CCAT Verbal Practice Questions
Updated November 2, 2026
Verbal ability is one of the three areas of the CCAT. Criteria’s score report guide says it measures reading comprehension, logic and attention to detail through sentence completion, vocabulary and word comparison questions. Verbal questions are often the fastest on the test, so answering them quickly buys you time for the math and spatial questions.
The 15 questions below are original practice in the style of the CCAT, with five choices each. They aren’t real CCAT questions.
Quick approaches
- Antonyms (opposites): define the word in a few words of your own before you look at the choices. Antonym questions usually include a synonym as a trap.
- Synonyms: same idea in reverse. Watch for words that are related to the topic but don’t mean the same thing.
- Analogies: turn the first pair into a sentence (“a thermometer measures temperature”), then find the choice that fits the same sentence.
- Sentence completion: look for signal words. “Although,” “but” and “despite” point to a contrast; “because” and “so” point to a match.
- Odd one out: find the group most of the words belong to, then the one word outside it.
CCAT verbal practice questions
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Choose the word that is most nearly OPPOSITE to DILIGENT.Answer: CDiligent means hardworking and careful, so the opposite is lazy. Industrious is a synonym, which makes it the trap.
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Choose the word that is most nearly OPPOSITE to OBSCURE.Answer: AObscure means unclear or hard to see or understand. The opposite is obvious. Hidden, vague and dark are all close to obscure in meaning.
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Choose the word that is closest in meaning to AMIABLE.Answer: EAmiable means pleasant and friendly. Talkative people may be friendly, but the word doesn't mean that.
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THERMOMETER is to TEMPERATURE as SCALE is to:Answer: BA thermometer measures temperature, and a scale measures weight. Music uses a different meaning of "scale," so it doesn't fit the relationship.
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Although the plan seemed ____ at first, it turned out to be completely practical.Answer: D"Although" signals a contrast with "completely practical," so the blank needs the opposite idea: unrealistic.
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Which word does NOT belong with the others?Answer: AA violin, trumpet, cello and flute are all musical instruments. A hammer is a tool.
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Choose the word that is closest in meaning to CANDID.Answer: DCandid means open and honest, which is what frank means. Secret is closer to the opposite.
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CHAPTER is to BOOK as VERSE is to:Answer: BA chapter is one part of a book, and a verse is one part of a song. A poet writes verses, which is a different relationship.
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Because the instructions were so ____, nobody on the team was sure what to do next.Answer: ENobody knew what to do, so the instructions must have been unclear. Ambiguous means open to more than one meaning. The other four choices would have helped the team.
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Choose the word that is most nearly OPPOSITE to FRUGAL.Answer: CFrugal means careful not to waste money, so the opposite is wasteful. Thrifty is a synonym, and being poor isn't the same as being frugal.
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Which word does NOT belong with the others?Answer: BAnxious, nervous, uneasy and worried all describe feeling troubled. Serene means calm and peaceful.
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SURGEON is to SCALPEL as PAINTER is to:Answer: EA scalpel is the tool a surgeon works with in their hand, and a brush is the tool a painter works with. A canvas is the surface being painted, not the tool.
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The new software was supposed to simplify the process, but it actually made it more ____.Answer: A"Supposed to simplify ... but" signals the opposite result, so the process became more complicated.
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Choose the word that is closest in meaning to AMEND.Answer: DTo amend something, such as a document or a rule, is to change or revise it. Approving it leaves it as it is.
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Which pair of words has the same relationship as BIRD : FLOCK?Answer: CA flock is a group of birds, and a pack is a group of wolves. The other pairs show different links, such as where something lives or what it produces.
More practice
Next, try the math practice, logic practice and spatial reasoning practice, or see the mixed sample questions.
Score higher on your CCAT and get the job
- All 300 questions across verbal, math and logic, and spatial reasoning
- A short explanation for every answer, with the fastest way to solve it
- Unlimited full 50-question practice exams with the question types mixed, as on the real test