOUND is part of the MUSIC which makes the music.

Of all answer choices, only C maintains the original relationship.

Note that sometimes you will be left with more than one answer choice which makes sense. In that case, you will need to use your common sense to find the slight differences between the answers. If you do not manage to do that in a reasonable amount of time, pick the one that feels best and move on.

The correct answer is C.

CCAT Antonyms Sample Question

ULTIMATE is the opposite of:

1. Eventual
2. Farthermost
3. Initial
4. Essential
5. Fundamental

Answer and Explanation

Let’s put the word “ultimate” in a sentence:

Our ultimate goal is to cure this illness.

Then, check out which of the following sentences contains the meaning closest to opposite to the original one:

1. Our eventual goal is to cure this illness.
2. Our farthermost goal is to cure this illness.
3. Our initial goal is to cure this illness.
4. Our essential goal is to cure this illness.
5. Our fundamental goal is to cure this illness.

Although none of these sentences conveys the exact opposite, it is clear that answer option C makes the least sense in lieu of the original situation.

The correct answer is C.

CCAT Next in Series Sample Question

Which shape should come next in series?

A	B	C	D	E

Answer and Explanation

Every step, two squares (which are compiled of black and white triangles), diagonal to one another, change their orientation (i.e. rotate). In the first step, the upper-left and the bottom-right squares change their orientation, and in the next step the upper-right and the bottom-left do, and so forth. The direction of the rotation is random. 

In the final step, the squares that rotated were the upper right and bottom left ones, which means that they should stay the same in the missing image. The only answer that fits this rule is answer D.

See the picture below for more clarity:

The correct answer is D.

CCAT Odd One Out Sample Question

Choose the odd one out.

Answer and Explanation

Each figure in this group features a large shape with two smaller inner shapes.

The total sum of the sides of the inner shapes is equal to the number of sides of the outer, larger shape. This rule applies to all figures aside from the first.

The correct answer is, therefore, A.

CCAT Sample Matrices Question

Answer and Explanation

Three rules operate in this matrix:

1. Each row will contain one of each three figures: a square with diagonal lines, a square with horizontal and vertical lines, and a diamond with horizontal and vertical lines.
2. Each figure will contain a circle: the circle shape found in each row will be a different size: either small, medium, or large.
3. The patterns of the shapes and background will remain consistent along the columns. So, the missing figure will have to keep all three rules. It will have to contain the shape missing from the bottom row (a square with horizontal and vertical), and also contains a circle of the size missing from that same row (small). The patterns of the shapes will have to match those of the shapes in the same column.

The correct answer is the fourth option from the left (D).

CCAT Syllogisms Sample Question

Assume the first two statements are true. Is the final statement: A) True, B) False, or C) Uncertain based on the information provided?

Bob is taller than Rob.

Job is shorter than Bob.

Job is the shortest among the three.

1. True
2. False
3. Uncertain

Answer and Explanation

Let’s cut down the text into symbolization (height-wise):

Statement #1 – Bob is taller than Rob: Bob > Rob
Statement #2 – Job is shorter than Bob: Job < Bob

Convert this statement to the same format as #1 by changing directions: Bob > Job

Combining the two statements we get:

Bob > Job, Rob

Therefore, you can deduce that Bob is taller than both Rob and Job (Bob is the tallest among the three). However, you do not have enough information to determine who is shorter - Rob, or Job.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Uncertain'.

CCAT Sample Seating Arrangements Question

Fiona, Georgia, Heather, Ian, John, Kilgore, and Lumina are forming a line.

• Fiona is standing in front of Ian.
• John is standing in front of Heather.
• If John is not first in line, Lumina is standing somewhere in front of him.
• Ian is standing immediately in front of or immediately behind Kilgore

If Heather is standing third in line, which one of the following lists all of those that can stand last in line?

1. Georgia or Ian
2. Georgia, Ian, or Kilgore
3. Georgia, Ian, or Lumina
4. B. Georgia, Ian, Kilgore, or Lumina
5. Georgia, John, or Lumina

Answer and Explanation

Most people will jump right into understanding how the entire line might look like, checking every possible position, and who could stand in it.

However, this "brute-force" method is a complete overkill for this question. Let's take advantage of the answer options to solve this one.

Georgia appears in all answer options, so she naturally can be last. There is no need to check it.

John appears in only one answer choice (E), so that is a good indicator that he probably cannot be last, otherwise, the answer is immediately clear. And yet, let’s check it just to be sure.

According to the third rule, John is in front of Heather. If John is in front of someone, that means he cannot be last (regardless of Heather standing third). Therefore, answer E is wrong.

Ian appears in all remaining answers. No need to check for him as well.

The only question is whether Kilgore, Lumina, or both can stand last. After checking each of these cases specifically, we can deduce that there is no rule preventing either Kilgore or Lumina from being last.

Therefore, the correct answer is (D).

You can see how we have refrained from determining the exact locations of all 6 participants in every possible variation, and instead checked only 3 specific individuals. Processes such as this will immensely cut down your solving time.

CCAT Attention to Details Sample Question

How many of the five items in the left-hand column are exactly the same as the corresponding entry in the right-hand column?

1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
5. 5

Answer and Explanation

Here are the discrepancies between the two versions:

Therefore, only two entries are identical.

Two important tips:

1. Remember, you do not need to locate the errors! If you found one, mark a mismatch and move to the next.
2. A common mistake is to mark the number of errors instead of the number of identical entries. Pay attention to that pitfall!

The correct answer is B.