Free CCAT Practice Questions
To succeed on the CCAT test, you should practice the 3 topics found on this test - Numerical Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Abstract Reasoning (Also known as spatial reasoning).
These topics measure your critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and learning abilities.
The test begins with 3 numerical questions (out of a total of 19). These 3 questions shouldn't be difficult to pass if you have basic math skills at a middle-school level.
CCAT Math Word Problem
1. Jack and Jill have 44 cookies together. Jack has three times more cookies than Jill, how many cookies does he have?
A. 9
B. 11
C. 22
D. 33
E. 40
Answer:
If Jack has 3 times more cookies than Jill, you can build the following equation letting Jill be X and Jack be 3X:
3X + X = 44
4X = 44
Divide both sides of the equation by 4:
X = 11 - The number of cookies Jill has
3X = 3 x 11 = 33 - The number of cookies Jack has
Straightforward Basic Math Questions
2. Which of the following is the smallest value?
A. 0.45
B. 0.054
C. 0.09
D. 0.05
E. 0.101
Answer:
From largest to smallest: 0.45>0.101>0.09>0.054>0.05
3. 53 is 25% of what number?
A. 13.25
B. 92.75
C. 159
D. 141.5
E. 212
Answer:
100% = 100*53/25 = 4*53 = 4*50 + 4*3 = 200 + 12 = 212
You can also find the answer by using a basic multiplication table method. If 53 is 25%, that means that the whole number is 4 times 53. If we split the 53*4 to 50*4 + 3*4, we know that the number we are looking for has to end with 2 (3*4=12). The only option that ends with 2 is 212.
These questions may be easier for some test-takers, and there's a reason for that. On the CCAT test, the harder and less familiar questions are given later on.
Take for example the next batch of questions you'll face. Those are Spatial-Abstract Reasoning questions that most people don't get to see much outside pre-employment processes.
There's a total of 11 Abstract questions, here is an example of the first 4 questions you'll encounter.
CCAT Spatial Reasoning Questions
4. Which of the following boxes should replace the question mark (?) to complete the pattern?
Answer:
The direction of the arrows moves 90 degrees counterclockwise.
The order of the colors of the arrows is: black, gray, and white.
Thus, the following arrow in the series must be gray and pointing downwards.
5. Which of the following boxes should replace the question mark (?) to complete the pattern?
Answer:
The above series has two characteristics that change: The inside shape and the outside shape.
The pattern of the outside shapes is - circle, square, triangle.
The pattern of the inside shapes is - square, triangle, circle.
Thus, following this pattern, the answer is a square with a triangle inside.
6. Which of the following boxes should replace the question mark (?) to complete the pattern?
Answer:
The circle in each figure is divided into 8 eighths.
In each circle within the series, the shaded segmented sections move one eighth (1/8) of the circle, counterclockwise.
Therefore, the next figure is the one appearing in answer-option B.
7. Which of the following boxes should replace the question mark (?) to complete the pattern?
Answer:
In this series, alternating vertical lines or vertical chains of circles are added to each figure, depending on the previous figure.
The middle circle in the vertical chain is always black. Since the last figure in the series contained an additional vertical chain of circles, the next figure should contain an additional vertical line.
The figure appearing in answer-option A is the only one that fits.
It may take extra time to adjust to these abstract shapes questions if the first time you've encountered them is on the CCAT exam. But these can be some of the easiest questions you'll find on the test, making them a good opportunity to gain quick wins and build your confidence towards the tougher parts of the exam.
You can practice more of these and learn solving methods such as "pattern spotting" on the full CCAT assessment practice course.
The next batch of 7 questions is taken from the 20 Vebral questions you'll get on the CCAT. The first 3 are "Analogy" questions, followed by 4 "Sentence Completion" questions. Here's a sample of these:
CCAT Verbal Reasoning Questions
8. STRINGS is to GUITAR as:
A. WOOD is to CELLO
B. PIANO is to KEYS
C. BARS is to XYLOPHONE
D. VIOLIN is to FLUTE
E. SOUND is to MUSIC
Answer:
STRINGS are the part of the GUITAR which makes the music.
Let’s try to apply it to all answer choices:
A. WOOD is the part of the CELLO which makes the music.
B. PIANO is the part of the KEYS which makes the music.
C. BARS are the part of the XYLOPHONE which makes the music.
D. VIOLIN is the part of the FLUTE which makes the music.
E. SOUND is part of the MUSIC which makes the music.
Of all answer choices, only C maintains the original relationship.
9. ABHOR is to DENOUNCE as ...
A. REGRET is to APOLOGIZE
B. PERTRUB is to AGGREGATE
C. REDEEM is to EXILE
D. PERMANENT is to TATOO
E. DESK is to CHAIR
Answer:
To ABHOR means to regard something with disgust, and to DENOUNCE is to declare something to be wrong.
(WORD 2) is an action one may take when he has a feeling of (WORD 1).
A person DENOUNCES something that he ABHORS; similarly, a person APOLOGIZES for something he REGRETS. Notice that these two pairs are particularly similar, as both of the actions (APOLOGIZING and DENOUNCING) are carried out through communication.
Incorrect Answers:
B- There is no strong relationship between the words PERTURB and AGGREGATE.
C - When one is REDEEMED, their EXILE is brought to an end. WORD 1 describes the action to amend WORD 2.
D – A TATTOO is PERMANENT. WORD 1 describes WORD 2.
E – One sits in a CHAIR at a DESK. WORDS 1 and 2 are two items that complement one another.
10. Choose the word or words that, when inserted in the sentence to replace the blank or blanks, best fits the meaning of the sentence.
Since porcelain is an extremely hard and ___ substance, it is used in dentistry to create artificial teeth.
A. Hazardous
B. Durable
C. Lucrative
D. Sly
E. Influential
Answer:
Porcelain is extremely hard and is used to create artificial teeth. As a result, it should be a long-lasting, stable substance. Therefore, the option "durable" fits the blank best.
Since porcelain is used in dentistry for creating artificial teeth and implanting them in peoples' mouths, it can not be hazardous or sly, as hazardous means 'dangerous, risky' and sly means 'showing a cunning and deceitful nature.
It could prove lucrative, which means 'cost-effective or fruitful (referring to financial profit)' but that is not a trait of the substance itself.
Influential, which means 'dominant, important, of great influence' is irrelevant.
11. When inserted in the sentence to replace the blank or blanks, choose the word or words that best fits the sentence's meaning.
Electronic information and automated systems are essential to ____ all major federal operations.
A. Fundamentally
B. Effectively
C. Implicitly
D. Approximately
E. Virtually
Answer:
The sentence refers to electronic information that is fundamental to (something) all major federal operations. The sentence's general idea implies that electronic information is essential to practically/ nearly/ almost all primary federal operations. Therefore, the only word accurately reflecting that meaning in the sentence's context is "virtually".
Notice! One should also pay attention to the fact that electronic information is distributed "virtually." Therefore, although the four options could be used, "virtually" is the best option in this context.
Fundamentally means 'essentially' would indicate unnecessary repetition and fail to highlight the sentence's essence.
Effectively means 'successfully, desirably.'
Implicitly means 'not directly expressed.'
Approximately means 'not completely accurate or exact, roughly.
After these verbal questions, we get to see Absract questions once again. This time it's a batch of 4 questions with the "Odd One Out" format:
12. Which of the following does not belong?
Answer:
Answer-option (C) has three black circles inside of the square while the rest of the answer options have only two black circles inside their squares.
Therefore, option C is the correct answer.
13. Which of the following does not belong?
Answer:
All answer options except for (E), present six stars, while answer-option (E) presents five stars.
Therefore, option E is the correct answer.
14. Which of the following does not belong?
Answer:
Answer-option (C) has two white squares and one black square while the rest of the answer options have two black squares and one white square.
Therefore, option C is the correct answer.
15. Which of the following does not belong?
Answer:
The shape in answer-option (D) is a circle and therefore, does not have angles, unlike the shapes shown in the other answer options.
Therefore, option D is the correct answer.
In the second half of the test, you’ll face harder questions that are more time-consuming than the first-half questions. Now is the time to keep an eye on the clock, and try not to stall too long on any question.
Here are some questions you may find in the second half of the test:
16. Solve the word problem
In a popular music station songs are played uninterrupted (i.e. no commercial breaks).
The popular music broadcast "Hits All Around Us" lasts 2 hours and 15 minutes, in which two-song lengths are played – songs that last 3 minutes and songs that last 6 minutes. How many songs will be played during the broadcast?
*Songs are fully played during the broadcast.
A. 44 at most
B. 23 at least
C. 15 at least
D. 42 at most
E. 24 at least
Answer:
2 hours and 15 minutes are 135 minutes in total.
The most songs that can be played are 45 (45 songs X 3 minutes each = 135 minutes).
The least songs that can be played are 23 (22 songs X 6 minutes each + 1 song X 3 minutes = 132 + 3 = 135)
17. Solve the word problem
A dress was originally marked $150 and a pair of jeans was priced at $50. If Emily got a 40% discount off the dress and a 20% discount off the jeans, what was the total percentage she saved on her purchases?
A. 27%
B. 35%
C. 45%
D. 50%
E. 60%
Answer:
To find the total percentage Emily saved, you need to divide the savings by the total pre-sale cost.
Saving on dress: $150 × 40% = $60
Saving on jeans: $50 × 20% = $10
Total savings: $60 + $10 = $70
Total pre-sale cost: $150 + $50 = $200
Total savings in percent: 70/200
Cancel both the numerator and denominator, by 2:
(70÷2)/(200÷2) = 35/100 = 35%
18. The average (arithmetic mean) of a group of four numbers is 6. Adding which number will make the average 8?
A. 10
B. 2
C. 18
D. 8
E. 16
Answer:
An average is the sum of values, divided by the number of values. According to the question, the original number of values is 4 and you are given their average (6). Therefore,
Sum of 4 values/4 = 6
Multiply both sides of the equation by 4 to eliminate the denominator:
4*Sum of 4 values/4 = 4*6
Sum of 4 values = 24
You are asked which value when added to the four, will make the average 8 instead of 6. The group of numbers increases from 4 to 5 and another value is added to the sum of 4 values. Let the new value be X. Therefore,
Sum of 4 values + X)/5 = 8
Multiply both sides of the equation by 5 to eliminate the denominator:
5*(24 + X)/5 = 5*8
24 + X = 40
Subtract 24 from both sides of the equation, to isolate X:
24 + X - 24 = 40 - 24
X = 16
Adding 16 will make the average 8.
19. What would be the next number in the following series?
0.25 ... 0.5 ... 2.5 ... 5 ... 7... ?
A. 14
B. 17
C. 34
D. 25
E. 22
Answer:
The logical rule behind this series is an alternating arithmetic function – multiplication followed by addition.
The first number is multiplied by 2 to get the second number. Then 2 is added to the second number to get the third number, and so on: x2, +2, x2, +2 ...
Therefore, the last number in the series, 7, should be multiplied by 2: 7 x 2 = 14
As you progress on the test, the questions become more complex and the difficulty level raises.
This is the part where proper preparation can make a difference. Getting an early acquaintance with the question types and learning time-saving solving techniques will help you ace the last questions of the test.
Here are some more types of questions you might come across on the CCAT tests.
CCAT Attention to Detail Question
20. How many of the five items in the left-hand column are exactly the same as the corresponding entry in the right-hand column?
| Sharon V. Solaris | Sharon V. Solaris |
| Celesta L. Kroner | Celesta L Kroner |
| Savanna B. Swope | Savanna B. Swoppe |
| Zachery H. Eickhoff | Zachery H. Erickhoff |
| Megan N. Heinz | Megan N. Heinz |
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
E. 5
Answer:
Here are the discrepancies between the two versions:
| Sharon V. Solaris | Sharon V. Solaris |
| Celesta L. Kroner | Celesta L Kroner |
| Savanna B. Swope | Savanna B. Swoppe |
| Zachery H. Eickhoff | Zachery H. Erickhoff |
| Megan N. Heinz | Megan N. Heinz |
There are 3 errors.
21. Solve the seating arrangment
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?
A. Georgia or Ian
B. Georgia, Ian, or Kilgore
C. Georgia, Ian, or Lumina
D. Georgia, Ian, Kilgore, or Lumina
E. Georgia, John, or Lumina
Answer:
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.
The correct answer is D.
22. What would be the next group of letters in the following series?
zone … ynnd … xmnc … wlnb ?
A. vkmc
B. akna
C. vkna
D. vnna
E. ajna
Answer:
The pattern in this question is that all the letters move one letter backward in the alphabet except the letter "n" which stays constant. Therefore the answer is vkna.
23. Assume the first two statements are true.
All athletes are hard workers.
Alice is not an athlete.
Alice is not a hard worker.
Is the final statement: A) True, B) False, or C) Uncertain based on the information provided?
Answer:
You can deduce from the first statement that all athletes are hard workers, but you do not have any information about non-athletes.
Therefore, you cannot conclude anything regarding Alice, which is not an athlete, according to the second statement.
The final statement is uncertain.
24. Answer the chart question
The table below shows the number of Enfield Primary School students who received As on the yearly regional tests, divided by subject. In the 3rd grade, what is the average number of students who received an A on a regional test?
| Class | Math | History | Science | Art | Foreign Language |
| 1st Grade | 11 | 7 | 27 | 10 | 18 |
| 2nd Grade | 10 | 32 | 7 | 44 | 23 |
| 3rd Grade | 40 | 10 | 34 | 27 | 19 |
| 4th Grade | 54 | 23 | 10 | 27 | 40 |
| 5th Grade | 18 | 44 | 32 | 7 | 36 |
A. 29
B. 27
C. 26
D. 19
E. 30
Answer:
An average is calculated as the sum of values divided by the number of values.
Hence, to determine the average number of 3rd-grade students who received an A on a regional test, you must add up the number of all 3rd-grade students who received As on the various regional tests and divide that number by the number of test subjects.
Therefore:
(40 + 10 + 34 + 27 + 19) / 5 =
130 / 5 = 26
The answer is C
The last questions, from question 35 to 50, determine who will score high and who will settle for an average score.
Most candidates don’t finish all 50 questions in time and therefore score lower than the cutoff score range. Other candidates go on a “guessing spree” in the last seconds just to finish all 50 questions, which usually results in average or slightly below average scores.
On the other hand, using an accurate and proven practice plan will enhance your chances of scoring high, and eliminate the guesswork.
Answer Index
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| D | D | E | C | D | B | A | C |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| A | B | E | C | E | C | D | B |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| B | D | A | C | D | C | C | C |
To continue practicing, visit our CCAT test page and access the complete practice pack with 6 full-length tests and dozens of CCAT practice tests targeting specific topics from the real test. Additionally, you can try another free CCAT sample test on this page (with a focus on Numerical Reasoning).
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