CCAT questions come in three families: Verbal, Math & Logic and Spatial. Below are 15 original examples, five per family, each with a worked answer and a fast way to reach it in about 18 seconds, the average time per question on the real test. They are written by us, not taken from the CCAT.
Work through them cold, then open each answer. For real pressure, start the timer.
Optional: 15 questions at 18 seconds each.
Criteria lists sentence completion, vocabulary and word comparison questions. They test exact word meaning (Criteria).
Answer: B (prompt). The clue is "answered every email within the hour": she acts quickly. "Prompt" means quick to act. The other words describe slowness, unclear thinking or unwillingness.
18-second way: Read the clause after "that" first; it defines the blank.
Answer: A (thrifty). Frugal means careful not to waste money. Thrifty means the same. Generous is close to the opposite; the others are unrelated.
18-second way: Put the word in a phrase you know ("a frugal shopper"), then swap each option in.
Answer: B (guarded). Candid means open and honest. Frank, sincere, open and blunt are all close to it. Guarded, holding things back, is the opposite.
18-second way: Four options mean the same thing; the odd one out is your answer.
Answer: B (sound … unworkable). "Although" signals a contrast, so the two blanks must pull in opposite directions. Only "sound … unworkable" contrasts; the other pairs agree with each other.
18-second way: Spot the signal word (although, but, despite) and drop every pair that agrees.
Answer: A (lessen). To mitigate is to make something less severe, as in "mitigate the risk". Lessen matches. Provoke goes the other way; imitate only sounds similar.
18-second way: Beware look-alike words (mitigate, imitate); test the meaning, not the sound.
Criteria lists basic algebra, proportions and word problems. No calculator, and none is needed (Criteria).
Answer: C (5). 3 cups for 12 muffins is 1 cup per 4 muffins. 20 muffins ÷ 4 = 5 cups.
18-second way: Find the unit rate (1 cup per 4 muffins) and divide.
Answer: C ($68). 10% of $80 is $8 and 5% is $4, so 15% is $12. $80 − $12 = $68.
18-second way: Build percentages from 10% and 5%; never multiply by 0.15 longhand.
Answer: C (7). Add 7 to both sides: 4x = 28. Divide by 4: x = 7.
18-second way: Plug the middle option in first: 4 × 7 − 7 = 21.
Answer: C (12). In 6 years Ben is b + 6 and Mia is b + 10. (b + 6) + (b + 10) = 40, so 2b = 24 and b = 12.
18-second way: Test options: Ben 12 → 18 and 22 in six years, which add to 40.
Answer: B (10). 2 + 5 = 7 parts. 35 ÷ 7 = 5 marbles per part. Red is 2 parts: 2 × 5 = 10.
18-second way: Add the ratio parts, divide the total, multiply.
Criteria lists rotating or flipping images, recognizing patterns and spotting outliers (Criteria).
Answer: C. Turn each figure until its long bar stands upright on the left with the short arms pointing right. In A, B, D and E the arms then sit in the top half. In C they sit in the bottom half, and no turn can fix that: C is a mirror image.
18-second way: Track one feature, the side the short arms stick out, rather than the whole shape.
Answer: E. Turn each figure until its long edge is at the top. In A–D the hook then hangs down on the right and curls back inwards. In E it hangs on the left. Turning cannot move it to the other side, so E has been flipped.
18-second way: Turning never changes the direction a hook curls; flipping does.
Answer: A. Up, right, down: a quarter turn clockwise each step. The next quarter turn points left, which is A.
18-second way: Name the directions out loud (up, right, down) and say the next one.
Answer: B. The boxes hold 1, 3 and 5 dots: two more each time. The next box has 7, which is B.
18-second way: Count the change, not the totals.
Answer: B. A side mirror swaps left and right but keeps top and bottom. The pole stays at the bottom and the flag now points left: B. C is flipped top to bottom; A and D are turned.
18-second way: Check the top first: in a side mirror, what was on top stays on top.
Fifteen questions can't give you a score. Take a full CCAT practice test, then use the 7-day prep plan to work on your slowest family.
Last updated November 10, 2026.