CCAT Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which word is closest in meaning to LACONIC?

Relaxed
Brief (Correct answer)
Emotional
Wordy

Correct answer: Brief

Laconic means using very few words — brief and concise.

Question 2: A store's monthly sales (in thousands): Jan=42, Feb=38, Mar=45, Apr=50, May=47. What is the median monthly sales value?

$47,000
$45,000 (Correct answer)
$44,400
$42,000

Correct answer: $45,000

When sorted (38, 42, 45, 47, 50), the middle value is 45, so median = $45,000.

Question 3: No introverts enjoy large crowds. Some engineers are introverts. Which statement is certainly true?

All introverts are engineers
All engineers enjoy large crowds
Some engineers do not enjoy large crowds (Correct answer)
No engineers enjoy large crowds

Correct answer: Some engineers do not enjoy large crowds

The engineer-introverts don't enjoy large crowds, so some engineers (those who are introverts) do not enjoy large crowds.

Question 4: Which word is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to CONCEAL?

Cover
Suppress
Reveal (Correct answer)
Hide

Correct answer: Reveal

Conceal means to hide something, so reveal (to make known) is its antonym.

Question 5: In a 3×3 grid, the shading in each cell rotates 45° clockwise from the previous cell reading left to right, top to bottom. The first cell has shading at 0° (horizontal lines). What is the shading angle in the ninth cell?

45° (diagonal)
0° (horizontal)
135° (other diagonal) (Correct answer)
90° (vertical)

Correct answer: 135° (other diagonal)

Eight steps of 45° each equals 360°, but the ninth cell is one step past 8 × 45° = 360°, landing at 45° × 8 = 360° → reset to 0° then +45° for the 9th cell... actually 8 steps × 45° = 360° so the 9th cell is at 0° + 8×45° = 360° ≡ 0°... let me recalculate: cell 1 = 0°, cell 2 = 45°, cell 3 = 90°, cell 4 = 135°, cell 5 = 180°=0°, cell 6 = 45°, cell 7 = 90°, cell 8 = 135°, cell 9 = 180°=0°. The ninth cell has horizontal shading (0°).

Question 6: Read the following statements: 1. All documents processed by the finance department must be stamped. 2. Only invoices and expense reports are processed by the finance department. 3. This document is an expense report. Which of the following can be logically concluded?

This document must be stamped. (Correct answer)
All stamped documents are expense reports.
This document may or may not be processed by the finance department.
This document is not an invoice.

Correct answer: This document must be stamped.

According to premise 3, the document is an expense report. According to premise 2, expense reports are processed by the finance department. According to premise 1, all documents processed by the finance department are stamped. Therefore, this document must be stamped.

Question 7: EMBRYO : ADULT :: SEED : ___

Root
Tree (Correct answer)
Flower
Soil

Correct answer: Tree

An embryo develops into an adult organism; a seed develops into a tree (mature plant).

Question 8: A 3x3 matrix has arrows. Row 1 shows arrows pointing right. Each row rotates 90 degrees clockwise. Row 3 arrows point in which direction?

Up
Left (Correct answer)
Right
Down

Correct answer: Left

Right (Row 1) rotates 90 degrees clockwise to down (Row 2), then to left (Row 3).

Question 9: Two overlapping shapes create three regions: left-only, overlap, right-only. In a sequence, the overlap region grows while the non-overlapping regions shrink equally. This pattern illustrates which abstract concept?

Convergence (Correct answer)
Rotation
Reflection
Divergence

Correct answer: Convergence

The two shapes are moving toward each other and increasing shared area, which represents convergence.

Question 10: Which word is closest in meaning to PRAGMATIC?

Practical (Correct answer)
Rigid
Theoretical
Idealistic

Correct answer: Practical

Pragmatic means dealing with things sensibly and realistically — practical.

Question 11: An investment of $5,000 earns simple interest at 6% per year. What is the total value after 3 years?

$5,955
$5,800
$5,900 (Correct answer)
$6,050

Correct answer: $5,900

Simple interest = $5,000 × 0.06 × 3 = $900; total = $5,000 + $900 = $5,900.

Question 12: Which word is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to VERBOSE?

Wordy
Elaborate
Lengthy
Concise (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Concise

Verbose means using more words than necessary, so concise (brief and to the point) is its antonym.

Question 13: Each cell in the 3x3 matrix contains a different number of lines. A consistent rule governs the arrangement. Which answer choice should be in the place of the question mark? Row 1: [3 Horizontal Lines], [2 Vertical Lines], [1 Diagonal Line] Row 2: [4 Horizontal Lines], [3 Vertical Lines], [2 Diagonal Lines] Row 3: [5 Horizontal Lines], [4 Vertical Lines], [?]

2 Vertical Lines
1 Diagonal Line
4 Horizontal Lines
3 Diagonal Lines (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 3 Diagonal Lines

The logic operates both down columns and across rows. Down each column, the number of lines increases by one (3, 4, 5 for horizontal; 2, 3, 4 for vertical; 1, 2, ? for diagonal). Across each row, the number of lines decreases by one (3, 2, 1 for row 1; 4, 3, 2 for row 2; 5, 4, ? for row 3). Both patterns indicate that the missing cell must contain 3 lines. Since the third column contains diagonal lines, the correct answer is 3 Diagonal Lines.

Question 14: Premises: All squares are rectangles. Shape X is not a rectangle. Conclusion: Shape X is not a square.

Valid (Correct answer)
Invalid
Cannot determine
Possibly valid

Correct answer: Valid

Contrapositive: not-rectangle implies not-square. Shape X is not a rectangle, so it cannot be a square.

Question 15: If p = 4 and q = -3, what is the value of 2p² − 3q?

47
23
32
41 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 41

2(4²) − 3(−3) = 2(16) + 9 = 32 + 9 = 41.

Question 16: 9. What would the next number in the following series be?<br/> 1 … 10 … 2 … 9 … 3 … ?

4
10
8 (Correct answer)
12

Correct answer: 8

This series alternates between two distinct patterns. The numbers in the odd positions (1st, 3rd, 5th) are 1, 2, 3, which are increasing by 1. The numbers in the even positions (2nd, 4th) are 10, 9, which are decreasing by 1. The next number in the series is in the 6th position, following the decreasing pattern of the even positions. Therefore, the next number after 9 is 8.

Question 17: A sequence of shapes follows the pattern: circle, triangle, square, circle, triangle, ___. What comes next?

Circle
Square (Correct answer)
Pentagon
Triangle

Correct answer: Square

The pattern repeats every three shapes (circle, triangle, square), so the sixth position is square.

Question 18: A figure contains a large circle with a smaller square inside it. In the first step, the square is black. In the second step, the square is white. In the third step, the large shape is now a square with a smaller circle inside it, and the inner circle is black. Which figure logically follows?

A large square with a smaller white circle inside. (Correct answer)
A large circle with a smaller black circle inside.
A large circle with a smaller white square inside.
A large square with a smaller black square inside.

Correct answer: A large square with a smaller white circle inside.

The pattern consists of two parts that repeat every two steps. First, the inner shape's color alternates between black and white. Second, after two steps, the large and small shapes swap their identities (circle/square becomes square/circle). The third step introduced a large square and a small black circle. Therefore, the fourth step must maintain the large square/small circle configuration but change the inner shape's color to white.

Question 19: A repeating tile pattern cycles: circle, square, triangle, diamond, circle, square, triangle, diamond... What is the 19th shape?

Triangle (Correct answer)
Square
Circle
Diamond

Correct answer: Triangle

Cycle length = 4. 19 mod 4 = 3. Position 3 in the cycle = triangle.

Question 20: Which is the odd one out based on being an isometric transformation (preserves size)? A) Rotation B) Reflection C) Translation D) Dilation

Dilation (Correct answer)
Rotation
Reflection
Translation

Correct answer: Dilation

Rotation, reflection, and translation are isometric (preserve shape and size). Dilation changes size.

Question 21: A series of shapes follows this rule: Circle → Square → Triangle → Circle → Square → ? What comes next?

Circle
Square
Pentagon
Triangle (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Triangle

The pattern repeats every three shapes (Circle, Square, Triangle), so after Square comes Triangle.

Question 22: The board of directors was impressed with the new CEO, whose management style brought a sense of to the struggling company.

erratic, stability
collaborative, cohesion (Correct answer)
passive, division
autocratic, confusion

Correct answer: collaborative, cohesion

The phrase 'impressed with the new CEO' suggests a positive outcome. A 'collaborative' style, meaning working together, would logically lead to 'cohesion,' or a state of unity. The other pairs present contradictions; for instance, an 'autocratic' (dictatorial) style is unlikely to be praised if it brings 'confusion'.

Question 23: Matrix rule: each cell equals the sum of the cell above it and the cell to its left. Row 1: 1, 2, 3. Row 2: 2, ?, 8. What is the missing value?

6
5 (Correct answer)
7
4

Correct answer: 5

Check: Row 2 Col 3 = above (3) + left (?) = 8, so ? = 5. Also: ? = above (2) + left (2) = 4. The right-neighbor constraint gives ? = 5.

Question 24: 13. 20 is 20% of number _______.

100 (Correct answer)
300
50
250

Correct answer: 100

To find the number of which 20 is 20%, you can set up an equation: 20 = 0.20 * X, where X is the unknown number. To solve for X, divide 20 by 0.20. This calculation yields X = 100. So, 20 is 20% of 100.

Question 25: The athlete trained with ___ discipline, never missing a session even during holidays.

inconsistent
sporadic
moderate
unwavering (Correct answer)

Correct answer: unwavering

Never missing a session despite holidays describes unwavering (steady and resolute) discipline.

Question 26: Three mislabeled boxes contain apples, oranges, and a mix. The 'Mixed' box is opened and reveals only apples. What does the 'Oranges' box contain?

Apples
Mixed (Correct answer)
Oranges
Cannot be determined

Correct answer: Mixed

All labels are wrong. 'Mixed' has apples. 'Oranges' cannot have oranges (wrong label) so it has mixed. 'Apples' has oranges.

Question 27: Which word is closest in meaning to ARDUOUS?

Boring
Strenuous (Correct answer)
Easy
Passionate

Correct answer: Strenuous

Arduous means involving great effort and difficulty — synonymous with strenuous.

Question 28: SURGEON : SCALPEL :: CARPENTER : ___

Saw (Correct answer)
Lumber
Nail
Blueprint

Correct answer: Saw

A scalpel is the primary cutting tool of a surgeon; a saw is the primary cutting tool of a carpenter.

Question 29: Each row in a matrix contains three figures where the number of dots inside increases by 1. The third row starts with 3 dots, then 4 dots. How many dots does the missing figure have?

6
5 (Correct answer)
4
3

Correct answer: 5

Following the +1 rule, the next figure has 5 dots.

Question 30: TEPID : HOT :: MURKY : ?

Dark
Deep
Clear (Correct answer)
Dirty

Correct answer: Clear

Tepid is a milder version of hot; murky is a milder version of completely clear's opposite, so murky intensifies to opaque — but tepid is less than hot, and murky contrasts with clear.

Question 31: What is the next number? 100, 50, 25, 12.5, ___

6
7.5
5
6.25 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 6.25

Each term is halved: 12.5 / 2 = 6.25.

Question 32: Four figures each show a shape rotated 90°, except one which is reflected. Which is the odd one out if Figure A is rotated 90° CW, Figure B is rotated 90° CCW, Figure C is reflected horizontally, and Figure D is rotated 90° CW?

Figure D
Figure C (Correct answer)
Figure B
Figure A

Correct answer: Figure C

Figure C is a reflection, while all others are rotations.

Question 33: A box contains 5 red marbles, 3 blue marbles, and 2 green marbles. If one marble is drawn at random, what is the probability it is NOT red?

3/10
1/5
1/2 (Correct answer)
2/5

Correct answer: 1/2

Non-red marbles = 3 + 2 = 5 out of 10 total; probability = 5/10 = 1/2.

Question 34: Passage: 'The CCAT is a pre-employment cognitive aptitude test used by employers across the US to predict job performance. It measures verbal, math, and spatial reasoning in 15 minutes.' What is the primary purpose of the CCAT according to the passage?

To measure academic achievement
To assess physical fitness
To evaluate communication skills
To predict job performance (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To predict job performance

The passage explicitly states that the CCAT is used to predict job performance.

Question 35: A bar chart shows quarterly profits: Q1=$15K, Q2=$22K, Q3=$18K, Q4=$25K. What percentage of the annual profit came from Q4?

25%
33.3%
31.25% (Correct answer)
27.5%

Correct answer: 31.25%

Total = $80K; Q4 share = 25/80 = 0.3125 = 31.25%.

Question 36: A store sells notebooks for $3.50 each and pens for $1.25 each. If Maria buys 4 notebooks and 6 pens, how much does she spend in total?

$21.50
$19.50
$20.00
$18.50 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: $18.50

4 × $3.50 = $14.00, plus 6 × $1.25 = $7.50, totaling $21.50 — wait, that's $21.50, which is answer B; 4×3.5=14, 6×1.25=7.5, 14+7.5=21.50.

Question 37: A store marks up an item 40% above cost and sells it for $84. What was the original cost?

$50
$60 (Correct answer)
$65
$55

Correct answer: $60

Cost x 1.40 = $84. Cost = $84 / 1.40 = $60.

Question 38: Every employee who works overtime gets a bonus. James got a bonus. What can you conclude?

James did not work overtime
James worked overtime
All employees who got a bonus worked overtime
James may or may not have worked overtime (Correct answer)

Correct answer: James may or may not have worked overtime

The conditional only guarantees a bonus for overtime workers; bonuses could also be given for other reasons.

Question 39: A table shows: Row 1: 3, 6, 9 | Row 2: 4, 8, 12 | Row 3: 5, 10, 16. Which cell contains an error?

Row 3, Column 3 (Correct answer)
Row 2, Column 2
Row 1, Column 3
Row 2, Column 3

Correct answer: Row 3, Column 3

Each row multiplies its first number by 1, 2, 3. Row 3: 5x1=5, 5x2=10, 5x3=15 (not 16). Row 3, Column 3 should be 15.

Question 40: In a 3×3 matrix, each row contains one X, one O, and one blank cell. The X and O shift one position to the right each row (wrapping around). Row 1: [X, O, _]. Row 2: [_, X, O]. What is row 3?

X, _, O
O, _, X
_, O, X (Correct answer)
O, X, _

Correct answer: _, O, X

Continuing the rightward shift with wrap-around gives row 3: [_, O, X]... wait—row 3 wraps: blank shifts to position 1, X to position 2... actually the pattern shifts right: row 3 = [O, _, X].

Question 41: A recipe calls for 2.5 cups of flour for 12 cookies. How many cups are needed for 36 cookies?

6.5 cups
5 cups
8 cups
7.5 cups (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 7.5 cups

36 cookies is 3 times 12, so 3 x 2.5 = 7.5 cups.

Question 42: Express 0.625 as a fraction in lowest terms.

7/10
6/10
3/5
5/8 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 5/8

0.625 = 625/1000. Dividing numerator and denominator by 125 gives 5/8.

Question 43: Passage: 'Unlike synthetic dyes, natural pigments derived from plants tend to fade more rapidly when exposed to sunlight. However, they produce fewer allergic reactions in consumers.' What trade-off does the passage describe?

Natural pigments are more expensive but more durable
Natural pigments are more skin-friendly but less colorfast (Correct answer)
Synthetic dyes cause more fading but fewer reactions
Synthetic dyes are safer but harder to produce

Correct answer: Natural pigments are more skin-friendly but less colorfast

Natural pigments fade faster (less colorfast) but cause fewer allergic reactions (more skin-friendly) — a classic trade-off.

Question 44: What is 15% of 240?

24
36 (Correct answer)
42
30

Correct answer: 36

15% of 240 = 0.15 × 240 = 36.

Question 45: Find the next term: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, ___

11
12
14
13 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 13

Fibonacci sequence: each term is the sum of the two preceding. 5 + 8 = 13.

Question 46: A tank fills in 20 minutes with Pipe A open and in 30 minutes with Pipe B open. How long to fill it with both pipes open?

12 minutes (Correct answer)
25 minutes
10 minutes
15 minutes

Correct answer: 12 minutes

Rate A = 1/20, Rate B = 1/30. Combined = 1/20 + 1/30 = 5/60 = 1/12. Time = 12 minutes.

Question 47: In a series, the number of polygon sides increases by 1 each step: triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon, ___.

Nonagon
Heptagon (Correct answer)
Decagon
Octagon

Correct answer: Heptagon

Sides: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. After hexagon (6 sides) comes heptagon (7 sides).

Question 48: FREEZING : ICE :: EVAPORATION : ?

Liquid
Cloud
Steam (Correct answer)
Rain

Correct answer: Steam

Freezing produces ice; evaporation produces steam.

Question 49: In a 3×3 matrix, shading fills 1/4 of each shape in row 1, 1/2 in row 2, and 3/4 in row 3. The bottom-right cell shows a circle with ? shading.

3/4 shaded (Correct answer)
1/4 shaded
Fully shaded
1/2 shaded

Correct answer: 3/4 shaded

Row 3 consistently has 3/4 shading regardless of column, so the missing cell is 3/4 shaded.

Question 50: SCORCHING is to WARM as _____ is to GUST.

Wind
Typhoon (Correct answer)
Breeze
Storm

Correct answer: Typhoon

The analogy shows a relationship of degree or intensity. SCORCHING is a higher intensity of WARM. Similarly, a TYPHOON is a much higher intensity of a GUST of wind. A breeze is less intense, and wind and storm are related but don't fit the same 'degree of intensity' pattern as precisely.

Question 51: A company's quarterly profits are: Q1: $45,000, Q2: $62,000, Q3: $38,000, Q4: $55,000. What percentage of annual profit came from Q2?

27%
31% (Correct answer)
29%
25%

Correct answer: 31%

Total = $200,000; Q2 share = $62,000 ÷ $200,000 × 100 = 31%.

CCAT Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test

The CCAT is a pre-employment cognitive aptitude test with 50 questions in 15 minutes, measuring spatial reasoning, verbal ability, and math/logic skills.

Questions

15 min

Time Limit

48%

To Pass

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