CCAT Test Report

After you complete the Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test, your results are usually sent directly to the employer, recruiter, school, or organization that invited you to take the test. In most cases, candidates do not receive the full CCAT test report unless the organization decides to share it.

This page explains how the CCAT test report works, what the main score sections mean, and how employers may interpret your raw score, percentile ranking, sub-scores, and suggested score ranges by position.

Preparing for the CCAT?
The best way to improve your score is to practice under realistic timing conditions: 50 questions, 15 minutes, no calculator. You can start with our free CCAT practice test or practice with full-length simulations on the TestsCareers CCAT Premium Pack.

What is the CCAT Test Report?

The CCAT test report is the score report generated after a candidate completes the Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test. It is part of Criteria’s assessment system and is used by employers to evaluate how a candidate performed compared with relevant benchmarks.

The report usually includes several components:

• a short description of the test;
• the candidate’s raw score;
• the candidate’s percentile ranking;
• sub-scores by cognitive area;
• suggested score ranges for different job families or positions.

The purpose of the report is not only to show how many questions you answered correctly. It helps the employer compare your result with other test takers and with typical score ranges for specific roles.

View a sample CCAT test report from Criteria.

Who Receives Your CCAT Results?

When you take the CCAT or another Criteria Corp. test, your results are usually sent to the employer or organization that requested the assessment.

Your performance may be compared with Criteria’s benchmark data, with job-related score ranges, and sometimes with the results of other candidates applying for the same position. The employer then uses this information as one part of the hiring decision.

Important:
Candidates do not always receive their CCAT score or full report. Some employers may share your results, while others may only tell you whether you are moving forward in the recruitment process.

Can Candidates See Their CCAT Report?

Usually, the full CCAT report is intended for the employer, not the candidate. This means you may not automatically receive your raw score, percentile, sub-scores, or score range comparison after completing the test.

However, some employers may decide to share your results or provide limited feedback. If you want to know whether your score will be shared, ask the recruiter or hiring team before taking the assessment.

Even if you do not receive the report, understanding how it works can help you prepare more effectively. The main goal is to increase both your raw score and your percentile ranking by improving speed, accuracy, and question-type familiarity.

Short Description of the Test

The first part of the CCAT test report usually contains a short description of the assessment. This section explains what the CCAT measures and reminds the reader that the test is designed to evaluate cognitive aptitude rather than job knowledge or personality.

The CCAT is designed to measure abilities such as problem solving, critical thinking, learning ability, and the capacity to process new information quickly. These skills are often relevant for roles that require analysis, decision-making, technical learning, or fast adaptation.

Raw Score and Percentile

One of the most important sections of the CCAT report is the result summary. It usually shows your raw score and percentile ranking.

What is the CCAT raw score?

Your raw score is the number of questions you answered correctly. Since the CCAT contains 50 questions, your raw score is usually shown out of 50.

For example, a raw score of 24 means that the candidate answered 24 questions correctly out of 50.

What is the CCAT percentile?

Your percentile ranking shows how your score compares with other test takers. It does not mean the percentage of questions you answered correctly.

For example, a 50th percentile score means that your result is higher than or equal to about 50% of the comparison group. In the example report, the candidate received a raw score of 24/50 and a percentile ranking of 50.

Simple explanation:
Raw score = how many questions you got right.
Percentile = how your result compares with other test takers.

Raw Score Graph

The report may also include a graph showing your raw score visually. This makes it easier for the employer to see where your result falls on the CCAT score scale.

This type of visual summary can help recruiters quickly understand whether the candidate’s result is below, within, or above the expected range for a given role.

CCAT Sub-Scores

The CCAT report may also include sub-scores. These break down the candidate’s performance into different cognitive areas, such as spatial reasoning, verbal ability, and math & logic.

These sub-scores are usually shown as percentile rankings. This means they compare your performance in each area with the performance of other test takers.

In the example shown:

• Spatial reasoning: 59 — the candidate scored better than about 59% of test takers in this category.
• Verbal ability: 63 — the candidate scored better than about 63% of test takers in this category.
• Math & logic: 25 — the candidate scored better than about 25% of test takers in this category.

Sub-scores can help employers understand whether a candidate has balanced cognitive performance or stronger and weaker areas. For example, a technical or analytical role may place more emphasis on math, logic, and problem solving, while other roles may consider verbal reasoning and general learning ability more important.

Suggested CCAT Score Ranges by Position

The CCAT report may also show suggested score ranges for different positions. These ranges help employers compare a candidate’s raw score with typical expectations for different job families.

According to the score ranges shown in the sample report, different roles can have different expected score bands. A candidate may fall within the suggested range for some positions and outside the suggested range for others.

These ranges should be understood as guidance rather than an absolute rule. Employers may use their own hiring standards, and the CCAT is usually only one part of the recruitment process.

What is a Good CCAT Score?

A good CCAT score depends on the position you are applying for. There is no single universal passing score for every employer or every role.

For example, a score that may be acceptable for one position may be below the suggested range for another. Roles involving analysis, finance, software engineering, management, or complex decision-making often have higher suggested ranges than roles with less cognitive complexity.

As a general rule, your goal should be to score as high as possible while maintaining accuracy. Because the CCAT is highly time-pressured, improving your score usually requires both better reasoning skills and better pacing.

Important:
Employers may consider interviews, experience, education, personality assessments, work samples, references, and other factors in addition to the CCAT score.

How to Improve Your CCAT Score

The CCAT is difficult because it requires fast reasoning across numerical, verbal, logical, and spatial questions. The best preparation is to practice with realistic timing and then review your mistakes carefully.

To improve your score:

1. Practice under real timing: the CCAT contains 50 questions in 15 minutes, or about 18 seconds per question.
2. Work without a calculator: numerical questions must be solved using mental math and quick estimation.
3. Review every mistake: identify whether your errors come from speed, misunderstanding, weak math skills, vocabulary, or pattern recognition.
4. Learn when to skip: spending too much time on one question can cost you easier points later.
5. Use full-length simulations: short practice questions are useful, but full simulations are the best way to build endurance and pacing.

Start with our free CCAT practice test. If your test is important or coming soon, use the TestsCareers CCAT packs for full-length practice:

Our recommendation:
If your CCAT is coming soon, choose the CCAT Express Pack. For most candidates, the CCAT Premium Pack offers the best value because it includes more simulations and targeted mini-tests.

Some candidates also use JobTestPrep as an additional preparation source. You can review their CCAT preparation materials here: JobTestPrep CCAT preparation.