PASS THE CCAT

FIRST STEPS TO ACE THIS TRICKY TEST

Sample Questions & Tips
Dear Candidate,
The CCAT (Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test) is one of the most notorious assessments
standing in the way of job candidates today.
Its variety of questions and strict time constraints pose an obstacle to every applicant
that is not accustomed to its format.
After years of research and preparing candidates for the CCAT test, we advise you to
familiarize yourself with the different question types found on this test.
In our experience, this should only be used as a first step.
The biggest issue with the CCAT test is time management which can only be
addressed using accurate timed test simulations.
You are welcome to read all about it on our website later.
Good luck!

JobTestPrep Team

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 What Should You Expect on the CCAT Test?

 The CCAT is a fast-paced test. You have 15 minutes to answer 50 questions.

That’s 18 seconds per question!

 There is a huge variety of questions:

 Numerical: Word Problems, Number / Letter Series, Table & Graphs

 Verbal: Antonyms, Word Analogies, Sentence Completion

 Abstract: Next in Series, Odd one Out, Matrices

 Logic: Syllogisms, Seating Arrangements, Error Checking

 The test is taken online.

 You are not allowed to use a calculator.

 It is crucial to pass it on your first try in order to get accepted to the position you
are applying for.

 Every position requires a different score. The score represents the number of
correct answers submitted;
See the score index on the next page

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Job Title CCAT Score Range

Sales Representative 21-35

Sales Manager 23-37

Senior Manager / VP 29-42

Software Engineer 23-40

Project Manager 22-37

Product Manager 26-41

Analyst 26-42

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Questions and Full Explanations
To help you pass the CCAT test, we at JobTestPrep created sample questions
accurately simulating the questions found on the actual CCAT test. Each question
you’ll find here is followed by a detailed solution. This is a small portion of the
questions and answers you will find on the JobTestPrep CCAT Practice Tests
preparation pack.

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Numerical:
1. Next in Series

Of all CCAT numerical question types, these questions are the ones that
require practice the most.

The need for practice is because unlike other numerical topics, number series
heavily rely on your past familiarity with common patterns and how quickly
you spot them.

Here is a common series pattern. Can you recognize it?

5 | 9 | 18 | 34 | ?

A. 43
B. 53
C. 68
D. 67
E. 59

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Answer and Explanation

When approaching a number sequence question, it is recommended to first

see if any relationships are revealed within the first few seconds. The more you
practice with various types of sequences, the faster and more often you will be
recognizing the pattern.
However, if no such pattern emerges, the next step is usually to create the
series of differences between the numbers of the original sequence:

The pattern is now clear - the series of differences is the series of squares of
natural numbers, starting with 2.
The next number in THAT series should, therefore, be 25.

Calculating backwards, we add 34 + 25 to come up with the final answer: 59.

The correct answer is E.

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Let’s try a harder CCAT Number Series question.
What would be the next number in the following series?

1 | 5 | 4 | 16 | 14 | 42 | ?
A. 39
B. 18
C. 41
D. 9

Number series questions are all about identifying patterns. These patterns are
based on a set of rules that are prevalent in all number series questions.
This series, for example, advances according to the following rules:
(1) The series progresses by multiplication and subtraction, alternately.
(2) In each step, the value of the previous intervals number is
subtracted/multiplied increases by 1.
Therefore, it is recommended to try to figure out which arithmetic function
would lead to the next number in the series.

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1x5=5
5-1=4
4 x 4 =16
16 - 2 =14
14 x 3 =42

The rule involves alternating between multiplication of descending terms

beginning with 5 and subtraction of ascending terms beginning with 1. So x5, -

1, x4, -2, x3, -3,…

Therefore, the answer is 39.

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“
CCAT is all about time
management. You have 18
seconds to solve each
question

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2. Word Problems:

Ben is 75% of his uncle's age and 3 times older than his nephew. If Ben's uncle
is 50 years old, how old is Ben's nephew?

A. 12.5
B. 28
C. 17
D. 9.5

Answer and Explanation

According to the question, Ben's uncle is 50 years old, and Ben is 75% of his
age. Ben is also 3 times older than his nephew. Therefore, Ben links the
uncle's age and the nephew's age. Hence, to find the nephew's age first, you
must calculate Ben's age.

Uncle = 50

Ben

Nephew

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Ben is 75% of his uncle's age, which is 75% of 50. To find Ben's age use the formula:
Part = %*whole = (percentage value/100)*whole
Insert the given data:
Part = Ben's age
percentage value = 75
Whole = Uncle's age = 50
Ben's age = 75%*50 = (75/100)*50 = 50*(75/100) = 75/2 = 70/2 + 5/2 = 35 +
2.5 = 37.5

You are told that Ben is 3 times older than his nephew, which means that the
nephew is 3 times younger than Ben. Therefore, to find the nephew's age,
divide Ben's age by 3:

Nephew's age =
37.5/3 = 36/3 + 1.5/3 = 12 + ½ = 12 + 0.5 = 12.5

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Abstract:
1. Next in Series

Similarly, to the mathematical "Next in Series" questions mentioned above,

these questions also require you to spot patterns in order to complete a
series. Only this time, it is about shapes and no calculations are needed.
Try this "medium" difficulty question.

Go through this series from left to right and determine which shape should
come next in series

A B C D

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Answer and Explanation

Every step, two squares (which are comprised of a black and white triangles),
diagonal to one another, change their orientation (i.e. rotate). In the first
step, the upper-left and the bottom-right squares change their orientation,
and in the next step the upper-right and the bottom-left do, and so forth. The
direction of the rotation is random.

In the final step, the squares that rotated were the upper right and bottom
left ones, which means that they should stay the same in the missing image.
The only answer that fits this rule is answer D.

The correct answer is D.

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“
On the CCAT Test, Number
Series and Abstract
Reasoning Questions Require
the Most Practice to Master
”

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2. Odd One Out

This type of question mostly requires some methodological work to solve.

Here is a very simple description of this process:

Step #1: Intuitively pick one or (if you feel confident and work quickly - two)
shapes.

Step #2: Make a mental list of their features. These may include:

• Number of shapes

• Number of shape sides (triangle, rectangle, etc.)

• Placement of shapes in the element

• Color of shapes

Step #3: Check out each specific feature and see if it matches all shapes but
one.

Let’s check out a sample question to see how it’s done.

Choose the odd one out:

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Answer and Explanation

Each figure in this group features a large shape with two smaller inner shapes.

The total sum of the sides of the inner shapes is equal to the number of sides
of the outer, larger shape. This rule applies to all figures aside from the first.

Therefore, the correct answer is A.

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Logic/Verbal:
1. Syllogisms

Syllogisms will present you with several short premises (regarded as true) and
will require you to deduce whether another statement necessarily follows
them.

Try solving this question; assume the first two statements are true.

Bob is taller than Rob.

Job is shorter than Bob.

Conclusion: Job is the shortest among the three.

A. True
B. False
C. Uncertain

Answer and Explanation

In these types of question, some test takers use Venn diagrams or the
symbolization method, while others prefer a more intuitive approach.
Whatever method you use, make sure you perfect it and know how to use it
quickly and efficiently.

Let’s cut down the text into symbolization (height-wise):

Statement #1 – Bob is taller than Rob: Bob > Rob

Statement #2 – Job is shorter than Bob: Job < Bob

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Convert this statement to the same format as #1 by changing directions: Bob >
Job

Combining the two statements we get:

Bob > Job, Rob

Therefore, you can deduce that Bob is taller from 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'.

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2. Word Analogies

You will be presented with a pair of words, forming some type of relationship.
Your task is to find another pair that maintains the exact same relationship.
Try this question:

STRINGS is to GUITAR as:

A. WOOD is to CELLO
B. PIANO is to KEYS
C. BARS is to XYLOPHONE
D. SOUND is to MUSIC

Answer and Explanation

Let’s form a sentence for the original analogy and apply it to all answer
choices:

STRINGS are the part of the GUITAR which makes the music.

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. SOUND is part of the MUSIC, which makes the music.

Of all answer choices, only C maintains the original relationship. Note that
sometimes you will be left with more than one answer choice, which makes
sense. In that case, you will need to use your common sense to find the slight
differences between the answers. If you do not manage to do that in a
reasonable amount of time, pick the one that feels best and move on.

The correct answer is C.

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The 4 Golden CCAT Tips for Time Management

Work super-fast in the beginning and slow down later:

The questions on the CCAT test increase in difficulty throughout the test. The first
questions should not take long to solve, so don't waste time overthinking them.

Beware of attention-deficit:
Working fast on the first questions could give you the competitive edge you need,
but it could also lead to unnecessary mistakes. That phenomenon is very common
among inexperienced test-takers and will get you to make callous mistakes on
questions you clearly know the answer to. Take that extra second to make sure your
answer is correct.

Don't waste too much time on one question:

That one is a disaster on the CCAT. Don't know the answer? Guess and move on!
How much time is too much? That is one of the things only full-length simulations will
teach you.

Don't try to solve all 50 questions:

You might be surprised, but you are not expected to (nor should you try to) solve all
the 50 questions on the CCAT. Less than 1% of the population do. It is better to give a
bit more time to get 40 questions right than to rummage through all the 50 questions
and eventually get only 30 correct.

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“
The questions on the CCAT
test increase in difficulty
throughout the test. The first
questions should not take
long to solve, so don't waste
time overthinking them.
”

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How Can JobTestPrep Help You Prepare
We at JobTestPrep pioneered online assessment practice beginning at 1992 –
with well over ten thousand satisfied CCAT customers!
Using our comprehensive CCAT Practice Course, you will receive an
unparalleled preparation experience to make sure you will pass your upcoming
CCAT assessment.

Our Offer:
5 Full CCAT Practice Tests (Timed)
Additional 75 Single Subject Practice Tests
CCAT Specific Solving Tips
CCAT Time Management Guide
Step-by-Step Explanations
24/7 Customer Service

Now, take the first step toward passing your assessment!

Visit JobTestPrep CCAT page or search Google for "CCAT jobtestprep" and practice
additional CCAT questions and full-timed test simulations!
Good luck!