CCAT Test Day: What to Expect, Step by Step

Knowing exactly what will happen on test day removes a layer of anxiety that costs real points. Here's the CCAT sitting from invitation to results, step by step.

1. The invitation

You'll receive an email from Criteria's platform (typically from Do-Not-Reply@criteriacorp.com) with a link to the assessment on ondemandassessment.com and a Test Event ID. The completion deadline is set by the employer, not Criteria - if you need an extension, ask the recruiter, because Criteria support can't grant one. Don't take the test the hour you receive the link; the days in between are your preparation window.

2. Your setup

• Desktop or laptop, wired or strong Wi-Fi. Some Criteria sub-tests warn they're desktop-only; a computer is the safe choice for the CCAT.
• Scratch paper and a pen - allowed and recommended, especially for word problems and attention-to-detail items.
• No calculator, no phone, no second screen. Mental math is part of the test. On proctored sittings, phone use is actively detected.
• A quiet, interruption-free 20 minutes. The timed portion is 15 minutes; you cannot pause it.
• Don't switch tabs. Navigating away during an assessment can be flagged - and with some employers (Crossover among them) can disqualify the attempt.

3. Instructions screen (untimed)

Before the timed section starts, you'll get an untimed instructions screen - read it at leisure; the clock starts only when you begin the actual test. There is no separate scored practice block: once the timer starts, all 50 questions count.

4. The 15 minutes

The testing screen is minimal: one question at a time, a visible countdown timer at the top, and your answer options (usually five). Three rules shape everything:

• Forward-only. Once you move on, the question is gone - there's no review, no flagging, no going back.
• Mixed and ramping. Verbal, math, and spatial questions are interleaved, getting harder as you go.
• Auto-submit at 0:00. When time expires the test ends; unanswered questions simply score zero. There's no penalty for wrong answers, so in the final minute, answer everything left. The full strategy is in CCAT tips.

5. After: scores and the verification retake

Your employer receives the score report (raw score, percentile, and three sub-score percentiles - see CCAT scores explained); whether you see your own score is up to the employer. Two follow-ups are common:

• Proctored verification: because first sittings are usually unproctored at home, finalists are often asked to re-take the CCAT under proctoring - webcam image capture, facial recognition, screen and audio sampling, sometimes a second camera filming the room. A large gap between your two scores is treated as evidence of cheating. This is the structural reason to prepare honestly: the only score that helps you is one you can reproduce on demand.
• Retake policy: set by the employer; generally you get one attempt per process, with retakes granted mainly to borderline candidates. Crossover enforces a 6-month cooling-off period before you can test again.

The day before

One light practice session to stay warm, then stop - sleep beats a final cram. If you've run full simulations in the real format (50 questions, 15 minutes, forward-only, no calculator), test day will feel like one more rep. That's the goal, and it's exactly what CCAT Ready simulates.