Free CCAT Practice Test and Guide | Simulate 50 Questions in 15 Minutes
Last Updated: 27 Jan 2025 | Trusted by over 10,400 Candidates
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What Is the Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test
The Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT) is a widely used pre-employment assessment that measures cognitive skills like problem-solving, learning speed, and critical thinking.
It is administered online via Criteria's testing platform, Criteria On Demand.
Ace the CCAT: Free Practice Test with Expert Tips
Explore this video for CCAT sample questions and time-saving strategies.
What makes it challenging and how to beat it
The CCAT is challenging for three main reasons:
- Strict Time Limit: You have 15 minutes to answer 50 questions—about 18 seconds per question. Rushing leads to errors; going too slowly results in unfinished questions.
Crucially, you cannot skip questions and return to them later. If you are stuck, guessing is better than losing precious time. - Relative Scoring System: Your score is compared to other candidates. The average is 24/50, but top roles often require 35+ (top 20% of test-takers).
- Personal Weakness Areas: Questions follow a fixed order: numerical (16–17 questions, ~34%), verbal (17 questions, ~34%), spatial orientation (11 questions, ~22%), and logical (5–6 questions, ~10%). Weakness in one area can drag down your score.
Here's a visual breakdown of the question types:
Numerical Reasoning
16-17 questions
34% of the exam
Types: number series, word problems, algebra
Verbal Reasoning
17 questions
34% of the exam
Types: analogies, sentence completion, antonyms
Spatial Reasoning
11 questions
22% of the exam
Types: shape series, odd one out, matrices
Logical Reasoning
5-6 questions
10% of the exam
Types: syllogisms, seating arrangements
To overcome these:
- Precision Practice: Use questions mirroring the real test to build accuracy (key to success).
- Adaptive Learning: Identify weaknesses (e.g., via a diagnostic test) and focus there first—start easy, then advance.
- Level-Based Practice: Include beginner, intermediate, and advanced questions in all areas to push beyond average scores.
Scoring 35+ requires answering correctly in under 20 seconds per question, focusing on weaknesses, and practicing at real difficulty levels.
Top 5 Time-Saving Tips for the CCAT
- Skip Tough Questions Fast: If a question takes over 10 seconds, mark it and move on to maintain pace.
- Master Mental Math: Practice quick calculations (e.g., percentages, fractions) to speed up Numerical questions.
- Learn Analogy Patterns: Memorize common relationships (e.g., synonyms: Big is to Large as Small is to Tiny; cause/effect: Rain is to Wet as Fire is to Hot) to solve Verbal questions in under 15 seconds.
- Use Elimination for Spatial: Quickly rule out incorrect shapes or patterns to narrow down options.
- Prioritize Accuracy in Logic: Take a moment to read syllogisms carefully, as errors here are costly.
CCAT Practice Test Questions
This free practice mirrors the CCAT’s structure, difficulty, and time pressure. It includes more samples from all categories (Numerical, Verbal, Spatial, Logical) for better preparation. Try timing yourself!
CCAT Sample Numerical Reasoning Questions
The actual test (as well as this CCAT practice test) begins with three numerical questions.
To answer correctly, you must possess a foundational understanding of mathematical principles such as basic algebra, arithmetic, and fractions. Here are just a few examples:
CCAT Sample Spatial Reasoning Questions
There are four spatial “Next in Series” questions on the CCAT. Each one contains a sequence that follows a specific pattern. Your goal is to identify which figure comes next in the series.
Use these two practice questions to get a feel for how it works.
Intermediate Question
Observe the following sequence:
Which of the following boxes should be next?
The correct answer is A
The logic: each step, one four-hand star disappears and a black dot is added instead. The location of change is always three stars away from the last change: two steps vertically and one step horizontally, or two steps horizontally and one step vertically – the same as the knight's movement in Chess. In the fifth step a black dot is added in the upper right corner, therefore, the correct answer is 1, as the new dot is located one step left and two steps down.
Solving tip: Answers 4 and 5 are disqualified easily for having more than six dots. In inductive reasoning questions, you can very often disqualify some of the answers without understanding the complete logic of the question. Doing that will maximize your chances of guessing correctly in cases where you do not.
Advanced Question
Observe the following sequence:
Which of the following boxes should replace the question mark to complete the pattern?
Tips for “Next in Series” Questions:
- Form a Hypothesis: Look at 2–3 frames to spot how objects change.
- Verify It: Ensure the pattern holds for the entire sequence.
- Eliminate Distractors: If the pattern fits, discard any clearly incorrect answers.
- Check Answer Choices if Stuck: Sometimes, focusing on one element (like a single shape’s rotation) helps rule out wrong options quickly.
CCAT Sample Verbal Reasoning Questions
The next batch of questions is taken from the 18 Verbal questions you'll get on the CCAT assessment:
Analogy Questions
Tips for Analogy Questions:
- Turn analogies into sentences: Even if they’re not written that way, this helps you spot the relationship.
- Learn the 8 relationship types: Synonyms, antonyms, cause/effect, degree of intensity, category, descriptive connections, processes, and functions.
- Pay attention to order: The right relationship in reverse is still wrong.
Sentence Completion Questions
Many of the CCAT verbal questions rely heavily on English vocabulary, which is tough to improve quickly. However, with practice, you can still answer many questions correctly by using context clues and reasoning skills—even if you’re unsure of some words’ meanings.
CCAT Sample Logical Reasoning Questions
Syllogisms
Our CCAT Preparation Course
The CCAT is designed to be selective, which means difficult. However, raw skill is not all it measures. The scores are affected by prep time, prep quality, and testing anxiety.
That's why our pack gives you:
• 6 complete simulations in exact CCAT format with progressively harder questions
• 20 partial simulations targeting specific question types to address weak areas
• 4 video guides and 5 interactive guides with theory and success tips
• Complete solutions and explanations for all questions
• A unique time-management section to master the exam's toughest challenge: the time limit
What Our Customers Say
FAQS
Employers, mainly in North America, often pick the CCAT for hiring. It helps in hiring by reducing costs and finding candidates who are good at thinking critically, solving problems, learning quickly, and applying new information.
Compared to other job-related tests, the CCAT is known to be challenging. It gets harder as you move to the 50th question. The math questions need quick thinking and strong analysis skills. People who've taken the CCAT and other tests like the Wonderlic and PI find the CCAT the most demanding.
This is Criteria Corp's online platform where candidates take their tests. You can find out more about the CCAT On-Demand Assessment on our dedicated page.
The UCAT is a shorter test by Criteria Corp focusing on math, logic, and visual reasoning without the verbal section found in the CCAT. Click to see more info on the UCAT.
Yes, there's a longer CCAT version giving you 22 minutes instead of 15, which is about 50% more time. This is available for those who aren't native English speakers or have a medical condition that requires more time.
Several employers use the CCAT in their hiring process, including Pennymac Aptean, Cvent, Finastra, Granicus, PowerSchool, TIBCO, Vertafore, Xactly, Infoblox, Mitratech, Ping Identity, and Relias Learning. For specific details on each, check out our guide on the Vista Equity Partners Exam.
Customer reviews
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Based on 380 reviews
Very useful.
It's very good as it is, thank you.
very useful
You must always, and only, *train students how to think/approach*. In contrast, it is *totally useless* to simply defend the accuracy of the Answer, or describe the long-form logic for it.
Your Lessons *do* try to teach strategy, but not enough.
Define a set of patterns for approaching, and name them. For each problem, the Explanation. . .
* should refer to the pattern type, and explain how it's used
* could recommend if pencil/paper might be worth the overhead
Very helpful in terms of tips and practicing
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