CCAT Practice — Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test
Free CCAT sample questions and a one-week prep plan for the Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test — 50 questions in 15 minutes.
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What is the CCAT (Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test)
The Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT) is a general pre-employment cognitive test published by Criteria Corp. It has 50 questions in 15 minutes — that's about 18 seconds per question — and mixes verbal, math, spatial, and logic items. It is one of the most widely used hiring aptitude tests in the US, with Criteria reporting it has been administered more than 10 million times. Criteria notes that very few candidates finish all 50 items; industry analyses commonly put it at under 1%. The score reflects both accuracy and speed, benchmarked against a norm group for the role.
Try free sample questions
Five real-format questions covering the two sections you'll see on test day. Pick an answer, then check the worked explanation.
The complete CCAT (Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test) prep pack
One focused course, built for the exact test. Full-length timed practice tests that mirror the real exam, worked explanations for every question, and a day-by-day plan that walks you from diagnostic to test day.
If you sit the test and don't feel prepared, email us within 30 days and we'll refund you. That's the guarantee.
- 3 full-length timed CCAT practice tests (50 questions, 15 minutes)
- Full-length practice tests with step-by-step explanations
- Speed drills at 18 seconds per question — the real pace
- Percentile score interpreter (map your raw score to role norms)
- One-week structured study plan
- 30 days of access, on any device
Test format
50 mixed questions in 15 minutes. That's 18 seconds per question. No calculator. No going back to skipped items.
| Section | Questions | Time | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed Cognitive Items | 50 | 15 minutes | Verbal, math, spatial reasoning, and logic — presented in random order. |
Scoring explained
The CCAT reports a raw score (0–50, no wrong-answer penalty) and a percentile against a Criteria Corp norm group for the role you're applying to.
Criteria's published norms put the average raw score at 24.2 (median 24).
Criteria's score reports show employers suggested score ranges by position. Each employer sets its own bar; commonly cited competitive benchmarks range from the low 20s for entry-level and customer-facing roles to roughly 30+ for technical and engineering roles. Ask HR what percentile or raw score they consider passing.
Criteria notes that very few candidates finish all 50 items; industry analyses commonly put it at under 1%. Speed AND accuracy matter. Guessing at the end (no penalty) is a valid strategy for the last 30 seconds.
How to prepare
The CCAT rewards speed more than intelligence. One focused week of timed practice at 18 seconds per question can move a candidate from the 40th to the 70th percentile.
- Learn the 5 core question types — math, verbal, spatial, logic, and series. One evening.
- Drill at pace — 20 questions in under 6 minutes, three times a day.
- Take timed full-lengths — 3 full tests over the week. Track your raw score curve.
- Sharpen your weakest type — usually math or spatial. Focus the last two days there.
- Guess the last 30 seconds — no wrong-answer penalty; leaving items blank is throwing away points.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
10 questions, exam format, with worked explanations. Sent instantly.