Predictive Index Free Practice Test
The PI cognitive assessment is comprised of 3 main topics placed in random order throughout the test:
- Numerical Reasoning: These questions measure your ability to work with numbers, analyze data, and interpret mathematical information. The test often includes around 15 to 20 questions of this type.
- Verbal Reasoning: These questions evaluate your language skills, particularly your ability to understand written text, make logical deductions, and assess the implications of statements. Expect around 15 to 20 questions under this category.
- Abstract Reasoning: These questions assess your ability to identify patterns, make connections, and deduce relationships among various elements. This portion typically consists of 10 to 15 questions.
In the Predictive Index practice test below are 12 PI cognitive questions and answers covering each topic separately and providing valuable tips along the way.
Let's get started!
PI Cognitive Numerical Reasoning
Basic Math
1. Which of the following is the smallest value?
A. 0.45
B. 0.054
C. 0.09
D. 0.05
Answer:
The correct answer is D.
From largest to smallest: 0.45>0.09>0.054>0.05
Math Word Problems
2. 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
Answer:
The correct answer is D.
If Jack has three 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
Eliminating answers and solving questions without performing full calculations can save valuable time for more complex questions ahead. In the question above, it is given that Jack has more cookies than Jill, which means Jack must have more than half the sum (22)- the only possible answer is therefore D.
3. 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:
The correct answer is B.
Two 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)
Number Series Question
4. 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. 22
Answer:
The correct answer is A.
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
Numerical questions in the PI Cognitive test are mostly moderate in difficulty and with enough time – most examinees will answer a certain number of questions correctly. However, an average of 14 seconds per question – you must be able to answer questions quickly and accurately. Thorough practice in real-time, with additional focused practice and guides, are key to success in the test, and all can be found in our PI Cognitive PrepPack.
We will now move on to the next questions type in the PI Cognitive test – verbal questions. Similar to numerical questions – they vary in difficulty and are time-consuming, as can be seen in the following examples:
PI Cognitive Verbal Reasoning
Analogy Questions
5. 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
Answer:
The correct answer is C.
STRINGS are the part of the GUITAR that 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.
Of all answer choices, only C maintains the original relationship.
If you are unsure about the words in the question or their connection – work your way through the answers. Find the connection in the answers and see if it is plausible in the question to your best understanding. Even though it will not guarantee the correct answer, it will help you narrow down options and make an informed guess so that you do not dwell too long on each question.
Synonym / Antonym
7. Choose the word that is most nearly OPPOSITE to the word in the capital letters:
BRASH
A. Dull | B. Polite | C. Arrogant | D. Shiny | E. Callous
Answer
The correct answer is B.
Brash is being confident and aggressive in a rude or unpleasant way. Its antonym is polite - having or showing good manners or respect for other people.
Logical Reasoning
8. Answer the question according to the given information below:
Assumptions:
Most technicians work on the first floor.
All accountants work on the second floor.
No secretaries work on the third floor.
Conclusion:
Rose, a technician, works on the third floor.
If the assumptions are true, is the conclusion:
A. Cannot be determined based on the given information | B. Correct | C. Incorrect
Answer
The correct answer is A.
According to the first assumption, most technicians work on the first floor. This means that at least one technician does not work on the first floor. Thus, Rose may or may not work on the third floor.
Therefore, the conclusion Cannot be determined based on the information.
Our tip to you - visualization! By simply writing down the assumptions, conclusion, and relations between them on a piece of scrap paper, you can free up vital space in your head and solve the question faster.
Even when making an informed guess, logical reasoning questions nearly always require far more time to understand, assess, and respond. Therefore – you should save time on questions that can be answered faster, like analogies and synonyms, and use that time for questions that require more time like logical questions.
Solve More Questions Using Full PI Cognitive Test Simulations
To use your time wisely throughout the test, you need to practice the real test format and understand how much time it takes you to solve different questions, and how to shorten it and use it most efficiently.
On our full PI cognitive assessment preparation pack, you will get 5 complete PI test simulations, each with 50 questions you must solve in 12 minutes, just like the real test. Each test is followed by detailed answers and tips to cut down your solving time. To further improve your skills in each of the question types, it also includes hundreds of PI practice questions divided into the different question types on the test.
Lastly, the final questions in the PI Cognitive Test are the Abstract Reasoning questions. Often regarded as the most challenging and time-consuming in the test, they require special attention and the ability to recognize visual patterns, which vary and may be very challenging. Let’s continue.
PI Cognitive Abstract Reasoning
Next in series
9. Which of the following boxes should replace the question mark (?) to complete the pattern?
Answer:
The correct answer is C.
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.
10. Which of the following boxes should replace the question mark (?) to complete the pattern?
Answer:
The correct answer is D.
The above series has two characteristics that change: The inside shape and the outside shape.
The pattern of the outside shapes is - circle, square, and triangle.
The pattern of the inside shapes is - square, triangle, and circle.
Thus, following this pattern, the answer is a square with a triangle inside.
To identify patterns faster you should look for common features that are commonly used to differentiate between shapes. In the first example – the relevant features, which can be found in many patterns, are color and rotation (anti-clockwise). In the second example, there is a sequence of changing geometrical figures. More types of recurring features can be learned throughout practice.
Abstract Analogies
11. Choose the appropriate shape:
The correct answer is C.
The relationship between figure X and figure Y is as follows: figure Y is figure X flipped vertically.
The correct answer must have the same relationship with figure Z.
Answer A can be eliminated as it represents figure Z rotated 90° counterclockwise.
Answer B can be eliminated as it represents figure Z flipped vertically and rotated 90° counterclockwise.
Answer D can be eliminated as it represents figure Z flipped horizontally.
You are left with answer C, which is the correct answer, as it depicts figure Z flipped vertically.
Odd One Out
12. Which figure below does not share the same features as the two figures above?
Answer:
The correct answer is D.
All the other shapes have four sides, while answer D is a heptagon, having five sides.
Abstract Reasoning questions require, more than other subjects, practicing varied questions to become familiar with different patterns ahead of the test. Some questions may be simple, while others will be far more challenging and require the ability not only to identify the pattern but also to do so quickly enough, eliminating answers in the process to avoid wasting too much time on each question.
You can find guides and hundreds of questions, both in full simulations and in focused practice, with detailed explanations, in our PI Cognitive PrepPack.
Preparing for the PI Cognitive Assessment
The challenge in the Predictive index cognitive assessment is to use your time wisely to collect as many correct questions as possible and increase your PI score. To help you achieve this, we have designed a PI cognitive preparation pack that teaches you how to make informed guesses and save time whenever possible. It also includes practice questions that accurately simulate those on the PI cognitive test, allowing you to quickly recognize common shape and number patterns.
The PI cognitive preparation pack includes:
- 5 full PI cognitive test simulations (50 questions, 12 mins) with detailed answers.
- A diagnostic test you can use to focus your practice on questions you struggle with the most.
- Hundreds of PI test questions are divided into 40+ practice tests.
- Study guides and video tutorials.
What Is a Good Score on The PI Cognitive Assessment?
The PI Cognitive Assessment calculates your score based on the number of correct answers you provide and your percentile ranking. The percentile ranking indicates how high your score is compared to the scores of a large pool of other candidates. The exact score you need to pass to the next stage of the hiring process is determined by the position you apply for.
On average, the PI cognitive assessment score is 20 out of 50 correct answers, which is equivalent to a scaled score of 250. A score of 40 out of 50 is considered very high and is higher than approximately 98% of all test takers.
Learn more about your PI test score
Interested in trying out cognitive tests other than the Predictive Index Cognitive Assessment? Check out our free CCAT, Wonderlic, and Cognitive Ability Practice Test pages.
