Free CCAT Practice Test – 50 Real Questions in 15 Min

Updated: August 2025

David, Psychometric Testing Expert at Skillwy

Hi, I’m David Meshulam. With over 30 years of experience, a Master’s in Psychology, and thousands of practice tests developed for job seekers worldwide, I’m here to help you understand the CCAT and prepare confidently.

This page provides everything you need to succeed on the Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT):

  1. Critical Information About the CCAT Test
  2. CCAT Practice Test Questions
  3. FAQs

Have a question? Contact me at:

ask_the_team@nextstepcareers.io

Free Practice Simulation
Start My CCAT Prep Now
CCAT Study Guide PDF

Why the CCAT Test is So Challenging and How to Overcome It

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’s 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 slow means unfinished questions.
  • 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 (11 questions, ~22%), Logical (5–6 questions, ~10%). Weakness in one area can drag down your score.

Here’s a visual breakdown of the question types:

Question Type

Approximate Number

Percentage

Examples

Numerical Reasoning

16–17

34%

Number series, word problems, basic algebra

Verbal Reasoning

17

34%

Analogies, sentence completion, antonyms

Spatial Reasoning

11

22%

Shape series, odd one out, matrices

Logical Reasoning

5–6

10%

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./li>
  • 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.

A Complete Online CCAT Preparation Course

Our CCAT PrepPack contains 6 simulations that follow the exact CCAT test format. Each test includes 50 questions that become progressively more challenging, mimicking the real exam experience.

In the pack you’ll find:

  • Questions that follow the official test order, and difficulty.
  • Detailed explanations to strengthen your understanding and improve your performance.
  • The exact time limits and structure of the real CCAT exam.

Enroll in our guided practice plan, starting at $79, to ensure success on your CCAT exam.

Start Your Prep Journey Today

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:

Intermediate Question

Dave is five years older than Jonathan; Jonathan is twice the age of Alice, and Alice is a fifth of Jean’s age. Jean is 10 years old. How old is Dave?

Wrong
Correct
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong

The correct answer is 9. (B)

Jean’s age: 10
Alice’s age: 1:5·10 = 2
Jonathan = 2·2 = 4
Dave = 4 + 5 = 9

Advanced Question

A new TV, worth $500, loses $75 in value every year. If T represents the number of years since the purchase of the new TV, which of the following expressions represents the value of the TV at time T?

Wrong
Wrong
Correct
Wrong

The correct answer is (C).
If the $500 TV loses $75 every year, then the expression representing the value of the TV is $500 − $75T.

CCAT Sample Spatial Reasoning Questions

There are four spatial “Next in Series” questions on the CCAT. Each one presents five figures that follow 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

Which of the following boxes should be next?

Image

Correct
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong

The correct answer is A

Image

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.

Image

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

Which of the following boxes should replace the question mark (?) to complete the pattern?

Image

Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Correct
Wrong

The 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.

Tip:

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.

Elevate Your CCAT Score—Unlock Your Dream Job!

Perfect your CCAT performance with practice designed for busy professionals like you. Our CCAT PrepPack makes exam preparation engaging, effective, and straightforward:

  • Real Test Simulation: Experience 6 timed practice tests that replicate the pressure and pace of the actual CCAT.
  • Step-by-Step Guidance: Enjoy friendly, easy-to-follow explanations that demystify each question.
  • Progress You Can Measure: Watch your score improve with each simulation as you build essential skills.
  • Career Boost: A higher CCAT score can be your key to landing that dream job.

Start Improving Today!

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

Intermediate Question

STRINGS is to GUITAR as:

Wrong
Wrong
Correct
Wrong
Wrong

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.

Advanced Question

ABHOR is to DENOUNCE as …

Correct
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong

To ABHOR means to regard something with disgust, and to DENOUNCE is to declare something wrong.

(WORD 2) is an action one may take when he feels (WORD 1).

A person DENOUNCES something that he ABHORS; similarly, a person APOLOGIZES for something he REGRETS. These two pairs are particularly similar, as both actions (APOLOGIZING and DENOUNCING) are carried out through communication. Thus the answer is A.

Tip:

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

Intermediate Question

Choose the word

3. 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.

Wrong
Correct
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong

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.

Advanced Question

Replace The Blank

4. 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.

Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Correct

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”.

Tip:

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

Syllogism

Intermediate Question

Question #1

Assume the first two statements are true. Is the final statement 1) True, 2) False, or 3) Uncertain based on the information provided?

Bob is taller than Rob.

Job is shorter than Bob.

Job is the shortest among the three.

Wrong
Wrong
Correct

Answer & Explanation

The correct answer is Uncertain.

According to the first statement, Bob is taller than Rob, i.e.
Bob > Rob

According to the second statement, Job is shorter than Bob, i.e. Job < Bob. This statement can also be phrased: Bob is taller than Job (switch directions) i.e. Bob > Job

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’.

Advanced Question

Question #2

Assume the first two statements are true. Is the final statement 1) True, 2) False, or 3) Uncertain based on the information provided?

Earrings and piercings are allowed at “Sacred Jar” high school, but only for students who are 17 or older, or for those who supply a parent’s written permission.

Maria is 17-year-old, but she does not have her parent’s permission.

Maria can attend school while wearing earrings and piercings.

Correct
Wrong
Wrong

Answer & Explanation

The correct answer is: True.

According to the first statement: Earrings and piercings are allowed at “Sacred Jar” high school, for students who are either 17 or older, or for those who supply a parent’s written permission.

Simplify this long sentence:

Earrings and piercings are allowed if you are 17 (or older) OR if you have you have parent’s permission.

The ‘OR’ implies that only one of the conditions must be fulfilled, to attend school while wearing earrings and piercings.

According to the second statement, Maria is 17-year-old but does not have her parent’s permission.

That means that Maria fulfills one of the conditions (she is 17 years old). Therefore, she can attend school while wearing earrings and piercings.

Solving tip: When given a long and complex statement, try to simplify it by extracting its essence, and rephrasing it in a shorter, more understandable way.

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.

Continue Practicing for the CCAT Exam

Access more CCAT FAQs tests and other valuable CCAT prep materials so that you take the test while being as prepared as possible:

Related topics:

CCAT, Criteria, and other trademarks are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of the trademark holders are affiliated with Skillwy.

Copyright © 2026 Skillwy. All Rights Reserved.