Format and rules
This paper has 50 questions in 15 minutes (900 seconds), without a calculator or a penalty for wrong answers. You can move between questions during the timer. One correct answer earns one raw practice point; an incorrect or unanswered item earns zero.
Criteria's official candidate guidance describes 50 items in 15 minutes, covering verbal, math and logic, and spatial reasoning. Our chosen mix is 20 verbal, 20 math and logic, and 10 spatial questions. That distribution, our difficulty and our independent interface are practice conventions, not a claim about the provider's exact item mix or interface.
Use the 15 minutes deliberately
Read quickly, estimate where useful and move on when a question consumes too much time. Use the review palette to revisit a question while time remains. After submission, compare errors in reading, calculation and reasoning before trying the CCAT preparation guide or the linked skill lessons.
Official source
Criteria: CCAT preparation guidance. Format and calculator/scoring guidance checked 21 October 2026. We are not affiliated with Criteria and do not reproduce proprietary assessment items.
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Many questions reuse our existing skill practice sets. If you have seen an item before, repeated exposure can improve your score without showing a comparable improvement on unseen questions. Review your reasoning and use a first attempt as a personal study baseline.
All 50 questions, answers and explanations
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1. The editor requested a CONCISE summary rather than a long account. Which word is closest to CONCISE?
- Brief
- Uncertain
- Decorative
- Delayed
- Verbose
Reference:
q-ae596103-101· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: A. Brief
Concise means brief and clearly expressed; the contrast with a long account fixes the meaning. -
2. A help desk resolves 640 cases in June and 736 in July. What is the percentage increase?
- 16%
- 15%
- 18%
- 12%
- None of the other answers
Reference:
q-756a44ef-89· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: B. 15%
The increase is 96. Divide by the original 640: 96/640 times 100 = 15%. -
3. Filled: r1c1, r1c2, r2c1. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
Choose the pattern after a 90-degree clockwise rotation.
- Filled: r1c1, r1c2, r2c1. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r2c3, r3c2, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c2, r1c3, r2c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c2, r1c3, r2c2. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c3, r2c1, r2c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
Reference:
q-3089f354-1032· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: C. Filled: r1c2, r1c3, r2c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
The resulting filled cells are r1c2, r1c3, r2c3. Map row r, column c to row c, column 4−r. No cell is added or removed. -
4. The meeting date is TENTATIVE until the venue confirms. TENTATIVE most nearly means:
- Permanent
- Overdue
- Secret
- Provisional
- Mandatory
Reference:
q-d87293fe-85· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: D. Provisional
A tentative date is provisional, subject to confirmation. -
5. A processing time falls from 50 minutes to 38 minutes. What is the percentage reduction?
- 20%
- None of the other answers
- 31.58%
- 12%
- 24%
Reference:
q-3bfe421e-89· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: E. 24%
The reduction is 12 minutes. Relative to the original 50 minutes, 12/50 = 24%. -
6. Filled: r1c1, r1c2, r2c2. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
Choose the pattern after reflection in the vertical centre line (left and right swap).
- Filled: r1c2, r1c3, r2c2. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c3, r2c2, r2c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r2c2, r3c2, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c1, r1c2, r2c2. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c2, r1c3, r2c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
Reference:
q-9244b743-1062· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: A. Filled: r1c2, r1c3, r2c2. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
The resulting filled cells are r1c2, r1c3, r2c2. Keep each row and replace column c with column 4−c. No cell is added or removed. -
7. A METICULOUS technician checked every label twice. METICULOUS means:
- Hurried
- Very careful
- Indifferent
- Unqualified
- Careless
Reference:
q-db46c27a-69· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: B. Very careful
Meticulous describes close, careful attention to detail. -
8. After a 20% price reduction, a licence costs $144. What was its original price?
- $200
- $172.80
- $180
- $192
- None of the other answers
Reference:
q-c6f95d84-80· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: C. $180
The new price is 80% of the original. Therefore original price = 144/0.80 = $180. -
9. Filled: r1c1, r2c2, r3c2. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
Choose the pattern after a 180-degree rotation.
- Filled: r1c3, r2c2, r3c2. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c3, r2c1, r2c2. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c1, r2c2, r3c2. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c2, r2c2, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c2, r2c3, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
Reference:
q-2b4c367e-1023· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: D. Filled: r1c2, r2c2, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
The resulting filled cells are r1c2, r2c2, r3c3. Map row r, column c to row 4−r, column 4−c. No cell is added or removed. -
10. The old connector is OBSOLETE because current devices no longer use it. OBSOLETE means:
- Reliable
- Portable
- Costly
- Recently invented
- Out of date
Reference:
q-917bb50e-88· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: E. Out of date
Obsolete means no longer current or in ordinary use, not necessarily broken. -
11. A monthly fee rises by 8% to $270. What was the fee before the rise?
- $250
- $262
- $248.40
- $252
- None of the other answers
Reference:
q-6fdf84cd-69· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: A. $250
The new fee is 1.08 times the original. Divide 270 by 1.08 to obtain $250. -
12. Filled: r1c2, r2c1, r2c2, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
Choose the pattern after a 90-degree clockwise rotation.
- Filled: r1c1, r1c3, r2c2, r2c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c2, r2c2, r2c3, r3c1. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c2, r2c1, r2c2, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c1, r2c2, r2c3, r3c2. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c2, r2c1, r2c3, r3c1. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
Reference:
q-1f9b12b1-1051· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: B. Filled: r1c2, r2c2, r2c3, r3c1. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
The resulting filled cells are r1c2, r2c2, r2c3, r3c1. Map row r, column c to row c, column 4−r. No cell is added or removed. -
13. The report gives a CANDID account of the project’s mistakes. CANDID means:
- Confusing
- Lengthy
- Frank
- Optimistic
- Evasive
Reference:
q-59e8858a-75· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: C. Frank
A candid account is frank and open, including about mistakes. -
14. A conversion rate rises from 16% to 20%. What is the increase in percentage points?
- 36
- 20
- 25
- 4
- None of the other answers
Reference:
q-f2ef1950-84· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: D. 4
Subtract the rates directly: 20% minus 16% is four percentage points. The relative increase would be 25%. -
15. Filled: r1c1, r1c2, r2c3, r3c2. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
Choose the pattern after reflection in the vertical centre line (left and right swap).
- Filled: r1c2, r1c3, r3c1, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c3, r2c1, r2c3, r3c2. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c2, r2c1, r3c2, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c1, r1c2, r2c3, r3c2. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c2, r1c3, r2c1, r3c2. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
Reference:
q-87341de4-1081· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: E. Filled: r1c2, r1c3, r2c1, r3c2. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
The resulting filled cells are r1c2, r1c3, r2c1, r3c2. Keep each row and replace column c with column 4−c. No cell is added or removed. -
16. Extra drainage should MITIGATE the effects of heavy rain. MITIGATE means:
- Reduce the severity of
- Record
- Ignore
- Predict
- Intensify
Reference:
q-a9b74fd2-74· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: A. Reduce the severity of
Mitigate means make an effect less severe, not necessarily remove it entirely. -
17. An error rate falls from 8% to 6%. What is the relative percentage reduction?
- 20%
- 25%
- 33.33%
- 2%
- None of the other answers
Reference:
q-21c341bc-78· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: B. 25%
The rate fell by two percentage points. Relative reduction = (8 minus 6)/8 = 25%. -
18. Filled: r1c1, r2c1, r2c2, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
Choose the pattern after a 180-degree rotation.
- Filled: r1c3, r2c2, r2c3, r3c1. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c2, r1c3, r2c2, r3c1. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c1, r2c2, r2c3, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c1, r2c1, r2c2, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c1, r1c2, r2c2, r2c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
Reference:
q-b6d265bf-1042· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: C. Filled: r1c1, r2c2, r2c3, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
The resulting filled cells are r1c1, r2c2, r2c3, r3c3. Map row r, column c to row 4−r, column 4−c. No cell is added or removed. -
19. Service interruptions were SPORADIC, with long periods of normal operation. SPORADIC means:
- Increasing steadily
- Continuous
- Scheduled hourly
- Occasional and irregular
- Precisely periodic
Reference:
q-8b0e4ab2-92· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: D. Occasional and irregular
Sporadic events occur occasionally and irregularly. -
20. Output rises by 20% and then by a further 10% from its new level. What is the total increase?
- 28%
- 30%
- None of the other answers
- 35%
- 32%
Reference:
q-b6f65d1e-94· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: E. 32%
Multiply the growth factors: 1.20 times 1.10 = 1.32. The total increase is 32%. -
21. Filled: r1c1, r1c3, r2c1, r2c2. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
Choose the pattern after a 90-degree clockwise rotation.
- Filled: r1c2, r1c3, r2c2, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r2c2, r2c3, r3c1, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c1, r1c3, r2c2, r2c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c1, r1c3, r2c1, r2c2. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c2, r2c1, r2c2, r2c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
Reference:
q-5e488ef5-1051· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: A. Filled: r1c2, r1c3, r2c2, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
The resulting filled cells are r1c2, r1c3, r2c2, r3c3. Map row r, column c to row c, column 4−r. No cell is added or removed. -
22. The team rejected the plan as too costly and sought a FEASIBLE alternative. FEASIBLE means:
- Identical
- Practicable
- Secret
- Already completed
- Impossible
Reference:
q-e6df84cc-92· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: B. Practicable
A feasible plan can realistically be carried out. -
23. A budget of $5,000 is cut by 10% and then increased by 10%. What is the final budget?
- $5,000
- $5,050
- $4,950
- $4,900
- None of the other answers
Reference:
q-8e0fd130-86· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: C. $4,950
5,000 times 0.90 times 1.10 = $4,950. Opposite percentage changes do not cancel. -
24. Filled: r1c2, r1c3, r2c2, r3c1. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
Choose the pattern after reflection in the vertical centre line (left and right swap).
- Filled: r1c3, r2c2, r3c1, r3c2. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c1, r2c2, r2c3, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c2, r1c3, r2c2, r3c1. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c1, r1c2, r2c2, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c3, r2c1, r2c3, r3c2. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
Reference:
q-b20b7942-1081· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: D. Filled: r1c1, r1c2, r2c2, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
The resulting filled cells are r1c1, r1c2, r2c2, r3c3. Keep each row and replace column c with column 4−c. No cell is added or removed. -
25. Supplies were SCARCE at first. Which word expresses the opposite of SCARCE?
- Fragile
- Portable
- Necessary
- Insufficient
- Abundant
Reference:
q-78933e5b-76· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: E. Abundant
Scarce means in short supply; abundant means plentiful. -
26. A supplier raises a price from $75 to $90. What percentage reduction from $90 would restore the old price, rounded to two decimal places?
- 16.67%
- 20%
- 25%
- 15%
- None of the other answers
Reference:
q-12b83c69-138· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: A. 16.67%
The needed reduction is $15 on the new $90 base. 15/90 times 100 is approximately 16.67%. -
27. Filled: r1c1, r1c2, r2c2, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
Choose the pattern after a 180-degree rotation.
- Filled: r1c1, r1c2, r2c2, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c1, r2c2, r3c2, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c2, r1c3, r2c2, r3c1. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c3, r2c2, r2c3, r3c1. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c1, r1c2, r1c3, r2c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
Reference:
q-a973f0cd-1042· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: B. Filled: r1c1, r2c2, r3c2, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
The resulting filled cells are r1c1, r2c2, r3c2, r3c3. Map row r, column c to row 4−r, column 4−c. No cell is added or removed. -
28. Omar was RELUCTANT to approve the change. Which word is the opposite of RELUCTANT?
- Unable
- Uncertain
- Willing
- Delayed
- Unwilling
Reference:
q-4be94b67-83· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: C. Willing
Reluctant means unwilling or hesitant; willing gives the intended opposite. -
29. A team completes 420 of 560 assigned checks. What percentage remains unfinished?
- 20%
- 75%
- 30%
- 25%
- None of the other answers
Reference:
q-a81e8a2d-81· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: D. 25%
Unfinished checks = 560 minus 420 = 140. Divide 140 by 560 to obtain 25%. -
30. Filled: r1c1, r1c3, r2c2, r3c2. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
Choose the pattern after a 90-degree clockwise rotation.
- Filled: r1c1, r1c3, r2c2, r3c1. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c2, r2c2, r3c1, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c1, r1c3, r2c2, r3c2. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c2, r2c1, r2c3, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
- Filled: r1c3, r2c1, r2c2, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
Reference:
q-2d5d076f-1051· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: E. Filled: r1c3, r2c1, r2c2, r3c3. Rows run top to bottom; columns left to right.
The resulting filled cells are r1c3, r2c1, r2c2, r3c3. Map row r, column c to row c, column 4−r. No cell is added or removed. -
31. The schedule was RIGID and allowed no adjustments. Which word is the opposite of RIGID here?
- Flexible
- Lengthy
- Detailed
- Published
- Fixed
Reference:
q-1c8a54af-93· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: A. Flexible
In this context rigid means inflexible; flexible permits adjustment. -
32. A US office has fourteen support staff and twenty-one analysts. What is the simplest ratio of support staff to analysts?
- 3:2
- 2:3
- 2:5
- 7:3
- None of the other answers
Reference:
q-f628a067-121· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: B. 2:3
Write the quantities in the requested order: 14:21. Divide both by seven to obtain 2:3. The support share of all staff would be 14/35; that is a different comparison. -
33. An IMPARTIAL judge does not favour either side. Which word is its opposite?
- Qualified
- Patient
- Biased
- Distant
- Neutral
Reference:
q-2ed30cb8-76· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: C. Biased
Biased means favouring a side; it is the opposite of impartial. -
34. A UK project budget of £4,200 is shared between design and delivery in the ratio 2:5. How much is allocated to delivery?
- £1,200
- £3,500
- £2,100
- £3,000
- None of the other answers
Reference:
q-785851ec-121· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: D. £3,000
There are 2 + 5 = 7 parts altogether. Each is worth £4,200 ÷ 7 = £600. Delivery receives five parts, or £3,000; design receives the remaining £1,200. -
35. The firm plans to EXPAND its storage area. Which action is the opposite?
- Maintain it
- Enlarge it
- Measure it
- Label it
- Shrink it
Reference:
q-5d0c8199-73· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: E. Shrink it
Expand increases size; shrink decreases it. -
36. An Australian store has blue and green folders in the ratio 3:8. It has 64 green folders. How many blue folders does it have?
- 24
- 21
- 16
- 32
- None of the other answers
Reference:
q-e604b8da-126· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: A. 24
Eight green parts equal 64 folders, so each part is eight folders. The blue stock has three parts: 3 × 8 = 24. Use the known green quantity to determine one part. -
37. The committee promised TRANSPARENT decisions that everyone could inspect. Which word is the clearest opposite in this context?
- Prompt
- Secretive
- Costly
- Detailed
- Open
Reference:
q-3a0a4947-127· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: B. Secretive
Transparent here means open to inspection; secretive withholds information. -
38. An Indian team has permanent and temporary staff in the ratio 9:16. What percentage of the whole team is permanent?
- 9%
- 25%
- 36%
- 56.25%
- None of the other answers
Reference:
q-1c2324c0-116· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: C. 36%
There are 25 parts in total, of which nine are permanent. The share is 9 ÷ 25 × 100 = 36%. Dividing nine by sixteen would compare permanent staff with temporary staff, not the whole team. -
39. THERMOMETER is to TEMPERATURE as ODOMETER is to:
- Time
- Direction
- Pressure
- Distance
- Humidity
Reference:
q-f455b3a8-49· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: D. Distance
Each instrument measures the quantity named: temperature and distance respectively. -
40. A UK workshop compares a 45-minute inspection with a 1.5-hour inspection. What is the simplest ratio of the shorter time to the longer time?
- None of the other answers
- 2:1
- 3:10
- 30:1
- 1:2
Reference:
q-929581a0-141· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: E. 1:2
Convert 1.5 hours to ninety minutes. The requested ratio is 45:90, which simplifies to 1:2. Comparing the unconverted numbers 45 and 1.5 would mix incompatible units. -
41. SEED is to TREE as CATERPILLAR is to:
- Butterfly
- Nest
- Leaf
- Soil
- Egg
Reference:
q-c0294c4d-38· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: A. Butterfly
The first member develops into the second. A caterpillar develops into a butterfly. -
42. Every priority shipment is tracked. Parcel K is not tracked. Which conclusion must be true?
- K is priority
- K is not priority
- K is delayed
- All tracked parcels are priority
- None of the other answers
Reference:
q-60deff4e-92· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: B. K is not priority
A priority parcel must be tracked. K is not tracked, so it cannot be priority. Delay is not mentioned. -
43. COMPASS is to DIRECTION as CALENDAR is to:
- Length
- Weight
- Date
- Speed
- Altitude
Reference:
q-b9576624-43· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: C. Date
The first helps identify the second: a compass gives direction and a calendar identifies dates. -
44. Only supervisors may approve refunds. Nia approved a refund. What follows?
- Nia approved all refunds
- Every supervisor approves refunds
- Nia is the only supervisor
- Nia is a supervisor
- None of the other answers
Reference:
q-1dee9dce-75· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: D. Nia is a supervisor
Approval requires supervisor status. The rule does not require every supervisor to approve a refund. -
45. AUTHOR is to MANUSCRIPT as ARCHITECT is to:
- Medicine
- Prescription
- Harvest
- Recipe
- Blueprint
Reference:
q-1169bc17-44· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: E. Blueprint
The person creates the named work: an author a manuscript, an architect a blueprint. -
46. A briefing occurs before a demonstration. The demonstration occurs before a review. Which event must be first among these three?
- Briefing
- Demonstration
- Review
- Cannot determine
- None of the other answers
Reference:
q-4697502c-129· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: A. Briefing
The order is briefing, demonstration, review. -
47. FILTER is to IMPURITY REMOVAL as SIEVE is to:
- Colour measurement
- Particle-size separation
- Sound recording
- Temperature control
- Volume amplification
Reference:
q-ae449928-46· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: B. Particle-size separation
Both devices separate material: the sieve separates particles by size. -
48. Exactly one of the servers P and Q is offline. P is online. What must be true?
- Q is online
- Both are offline
- Q is offline
- Neither is offline
- None of the other answers
Reference:
q-79c455b8-79· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: C. Q is offline
Exactly one must be offline. Because P is not, Q must be. -
49. CHAPTER is to BOOK as SCENE is to:
- Actor
- Audience
- Ticket
- Play
- Library
Reference:
q-2dad7657-35· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: D. Play
The first is a structural part of the second. A scene is part of a play. -
50. A permit requires both training and an ID check. Omar has training but no ID check. Under this rule, is Omar eligible for the permit?
- Yes
- None of the other answers
- Only if he requests it
- Eligibility follows from training alone
- No
Reference:
q-34568f2d-134· Report this questionShow answer and solution
Answer: E. No
Both requirements are necessary. The missing ID check prevents eligibility.