Criteria Tests Comparison: CCAT, UCAT, CBST, Cognify, GAME, and EPP

Last updated: 2026-07-28

Criteria offers cognitive aptitude, basic-skills, personality, emotional-intelligence, risk, attention, mechanical, game-based and role-specific assessments.

A Criteria or HireSelect invitation does not identify the CCAT by itself. Confirm the exact assessment name before preparing.

Compare CCAT practice options

Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission when you purchase preparation through selected links. This does not affect the price you pay or the independence of our editorial guidance.

Preparing specifically for the CCAT?
Use our CCAT practice comparison and online tests first, or begin with the free 30-question CCAT practice test. An additional independent option is the JobTestPrep CCAT PrepPack.

Major Criteria Assessments Compared

Assessment	Main construct	Current standard format	Distinguishing feature
CCAT	General cognitive aptitude	50 questions, 15 minutes	Verbal Ability, Math and Logic, Spatial Reasoning
UCAT	Language-independent cognitive aptitude	40 questions, 20 minutes	No language-dependent verbal section
CBST	Basic job readiness and trainability	40 questions, 20 minutes	Basic grammar, spelling, language and maths
Cognify	Game-based cognitive aptitude	Three games, about 10 minutes plus tutorials	Problem solving, numerical reasoning and verbal knowledge
UCognify	Language-independent game-based aptitude	Two games, about 7 minutes plus tutorials	Problem solving and numerical reasoning without verbal knowledge
GAME	Mobile-first game-based aptitude	Three mini-games, about 5–6 minutes	Short, device-flexible screening experience
EPP	Workplace personality	140 items, about 10 minutes	Twelve personality traits; no right or wrong answers
CPI	Workplace personality	Employer-selected personality inventory	Big Five traits; no right or wrong answers
CTRS	Adaptive cognitive aptitude	About 4–20 minutes depending on version and modules	Modular, adaptive and device-flexible

Formats, available languages and product configurations can change. The invitation and live instructions control your assigned event.

CCAT

The Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test measures problem solving, critical thinking, learning ability and the ability to digest and apply new information.

The current standard format is:

50 multiple-choice questions
15 minutes
Verbal Ability
Math and Logic
Spatial Reasoning
no calculator

Criteria reports a raw score equal to the number answered correctly and a percentile ranking relative to a norm group. The employer may also use a position-associated suggested range or another decision rule.

Use the complete CCAT guide and CCAT test-format guide.

UCAT

The Universal Cognitive Aptitude Test measures general aptitude without language-dependent verbal content. Criteria describes it as suitable for international use.

The standard UCAT contains 40 questions in 20 minutes. It measures areas such as logic and analysis, numerical reasoning, attention to detail and spatial reasoning.

UCAT results include a raw score out of 40 and a percentile. A candidate cannot substitute UCAT practice for an assigned CCAT without accounting for the missing verbal component and different pacing.

Read the Criteria UCAT guide and CCAT vs. UCAT comparison.

CBST

The Criteria Basic Skills Test is designed primarily for entry-level job readiness and trainability. It assesses basic maths, grammar, spelling and language skills.

The current standard CBST contains 40 items and has a 20-minute limit. It is not simply an easier CCAT:

the intended job level differs;
the skills emphasis differs;
CBST includes basic language conventions such as grammar and spelling;
CCAT includes broader cognitive and spatial reasoning.

Read the CCAT vs. CBST comparison.

Cognify and UCognify

Cognify is an immersive game-based assessment of cognitive aptitude. Criteria’s current standard version uses three games and takes about 10 minutes plus tutorials. It measures problem solving, numerical reasoning and verbal knowledge.

UCognify is the language-independent version. It uses two games, takes about 7 minutes plus tutorials and focuses on problem solving and numerical reasoning without assessing verbal knowledge.

Both provide an overall percentile and category percentiles. Their game mechanics and scoring experience differ materially from traditional CCAT multiple-choice practice.

Read the CCAT vs. Cognify comparison.

GAME

GAME stands for General Aptitude Mobile Evaluation. It is a mobile-first, game-based cognitive aptitude assessment.

Criteria’s current description states that GAME:

uses three short mini-games;
takes about 5–6 minutes;
can be played on mobile phones, tablets or desktop computers;
reports a percentile ranking;
measures critical thinking, problem solving, attention to detail and learning ability.

GAME and CCAT are correlated measures of aptitude, but they are not interchangeable candidate experiences.

Read the CCAT vs. GAME comparison.

EPP and Other Personality Assessments

The Employee Personality Profile is a general workplace-personality inventory. Criteria states that it contains 140 items, takes about 10 minutes and measures twelve traits including achievement, conscientiousness, extroversion, openness and stress tolerance.

Unlike the CCAT:

personality questions do not have objectively correct answers;
the report describes traits and job fit rather than cognitive raw-score accuracy;
trying to memorise CCAT methods does not prepare you for a personality inventory;
responding honestly and consistently is more appropriate than trying to identify a hidden correct profile.

Criteria also offers the CPI, Illustrait, WAA and role-specific personality assessments. Confirm the exact name because Criteria personality test is not one universal product.

Read the CCAT vs. Criteria personality-test comparison.

CTRS and Newer Adaptive Options

Criteria Think Reason Solve is a modular, adaptive cognitive assessment. Criteria currently offers:

CTRS Express for a fast overall aptitude estimate;
CTRS with selectable verbal, mathematical, abstract, critical-reasoning and checking modules;
UCTRS as a language-independent configuration.

Depending on the selected modules, the current published duration ranges from about 4 to 20 minutes. This is another reason not to assume that every Criteria cognitive test uses the CCAT’s 50-question, 15-minute format.

How to Identify Your Assessment

Check the invitation for:

the complete assessment name;
any acronym such as CCAT, UCAT, CBST, EPP or GAME;
the number of questions or games;
the time limit;
whether the event is described as cognitive, skills, personality or game-based;
device and browser instructions;
the deadline and any Event ID.

Do not identify the test solely from the Criteria logo, HireSelect name or assessment-center URL.

How Preparation Should Differ

For the CCAT

Practice mixed verbal, mathematical, logical and spatial questions under a 15-minute limit. Develop calculator-free methods and educated guessing.

For the UCAT

Prioritize logic, numerical reasoning, attention to detail and spatial content. Do not allocate study time to CCAT-style verbal vocabulary unless another test is also assigned.

For the CBST

Review foundational arithmetic, grammar, spelling, reading accuracy and workplace language.

For Game-Based Assessments

Learn the instructions and complete tutorials carefully. Traditional question drilling may support underlying reasoning, but it cannot reproduce every game mechanic or scoring signal.

For Personality Assessments

Understand the purpose, read each statement carefully and respond honestly. There is no CCAT-style answer key.

Scores Are Not Directly Interchangeable

Do not compare a CCAT raw score out of 50 with:

a UCAT raw score out of 40;
a CBST raw score out of 40;
a Cognify or GAME percentile;
an EPP trait percentile;
a job-match score;
a composite result from a multi-assessment battery.

Even when two products report percentiles, the constructs and norm groups may differ. Employer interpretation can also depend on the role and assessment combination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Criteria invitation mean I am taking the CCAT?

No. Criteria offers many assessments. The exact name in the invitation controls.

Can an employer assign more than one assessment?

Yes. An employer may combine cognitive aptitude, personality, skills, emotional intelligence, interviews and work samples.

Is UCAT the medical-school UCAT?

No. On this site, Criteria UCAT means the Universal Cognitive Aptitude Test used in employment selection. It is unrelated to the Universities Clinical Aptitude Test.

Are Cognify and GAME the same test?

No. Both are game-based Criteria assessments, but their durations, games, target uses and score reports differ.

Can I use a CCAT practice score to predict another Criteria result?

Not reliably. Practice-provider questions, scoring and repeat exposure differ, and separate Criteria products measure different constructs or use different formats.

Independent Preparation Options

Our primary CCAT routes are the practice comparison and online tests and the free 30-question practice test.

Additional independent resources include:

These resources are independent. They do not assign your official assessment or issue employer results.

Official Sources

Independent-Site Notice

CCATPracticeTest.com is an independent information and test-preparation website. It is not Criteria Corp, HireSelect, an employer, a recruiter or a score-reporting service.

The official invitation, live instructions and employer communication take priority over independent guidance.