Format

Each section within the Cognitive Skills Assessment is individually timed, with its own unique time limit. In total the timed portions of the Cognitive Skills Assessment add up to 15 minutes.

Before each section, we provide instructions and sample items that are untimed so you can spend as much time as you need to feel comfortable prior to starting a timed section. The timer for a test section only begins once you click the arrow to begin that section. Once a time limit for a section is reached, you are automatically advanced to the instructions for the next section.

How to Prepare and Respond

As with the behavioral assessment, there is no way to study for the Cognitive Skills Assessment. However, there are a few things you can do beforehand to ensure a smooth test taking experience:

1. Make sure you are well-rested, in a quiet environment, and able to give your fullest attention to the assessment at hand. We highly recommend that you complete the Cognitive Skills Assessment on a laptop or desktop screen and not on a mobile device.
2. This assessment is timed at 15 minutes. Be aware of this fact so you can move at a considered pace throughout.
3. Once you begin, the clock starts and you cannot return to previous sections. You also cannot return to the test at another time.
4. Feel free to have a notepad nearby so you can work out some questions in writing.
5. At the beginning of each section, we will show you a sample question. Take advantage of this question to help familiarize yourself with the question format and response options.
6. Know that it is highly unlikely that you will complete all questions in an individual section. There are intentionally more questions than can be answered in the time allotted. Your goal should be to answer as many questions correctly in the allotted time.
7. On that note, don’t guess. There is no advantage to guessing, as any wrong answers may impact your overall score.
8. Try not to apply outside knowledge to the questions. All the information you need to respond will be in the questions.

Below are examples of question types in each section:

Attention to Detail:

Critical Thinking:

Logical Reasoning: