CCAT Test Prep - 100% Free!

If you were invited to take the Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT), be sure to take a look at this helpful guide. Get free practice questions, tips, and other resources from a real candidate who aced the test!

*Disclaimer: This website is not owned or affiliated with the Criteria company. 

Everything You Need:

Sample Questions

A challenge test and example questions for all CCAT sections

Scores explained

Understand what your score would look like

Tips

Answering FAQs and giving best practices to get your desired score

Free Practice tests

A list of free tests on the internet that could really help you.

CCAT Quick Facts

The CCAT is a classic cognitive ability test that employers use to assess candidates’ critical thinking and problem solving abilities.

I passed the ccat report

Take a CCAT Sample Test

Even more CCAT Questions Explained

The CCAT is broken down into three sections: Math & Logic, Verbal, and Spatial & Abstract. Let’s take a look at the question types and a few sample questions for each:

Math & Logic

This section of the test essentially tests your basic mathematical abilities, and includes number series, word problems, and fraction value question types. Take a look at the sample question below to see how ready you are for this part of the test:

What is the next number in the series?

8   27    64   125   ?

A. 36
B. 216
C. 225
D. 343
E. 625

Answer: The correct answer is 216. All of numbers in the sequence are perfect cubes: 8 is 23, 27 is 33, 64 is 43, and 125 is 53. This means the correct answer will be 63, which is 216.

Verbal Reasoning

This section of the test tests your general grasp of the English language and your reasoning skills. Question types include analogies, antonyms, and deductive reasoning questions. Try out this sample question:

Taciturn : Talkative :: 

A. Industrious : Thorough
B. Boisterous : Emphatic
C. Rigorous : Furious
D. Meticulous : Aggravating 
E. Diligent : Indolent

The correct answer is E, diligent : indolent. Taciturn and talkative are antonyms, meaning the correct answer pair will also be antonyms. Diligent means hard-working, and indolent is another word for lazy.

Spatial & Abstract Reasoning

Some people may call this the “fun” section of the test, since there’s no reading required. These questions will test your abilities to work with shapes and patterns, and include shape series, matrices, and odd-one-out question types. These question types are relatively similar, and use roughly the same skills. You’ll need to learn how to quickly recognize different types of patterns that may be present. Take a look at the sample question below:

Which figure comes next in the sequence? 

ccat abstract reasoning

The correct answer is A. There are two patterns involved with the black chevron. First, it alternates between the top left and top right corners of the frame. Second, it rotates 90 degrees clockwise from one frame to the next. This means in the correct answer, it will be in the top left and pointing to the right, leaving options A or C. Next, look at the triangles. The number of triangles stays the same in all the frames, but the color changes from white to black. The number of black triangles increases by one in each frame, meaning the correct answer will have four black triangles. This makes A the correct answer.

Free Practice Resources

There are lots of resources out there that helped me when I was preparing for my own test – here are some of the best on the web:

Tips & Answering Frequently Asked Questions

What do my CCAT results mean?

Score reports can seem complicated, but there are really only two things to know here: first, your raw score, which shows how many questions you answered correctly. Second, your percentile score shows how you did in comparison to other test-takers. This is essentially what employers are looking at when you take the test.

What is a good score on the CCAT?

As mentioned, a score of 24/50 is considered average, and a 30/50 puts you at about the 70th percentile. The answer for what defines a “good” score is that it depends on the position you are applying for, as some positions may look for scores in the mid-30s and up. Take a look at Criteria’s sample score report, which includes suggested score ranges for specific positions. 

How do I pass the CCAT?

Some quick tips for success:

  1. Don’t go in unprepared! Preparation is your best option to improve your score.
  2. Don’t be embarrassed if you prepare – employers actually prefer if you do.
  3. Get used to the short time limit by taking timed practice tests.
  4. Go into the test feeling good: get a good night’s sleep, eat a good breakfast, and just try to feel your best.
  5. Don’t spend more than 25 seconds per question.

Is the CCAT test hard?

Yes! At least, it is if you go in completely unprepared. The average score is 24/50, meaning most people won’t even answer half the questions correctly. Some unfamiliar question types, together with the very short time limit, can make this a difficult test. But the more familiar you get with the test, the easier it will be. I can’t say this enough – practice, practice, practice!

CCAT Test Scores

  • Your score is based on the number of questions you answered correctly out of 50. This is called your raw score.
  • The raw score is converted to a percentile score, which shows how you did in comparison to other candidates.
  • The average raw score is 24/50.
  • There’s no negative scoring, so you won’t lose points for guessing.

Read more about CCAT scores. 

Believe in Yourself - You can improve!

  • In addition to the technical preparation, there’s a psychological factor here as well.
  • It’s important to get into the right mindset and to not give up!
  • Join the discussion below and feel free to ask any questions you might have.

Good luck!
lara

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1 Comment

  1. Hi I got a 9/10 on this practice test and answered the questions in a relatively timely fashion . Could this score be used to predict my actual results ? And if so, what would it it be ?

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