CCAT vs Wonderlic

Both are 50-question ability tests scored out of 50. The Wonderlic is more rushed (12 minutes against 15); the CCAT has more spatial questions.

Wonderlic, Inc.

Wonderlic

The faster of the two. Vocabulary, quick math and following instructions.

50 questions
12 minutes
Instant score

Start free test About the Wonderlic

Criteria Corp

CCAT

More shapes and logic. Common in tech, finance and sales hiring.

50 questions
15 minutes
Instant score

Start free test About the CCAT

By the LifeScore Editorial Team · Updated October 2026 · How we check facts

Side by side

	CCAT	Wonderlic
Questions	50	50
Time limit	15 minutes	12 minutes
Per question	18 seconds	14 seconds
Average score	24 (50th percentile)	20 to 21
Top 10%	36 or more	30 or more
Spatial questions	About a quarter	A few
Directions questions	Rare	Common
Calculator	No	No
Typical users	Tech, finance, sales, graduates	Many employers; some colleges

Which is harder?

The Wonderlic feels harder because of the clock: 14 seconds a question against 18. The CCAT has more visual reasoning, which slows people who rarely do shape puzzles. Average scores are slightly higher on the CCAT (24 against about 21), mostly thanks to the extra three minutes.

Scores do not convert one-to-one, because the averages differ. The table below lines them up by percentile.

Equivalent CCAT and Wonderlic scores

Each row pairs a CCAT score with the Wonderlic score at about the same percentile among test-takers. Both columns come from the same models as our CCAT percentile chart and Wonderlic score chart, so treat them as estimates within a point or two.

Estimated, not official: neither publisher converts between the two tests.
CCAT score	Wonderlic score	Percentile
16	14	18th
20	18	32nd
24	21	50th
28	24	68th
31	27	80th
34	29	87th
38	32	95th
42	35	98th

How the question mix differs

If shapes slow you down, the CCAT is the one to drill: see the CCAT sample questions. If you read slowly under pressure, the Wonderlic's instruction-following items are where points go: see the Wonderlic sample questions.

Approximate shares reported by published prep guides; the exact mix varies by form.
Question type	CCAT	Wonderlic
Verbal (analogies, meanings, sentences)	About a third	About a third
Math and logic (word problems, series, tables)	About a third	About a third
Spatial (shape series, odd one out)	About a quarter	A few
Following directions and checking details	Rare	Common

Who uses which test

The CCAT, from Criteria Corp, is common in tech, finance, sales, customer support and graduate hiring, usually as an unproctored online test sent soon after you apply. Some employers later ask shortlisted candidates to sit a shorter verification test.

The Wonderlic has been used in hiring since the 1930s and is best known from the NFL scouting combine, which dropped it in 2022 (see NFL Wonderlic scores). Its newer WonScore assessment pairs the cognitive test with personality and motivation questions.

What counts as a good score on each

On the CCAT, 24 is average and scores in the low 30s are competitive for analyst, engineering and consulting roles; see what is a good CCAT score. On the Wonderlic, 20 to 21 is average and 28 or more is commonly reported for management, engineering and law; see what is a good Wonderlic score.

Preparing for either

The skills almost fully overlap: vocabulary, analogies, mental arithmetic, number series and nerve under time pressure. If you do not know which you will get, practice the CCAT for spatial questions and the Wonderlic for speed.

Start with a full free CCAT practice test or free Wonderlic practice test to get a baseline, then follow the one-week plans in how to pass the CCAT and how to pass the Wonderlic.

Practice under real Wonderlic timing

50 original questions, 12 minutes, scored the moment you finish. Free, no sign-up.

Start the free Wonderlic test

Frequently asked questions

Is the CCAT the same as the Wonderlic?

No. They come from different publishers, though both are 50-question ability tests scored out of 50.

Which is harder, CCAT or Wonderlic?

The Wonderlic is more time-pressured (12 minutes against 15). The CCAT has more spatial questions.

Is a CCAT score comparable to a Wonderlic score?

Only through percentiles. The CCAT average is 24 and the Wonderlic average is about 20 to 21, so the same raw score means a higher percentile on the Wonderlic.

Can I use the same practice for both?

Mostly. The verbal and math skills overlap almost completely. Add shape-series practice for the CCAT and faster reading of instructions for the Wonderlic.

Which test do tech companies use?

The CCAT is more common in tech and software hiring. The Wonderlic shows up more in sales, operations and some public-sector roles, but either can appear anywhere.

LifeScore is not affiliated with Criteria Corp. LifeScore is not affiliated with Wonderlic, Inc. CCAT and Wonderlic are trademarks of their owners; our practice tests use original questions. Reviewed October 2026 by the LifeScore Editorial Team.