Wondering what kinds of questions your child will be asked on the CCAT 7?

The Canadian Cognitive Abilities Test (CCAT) is almost identical to the CogAT test given to students in the United States. The CCAT is designed to measure cognitive abilities, including verbal, quantitative, and non-verbal reasoning skills. Here’s a summary of three sections of the CCAT test and tips on how to prepare you child for the best.

Verbal Reasoning:

This section measures a student’s ability to understand language. It includes questions on vocabulary, analogies and verbal classifications.This section is designed to measure a student’s ability to understand and work with language. Questions in this section include vocabulary, analogies, and verbal classifications, which require a strong understanding of language and the ability to recognize relationships between words. To prepare for this section, students should focus on building their vocabulary and reading comprehension skills. This can be done by reading a variety of books, both fiction and non-fiction, and practicing with analogies and other verbal classifications to develop reasoning skills. Your child will need to have very strong understanding of language and be able to recognize relationships between words. In order to prepare for this section, your child should focus on building their vocabulary and reading comprehension skills. To help with this, we recommend having your child read both fiction and non-fiction books. This helps expand your child’s vocabulary and reading comprehension. Practice with analogies and other verbal classifications helps develop reasoning skills.

Parents can play an important role in helping their child prepare for the Verbal Reasoning section of the CCAT. Here are some tips for parents to consider:

1. Encourage Reading: Encouraging your child to read both fiction and non-fiction books can help expand their vocabulary and improve their reading comprehension skills. Reading regularly will also help your child develop an appreciation for the written word.
2. Vocabulary Building: Encourage your child to learn new words and their meanings. This can be done through reading, playing word games, and taking vocabulary quizzes. A broad vocabulary will give your child an advantage when answering questions in the Verbal Reasoning section.
3. Practice with Analogies: Analogies are a common type of question in the Verbal Reasoning section. Encourage your child to practice solving analogy problems to help develop their reasoning skills.
4. Use Flashcards: Flashcards are a great tool for learning new words and concepts. Encourage your child to create flashcards for the words and concepts they learn, and have them review the cards regularly to help build their vocabulary and improve their recall. Testing Mom has Gifted Learning Flash Cards on Amazon.
5. Play Word Games: Word games, such as crossword puzzles and Scrabble, are a fun way for your child to build their vocabulary and practice their language skills.
6. Encourage Critical Thinking: Encourage your child to think critically about language and words. Ask them questions about the meaning of words and encourage them to analyze the relationships between words.
7. Of course using verbal reasoning practice materials on Testing Mom is a great way to help your child prepare for the CCAT!

Quantitative Reasoning:

The Quantitative Reasoning section measures your child’s ability to solve math problems. Depending your child’s grade, this section includes questions on basic math operations, algebra, geometry and probability.  To prepare for the Quantitative Reasoning section, your child needs to focus on building their math skills and understanding of mathematical concepts. Practice with math problems to help your child develop their problem-solving abilities. This section comprises various types of questions, such as number series, analogies, and word problems. The questions are designed to assess the student’s ability to understand mathematical relationships, recognize patterns, and apply mathematical concepts in different contexts.

How Parents Can Help Their Child Prepare:

1. Build a strong foundation in math: It’s important to ensure that your child has a strong foundation in basic math concepts such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, and percentages. Encourage your child to practice these concepts regularly to develop their problem-solving abilities and confidence in handling quantitative questions.
2. Encourage mental math: Mental math is an essential skill in the Quantitative Reasoning section. Encourage your child to practice solving problems mentally without using a calculator. This can be done by asking them to solve simple math problems during everyday activities, such as calculating change while shopping, estimating time and distances, or converting units of measurement.
3. Introduce word problems: Word problems are an integral part of the Quantitative Reasoning section. Introduce your child to various types of word problems and help them understand how to translate the information provided in the problem into mathematical equations. Discuss different strategies for solving word problems, such as drawing diagrams, creating tables, or using trial and error.
4. Teach pattern recognition: Number series and analogies questions require students to recognize patterns and relationships between numbers. Help your child develop this skill by engaging them in activities that involve pattern recognition, such as identifying patterns in sequences of numbers or shapes, and solving puzzles that require logical reasoning.
5. Provide practice tests: Familiarity with the test format and question types is crucial for success in the CCAT. Provide your child with practice tests and sample questions to help them become comfortable with the Quantitative Reasoning section. Make sure to review the answers together, discussing any errors or misconceptions to improve their understanding.
6. Create a supportive learning environment: Encourage your child to ask questions and share their thoughts about the problems they’re working on. Offer guidance and support, but also allow them the opportunity to work through challenges independently. This balance will help them develop problem-solving skills and build confidence in their mathematical abilities.
7. Monitor progress and adjust strategies: Regularly assess your child’s progress and understanding of the concepts being covered. Adjust your teaching strategies and resources accordingly to ensure they are making progress and improving their quantitative reasoning skills

Non-Verbal Reasoning:

The Non-Verbal Reasoning section of the CCAT measures ability to solve problems without the use of language. This section includes questions on spatial awareness, visual memory, and pattern recognition. To develop visual spatial skills your child can work with puzzles, mazes and visual-spatial games to help improve spatial awareness.

Here are some strategies and tips for parents to help their child prepare for the Nonverbal Reasoning section of the CCAT:

1. Develop spatial awareness: Encourage your child to engage in activities that help develop spatial awareness and visualization skills. These may include playing with building blocks, solving jigsaw puzzles, or navigating through mazes. Such activities will help your child recognize patterns, understand spatial relationships, and improve their ability to visualize objects and their transformations.
2. Teach pattern recognition: Pattern recognition is a crucial skill in the Nonverbal Reasoning section. Help your child develop this skill by engaging them in activities that involve identifying patterns in sequences of shapes, colors, or sizes. This can be done through games, puzzles, or even by observing patterns in everyday objects and situations.
3. Practice with sample questions: Familiarity with the test format and question types is essential for success in the CCAT. Provide your child with practice tests and sample questions specifically designed for the Nonverbal Reasoning section. Review the answers together, discussing any errors or misconceptions to improve their understanding.
4. Encourage critical thinking: Develop your child’s critical thinking skills by asking open-ended questions that require them to think logically and analytically. Encourage them to explain their thought process and reasoning behind their answers. This will help them improve their ability to analyze problems and identify patterns.
5. Break down problems: Teach your child to approach complex problems by breaking them down into smaller, more manageable steps. This will help them understand the underlying patterns and relationships in the questions, making it easier for them to solve the problems.
6. Create a supportive learning environment: Encourage your child to ask questions and share their thoughts about the problems they’re working on. Offer guidance and support, but also allow them the opportunity to work through challenges independently. This balance will help them develop problem-solving skills and build confidence in their nonverbal reasoning abilities.
7. Monitor progress and adjust strategies: Regularly assess your child’s progress and understanding of the concepts being covered. Adjust your teaching strategies and resources accordingly to ensure they are making progress and improving their nonverbal reasoning skills.

In general, the best way to prepare for the CCAT is to practice with sample questions and materials. There are a variety of CCAT test prep materials and resources available, including online practice tests and study guides. Working with a Testing Mom tutor one-on-one or enrolling for a small group class can be helpful, as they can provide personalized feedback and support.

Tip: Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and eat a healthy breakfast on the day of the test. If not taken during school hours, make sure you arrive at the test location early since this will help reduce test anxiety.

Here are five examples from a CCAT practice test. This sample quiz has questions from the 3 sets of abilities tested on the CCAT: Verbal, Quantitative, and Non-Verbal abilities.

IMPORTANT: While the sample CCAT 7 practice test questions shown on this page are representative of what your child will see on the exam, they aren’t taken directly from the actual test that’s being administered this year.

If you’re interested in more CCAT 7 practice questions from TestingMom.com, visit the following links:

CogAT Practice Questions

Cognitive Abilities Practice Questions