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Free CCAT Practice Test: Real 50-Question, 15-Minute Simulation

This free Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test practice matches the live CCAT question for question. Fifty items split across verbal reasoning, math and logic, and spatial puzzles. Fifteen minutes on a strict clock. A percentile report the moment you finish. One free attempt, no credit card, no account.

Questions
50
Time Limit
15 min
Difficulty
High
Cost
$0

Prepping specifically for the CCAT?

Our sister site has full CCAT simulations, daily questions, and detailed analytics.

Visit ccattests.com

What this free CCAT practice run includes

The practice runs on the same rhythm as the real Criteria platform. You will see one question at a time, a visible countdown clock, a flag-and-skip control, and the exact mix of question families you will hit on the live test. Vista Equity and Thoma Bravo portfolio candidates routinely say our simulation feels closer to the real CCAT than the official Criteria demo.

At the end, you get a raw score out of 50, a percentile estimate mapped against real candidate distributions, a section-by-section breakdown showing where you lost time, and an answer review with worked explanations for every item you missed. No blurred scores, no paywall to see the answers.

Exact CCAT format
50 questions, 15-minute clock, roughly 20 verbal, 20 math-and-logic, 10 spatial. Mixed order, like the real test.
Instant percentile score
Raw score plus percentile mapped against our candidate dataset. Know immediately whether you clear the Vista 70th or 80th percentile cutoff.
Full answer explanations
Every wrong answer gets a plain-English walkthrough. No generic tips, actual reasoning for that question.
Works on desktop and mobile
Desktop recommended for the real timing feel. Mobile works if you are prepping on the go.
No signup for the first run
Your first practice is free and anonymous. Create an account only if you want to save progress or take a second run.

Three sample CCAT questions with full walkthroughs

These are hand-written in the exact style of CCAT items. Try each one before reading the answer.

Sample 1: Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word that is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to: CURTAIL
  • A.Shorten
  • B.Extend
  • C.Adjust
  • D.Evaluate
  • E.Conceal
Answer and walkthrough
B. Curtail means to cut short or reduce. Its direct opposite is extend (to lengthen or prolong). Shorten is a synonym, not an antonym. On the real CCAT, antonym questions like this should take 5 to 8 seconds. If the word is unfamiliar after 3 seconds, guess and move on.
Sample 2: Math and Logic
A warehouse fulfills 240 orders per day using 8 workers. If two workers call out sick and the remaining workers each pick up an equal share of the missing work, how many orders per day will each remaining worker fulfill?
  • A.30
  • B.34
  • C.38
  • D.40
  • E.48
Answer and walkthrough
D. Original rate: 240 / 8 = 30 orders per worker. With 6 workers covering 240 orders: 240 / 6 = 40 orders per worker. The trap answer is 30 (the original rate) for anyone who reads too fast. Budget 25 seconds for this type. If you are mid-calculation at 40 seconds, guess and move.
Sample 3: Spatial Reasoning
Four of the following shapes share a common property. One does not. Which shape is the odd one out? (Shapes: an equilateral triangle, a square, a regular pentagon, a regular hexagon, and a circle.)
  • A.Triangle
  • B.Square
  • C.Pentagon
  • D.Hexagon
  • E.Circle
Answer and walkthrough
E. The first four shapes all have straight sides and a finite number of vertices. The circle has no straight sides and no vertices, so it is the odd one out. On spatial odd-one-out items, check three possible properties in this order: side count, symmetry axes, and angle type. Most CCAT spatial items resolve in under 10 seconds if you use this checklist.

What the real CCAT feels like

The real CCAT is delivered by Criteria Corp through either HireSelect or an employer-branded portal. The interface is intentionally minimal: one question, a clock, a next button, and a flag toggle. Questions appear one at a time and you cannot revisit items once submitted. That one-shot structure is why practice under real conditions matters: the skills that tank your score on a first attempt are timing instincts, not knowledge.

Most Vista Equity, Thoma Bravo, and PE-backed SaaS employers ask for the CCAT before the recruiter screen. You typically get 48 to 72 hours to complete the test after the invitation email. Best practice is to take this free practice run first, identify your weakest question family, and spend two evenings drilling that family before the real attempt.

If you clear the 70th percentile on this practice (roughly 31 correct out of 50), you are in the range most private-equity-backed software and ops roles accept. For strategy, product, and consulting-adjacent roles at Vista portfolio companies, aim for the 80th percentile, which is roughly 35 correct.

Keep prepping

Full CCAT prep guide
CCAT test guide and 7-day plan
Format, scoring mechanics, employer cutoffs, and a 7-day plan that moves most candidates 6 to 10 points.
Deep CCAT practice
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Our sister site has unlimited timed mocks and section-specific drill packs built specifically for the CCAT.
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CCAT practice FAQs

Your real CCAT is probably 48 hours away.

Take the free practice run first. Know your weakest section before you drill.

Practice CCAT on ccattests.com