So you’ve just been told to take the Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT)… and it’s happening in three days.
Cool.
Breathe.
You still have time to prepare-if you use a focused strategy and stop doomscrolling job boards for comfort.
This 3-day prep plan is built for:
- Last-minute test-takers
- Busy people who don’t have 12 hours a day to study
- Real humans who panic and procrastinate (aka most of us)
Day 1: Diagnose and Prioritize
✅ Step 1: Take a Full-Length Practice Test
- Use a free online CCAT test (12minprep, JobTestPrep sample, iPREP intro).
- Time yourself: 15 minutes. No pausing. Simulate the real thing.
- Score your test and write down:
- Total score
- Which section sucked (verbal, math, abstract)
✅ Step 2: Analyze Mistakes
- Where did you spend the most time?
- Did you misunderstand the question or just run out of time?
- Prioritize the section that slowed you down most.
✅ Step 3: Mental Math & Pattern Recognition Warm-up
- 15 minutes of basic calculations in your head
- Practice number series or visual sequences online
- Apps like “Quick Brain” or “Elevate” are solid for quick drills
Day 2: Drill & Target Weaknesses
✅ Morning: Practice Your Worst Section
- Do 2–3 sets of questions from your weakest area
- Time yourself. Use a 15-second-per-question limit
- Review answers and understand your logic fails
✅ Midday: Mix of Sections
- Create a mini-mock test with 15–20 questions across all categories
- Focus on switching mental gears fast: verbal → math → abstract
✅ Evening: Watch Video Explanations
- Go to YouTube or iPREP and watch breakdowns of sample questions
- Especially helpful for abstract reasoning-watching > reading here
Day 3: Simulation & Strategy
✅ Morning: Full-Length Test #2
- Same as Day 1. No mercy. Just sprint through all 50 questions in 15 minutes
- You should see improvement in time management and accuracy
✅ Midday: Review Your Patterns
- Are you always stuck on word problems?
- Are you misreading abstract patterns?
- Focus on avoiding repeat mistakes, not just getting more practice
✅ Evening: Mindset + Light Review
- Quick drills (10–15 questions) to keep you sharp
- Avoid heavy study. You’re consolidating now.
- Get sleep. Seriously. Tired brains can’t do math or logic.
Bonus Tips for Test Day
- Use Paper – Do math and diagram patterns by hand
- Skip Smart – Don’t waste time on hard ones, come back later
- Pace Yourself – Don’t panic if you only get through 30–35 questions
- Hydrate and Eat Something – Fuel your brain, not your nerves
Final Words
You can’t hack intelligence overnight-but you can out-prepare other applicants in 3 days. The CCAT is more about staying calm under pressure and recognizing patterns than being Einstein.
So use this plan, stay sharp, and walk in like you’ve done this 10 times-because after 3 days of drilling, you kind of have.