CFAT – Canadian Forces Aptitude Test — Questions and Answers

Question 1: A 400 m long train passes a stationary observer in 20 seconds. How long does it take to pass through a tunnel 600 m long?

40 seconds
60 seconds
50 seconds (Correct answer)
30 seconds

Correct answer: 50 seconds

Speed = 400 ÷ 20 = 20 m/s; total distance = 400 + 600 = 1,000 m; time = 1,000 ÷ 20 = 50 s.

Question 2: If a clock shows 3:45 PM, what time will it be in 2 hours and 35 minutes?

6:20 PM (Correct answer)
6:15 PM
6:25 PM
5:50 PM

Correct answer: 6:20 PM

3:45 + 2:35 = 6:20 PM.

Question 3: What does it mean to 'infer' something?

Contradict it
Ignore it completely
State it directly
Deduce it from evidence or reasoning (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Deduce it from evidence or reasoning

To 'infer' is to reach a conclusion based on available evidence rather than being told directly.

Question 4: The net of a cylinder consists of two circles and one rectangle. The dimension of the rectangle that wraps around the cylinder must equal:

The circumference of the circular ends (Correct answer)
The area of one circular end
The radius of the circular ends
The diameter of the circular ends

Correct answer: The circumference of the circular ends

The rectangle wraps around the curved surface of the cylinder, so its wrapping dimension must equal the circumference (2πr) of the circular ends.

Question 5: PHYSICIAN is to PATIENT as ATTORNEY is to:

Judge
Courtroom
Client (Correct answer)
Verdict

Correct answer: Client

A physician provides professional services to a patient, just as an attorney provides professional services to a client.

Question 6: GENERAL is to ARMY as ADMIRAL is to:

Infantry
Air Force
Marines
Navy (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Navy

A general commands an army just as an admiral commands a navy.

Question 7: A shape with a bump on its RIGHT side is reflected across a vertical mirror line. Where is the bump on the reflected image?

Right side
Bottom
Left side (Correct answer)
Top

Correct answer: Left side

Vertical reflection swaps left and right, so the bump moves to the left side.

Question 8: Three regular polygons tessellate a flat surface by themselves: equilateral triangle, square, and regular hexagon. Which regular polygon does NOT tessellate by itself?

Equilateral triangle
Regular hexagon
Regular pentagon (Correct answer)
Square

Correct answer: Regular pentagon

A regular pentagon's interior angle (108°) does not divide 360° evenly, so it cannot tile a plane alone.

Question 9: PENULTIMATE is to LAST as ANTEPENULTIMATE is to:

Middle
First
Third from last (Correct answer)
Second

Correct answer: Third from last

Penultimate means second to last; antepenultimate means third from the last.

Question 10: In a figure series, a triangle is flipped vertically (top-bottom) with each step. Figure 1 shows △ (pointing up). What does figure 4 show?

▽ (pointing down) (Correct answer)
◁ (pointing left)
△ (pointing up)
▷ (pointing right)

Correct answer: ▽ (pointing down)

Flipping each step: △→▽→△→▽; figure 4 is in the flipped (downward) position.

Question 11: A 2D pattern is made of six squares in a single row. What happens when you try to fold this pattern to create a cube?

It forms a complete and closed cube.
It is impossible to form a closed 3D shape because the faces will overlap. (Correct answer)
It forms a cube with one open side.
It forms an open-ended rectangular tube, but not a cube.

Correct answer: It is impossible to form a closed 3D shape because the faces will overlap.

A net for a closed cube requires the six squares to be arranged so they can enclose a volume without overlapping. When six squares are arranged in a single 1x6 row, folding them will cause the fifth and sixth squares to overlap the first and second squares, respectively, preventing the formation of a closed cube.

Question 12: An unfolded cube pattern is laid out in a cross shape. The central vertical column has three squares, marked from top to bottom: Triangle, Circle, Star. A fourth square, marked with a Square, is attached to the left side of the Circle square. If this pattern is folded into a cube, which face will be opposite the Triangle face?

The unmarked face to the right of the Circle
The Square face
The Star face (Correct answer)
The Circle face

Correct answer: The Star face

In an unfolded cube net, faces that are separated by one other face along a straight line will be opposite each other when the cube is folded. In the vertical column of the pattern (Triangle, Circle, Star), the Triangle and the Star are separated by the Circle. Therefore, the Triangle and the Star are opposite faces.

Question 13: Choose the word most similar in meaning to TENACIOUS.

Flexible
Persistent (Correct answer)
Careless
Timid

Correct answer: Persistent

Tenacious means holding firmly to a purpose or belief, which is synonymous with persistent.

Question 14: PROLOGUE is to EPILOGUE as INTRODUCTION is to:

Glossary
Chapter
Conclusion (Correct answer)
Index

Correct answer: Conclusion

A prologue comes before a story just as an introduction comes before main content; an epilogue and conclusion both follow the main content.

Question 15: In a cube net, squares X-Y-Z form a straight 3-square column. Without knowing the rest of the net, which statement about X and Z is true?

They are always opposite faces on the cube
They are always adjacent faces sharing an edge
Their relationship cannot be determined without the complete net (Correct answer)
They are always the top and bottom faces

Correct answer: Their relationship cannot be determined without the complete net

Whether X and Z become opposite or adjacent faces depends on how the remaining squares of the net are arranged.

Question 16: A pentagon has one highlighted side that advances clockwise each step. The cycle has 5 positions. Which side is highlighted in the 7th figure?

2nd side (right) (Correct answer)
5th side (top-left)
3rd side (top-right)
1st side (bottom)

Correct answer: 2nd side (right)

7 mod 5 = 2, so the 7th figure highlights the 2nd side in the clockwise sequence.

Question 17: What is 1,250 decreased by 16%?

1,075
1,000
1,050 (Correct answer)
1,025

Correct answer: 1,050

16% of 1,250 = 200; 1,250 − 200 = 1,050.

Question 18: What does 'austere' mean?

Luxurious and comfortable
Richly decorated
Extravagant
Severe and simple without luxuries (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Severe and simple without luxuries

'Austere' describes conditions or settings that are severe, plain, and lacking comfort or decoration.

Question 19: Worker A completes a task in 6 hours; Worker B takes 9 hours. After working together for 2 hours, A leaves. How long does B take to finish alone?

6 hours
5 hours
4 hours (Correct answer)
3 hours

Correct answer: 4 hours

Together rate = 1/6 + 1/9 = 5/18 per h; in 2 h: 10/18 = 5/9 done; remaining = 4/9; B time = (4/9) ÷ (1/9) = 4 hours.

Question 20: Which number comes next: 5, 10, 8, 16, 14, ?

32
28 (Correct answer)
12
18

Correct answer: 28

The pattern alternates between ×2 and −2; 14 × 2 = 28.

Question 21: A supply truck travels 360 km on 45 litres of fuel. What is the fuel efficiency in km per litre?

6 km/L
10 km/L
8 km/L (Correct answer)
12 km/L

Correct answer: 8 km/L

360 ÷ 45 = 8 km per litre.

Question 22: A fuel tank is 3/8 full. After adding 30 liters it is 5/8 full. What is the tank's total capacity?

60 liters
100 liters
80 liters
120 liters (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 120 liters

30 liters = 5/8 − 3/8 = 2/8 = 1/4 of the tank; total capacity = 30 ÷ (1/4) = 120 L.

Question 23: What is the meaning of 'ambiguous'?

Uncertain or open to more than one interpretation (Correct answer)
Definitely proven
Completely obvious
Perfectly clear

Correct answer: Uncertain or open to more than one interpretation

'Ambiguous' means a statement or situation that could be understood in more than one way.

Question 24: Which word means 'to make an existing problem worse'?

Soothe
Aggravate (Correct answer)
Alleviate
Improve

Correct answer: Aggravate

'Aggravate' means to intensify or make an existing problem or situation more severe.

Question 25: Mentally rotating a 3D object to match it with its correct flat net — as required in CFAT spatial tests — is an example of:

Mathematical induction
Sequential pattern recognition
Crystallographic analysis
Spatial reasoning (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Spatial reasoning

Matching a 3D shape to its net by mental rotation and visualization is a core spatial reasoning skill tested on aptitude exams.

Question 26: A vehicle uses fuel at a rate of 12 litres per 100 km. How many litres are needed for a 250 km mission?

28 L
24 L
32 L
30 L (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 30 L

250 ÷ 100 × 12 = 30 litres.

Question 27: In a 3×3 grid, one cell is shaded and moves one position to the right each step, wrapping from column 3 back to column 1. Starting at row 1, column 1 in figure 1, where is the shaded cell in figure 4?

Row 1, Column 2
Row 1, Column 1 (Correct answer)
Row 2, Column 1
Row 1, Column 3

Correct answer: Row 1, Column 1

The cell moves right: column 1→2→3→1 (wrap); figure 4 completes the full cycle and returns to column 1.

Question 28: Observe the sequence of figures. Figure 1 is a square with a small black circle in the top-left corner. Figure 2 is the same square with the black circle in the top-right corner. Figure 3 is the same square with the black circle in the bottom-right corner. Which figure logically comes next in the series?

A square with the black circle in the bottom-left corner. (Correct answer)
A square with the black circle in the center.
A square with the black circle in the top-left corner.
A square with the black circle in the bottom-right corner.

Correct answer: A square with the black circle in the bottom-left corner.

The pattern shows the small black circle moving one corner clockwise with each step. From the top-left, it moves to the top-right, then to the bottom-right. The next logical step is for it to move to the bottom-left corner.

Question 29: The sergeant's decision was _______ by the entire squad, who believed it was the safest course of action.

challenged
dismissed
undermined
supported (Correct answer)

Correct answer: supported

"Supported" means backed or endorsed, fitting a situation where the squad agreed with the decision.

Question 30: A machine at a factory produces 150 bolts in 3 minutes. At this constant rate, how many bolts can the machine produce in 2 hours?

6,000 (Correct answer)
4,500
9,000
3,000

Correct answer: 6,000

First, calculate the machine's production rate per minute: 150 bolts / 3 minutes = 50 bolts per minute. Next, convert the total time to minutes: 2 hours * 60 minutes/hour = 120 minutes. Finally, multiply the rate by the total time to find the total output: 50 bolts/minute * 120 minutes = 6,000 bolts.

Question 31: What is the next number: 4, 7, 12, 19, 28, 39, ?

50
52 (Correct answer)
48
54

Correct answer: 52

Differences are consecutive odd numbers (3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13), so 39 + 13 = 52.

Question 32: Two cyclists 180 km apart ride toward each other at 30 km/h and 24 km/h. How far has the faster cyclist travelled when they meet?

90 km
108 km
100 km (Correct answer)
120 km

Correct answer: 100 km

Meeting time = 180 ÷ 54 = 10/3 h; faster cyclist = 30 × 10/3 = 100 km.

Question 33: Complete the series: 64, 32, 16, 8, 4, ?

4
3
2 (Correct answer)
1

Correct answer: 2

Each term is halved, so 4 ÷ 2 = 2.

Question 34: A 40-liter solution is 25% salt. How many liters of water must be added to reduce the salt concentration to 20%?

10 liters (Correct answer)
15 liters
8 liters
12 liters

Correct answer: 10 liters

Salt = 10 L; for 20% concentration, total solution = 10 ÷ 0.20 = 50 L; add 10 L of water.

Question 35: Choose the word most similar in meaning to COVERT.

Boisterous
Clandestine (Correct answer)
Transparent
Obvious

Correct answer: Clandestine

Covert means not openly acknowledged or displayed; clandestine is its closest synonym, both meaning secret or hidden.

Question 36: Which word is most similar in meaning to 'prudent'?

Impulsive
Reckless
Ignorant
Wise and careful (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Wise and careful

'Prudent' means acting with careful thought and good judgment, especially about the future.

Question 37: A soldier marches 24 km in 6 hours. What is his average speed?

5 km/h
6 km/h
4 km/h (Correct answer)
3 km/h

Correct answer: 4 km/h

Speed = distance ÷ time = 24 ÷ 6 = 4 km/h.

Question 38: Please choose two words with a comparable connection. bear : bare

prize : praise
crazy : lazy
hare : hair (Correct answer)
dust : must

Correct answer: hare : hair

The relationship between 'bear' and 'bare' is that they are homophones – words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings. Among the given options, 'hare' and 'hair' exhibit the same homophonic relationship. They are pronounced identically but are spelled differently and have distinct meanings.

Question 39: What comes next in the sequence: 3, 6, 12, 24, ___?

30
36
48 (Correct answer)
42

Correct answer: 48

Each term is doubled: 3×2=6, 6×2=12, 12×2=24, 24×2=48.

Question 40: A soldier runs 5 km in 25 minutes. At the same pace, how long will a 12 km run take?

60 min (Correct answer)
50 min
55 min
45 min

Correct answer: 60 min

Pace = 25 ÷ 5 = 5 min/km; time for 12 km = 12 × 5 = 60 minutes.

Question 41: 45 is what percent of 180?

30%
35%
20%
25% (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 25%

(45 ÷ 180) × 100 = 0.25 × 100 = 25%.

Question 42: SYRINGE is to INJECT as SCALPEL is to:

Incise (Correct answer)
Clamp
Probe
Sew

Correct answer: Incise

A syringe is used to inject; a scalpel is used to incise (cut).

Question 43: A square has a dot in its top-left corner. After a 90° clockwise rotation, where is the dot?

Center
Top-right corner (Correct answer)
Bottom-left corner
Bottom-right corner

Correct answer: Top-right corner

A 90° clockwise rotation maps top-left to top-right.

Question 44: A figure shows a repeating row of symbols: ★☆★☆★☆★☆ ... Following this pattern, what is the 10th symbol?

○ (empty circle)
☆ (empty star) (Correct answer)
● (filled circle)
★ (filled star)

Correct answer: ☆ (empty star)

Odd positions hold filled stars (★) and even positions hold empty stars (☆); position 10 is even.

Question 45: A 3D object casts a square shadow from above, from the front, and from the side. What shape is the object?

Cube (Correct answer)
Rectangular prism with unequal sides
Sphere
Cylinder

Correct answer: Cube

A cube produces identical square silhouettes from all three orthogonal views.

Question 46: A triangular arrangement shows circles in rows: row 1 has 1 circle, row 2 has 2, row 3 has 3, and so on. How many circles total appear in a figure showing 5 complete rows?

10
20
12
15 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 15

The total follows triangular numbers: 1+2+3+4+5 = 15.

Question 47: The provided 2D net is folded to form a cube. Which face will be adjacent to BOTH the face with the star and the face with the arrow? The net is a cross shape: the central square is blank. The square above it is a star. The square below it is a circle. The square to the left is an arrow pointing left. The square to the right is a diamond. The square at the very top of the pattern (attached to the star) is a square.

The face with the square (Correct answer)
The blank face
The face with the diamond
The face with the circle

Correct answer: The face with the square

If you visualize folding the net with the blank face as the front, the star becomes the top face and the arrow becomes the left face. The 'square' face then folds over from the top to become the back face. The back face is adjacent to the top (star), bottom, left (arrow), and right sides. Therefore, the 'square' face is adjacent to both the star and the arrow.

Question 48: An unfolded box net is T-shaped: square A sits on top of B, squares B-C-D run in a horizontal row, E is below C, and F is to the right of D. When folded, which face is opposite face A?

F
E (Correct answer)
C
B

Correct answer: E

In this T-net, A folds down and ends up directly opposite E, which folds up from below C.

Question 49: A shape is folded along its horizontal center line. The top half has a circle on the left and a triangle on the right. When unfolded, what appears on the bottom half?

Circle on right, triangle on left (Correct answer)
Triangle on both sides
Circle in the center
Circle on left, triangle on right

Correct answer: Circle on right, triangle on left

Folding along a horizontal axis reflects the top half left-to-right onto the bottom half, swapping positions.

Question 50: A cube net has square E above square A, then A-B-C-D in a row, then square F below square C. Which squares become opposite faces when folded?

A & C, B & D, E & F (Correct answer)
A & F, B & E, C & D
A & B, C & D, E & F
A & D, B & C, E & F

Correct answer: A & C, B & D, E & F

Wrapping A-B-C-D around forms four sides: A(front) opposite C(back), B(right) opposite D(left), and E(top) opposite F(bottom).

Question 51: A recruit buys 3 shirts at $25 each and 2 pairs of pants at $45 each, paying with $200. How much change does he receive?

$35 (Correct answer)
$15
$20
$25

Correct answer: $35

Total cost = $75 + $90 = $165; change = $200 − $165 = $35.

Question 52: A platoon has 30 soldiers and 40% are female. How many male soldiers are there?

18 (Correct answer)
12
14
16

Correct answer: 18

40% of 30 = 12 females, so 30 − 12 = 18 males.

Question 53: A patrol covers 12 km in the first hour and 9 km in the second hour. What is the average speed over the two hours?

11 km/h
10.5 km/h (Correct answer)
10 km/h
9.5 km/h

Correct answer: 10.5 km/h

Total distance = 21 km over 2 hours; 21 ÷ 2 = 10.5 km/h.

Question 54: Corporal Smith can assemble a standard field tent in 3 hours. Private Jones can assemble the same tent in 5 hours. If they work together, how long will it take them to assemble one tent?

4 hours
1 hour, 52.5 minutes (Correct answer)
2 hours
8 hours

Correct answer: 1 hour, 52.5 minutes

Calculate the individual work rates per hour. Corporal Smith's rate is 1/3 of a tent per hour, and Private Jones's rate is 1/5 of a tent per hour. Their combined rate is (1/3) + (1/5) = 8/15 of a tent per hour. To find the total time, take the reciprocal of the combined rate: Time = 1 / (8/15) = 15/8 hours, which is 1.875 hours. Converting the decimal to minutes: 0.875 * 60 = 52.5 minutes. Therefore, the total time is 1 hour and 52.5 minutes.

Question 55: TEPID is to HOT as CHILLY is to:

Cool
Mild
Warm
Frigid (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Frigid

Tepid is a mild degree of hot; chilly is a mild degree of cold, making frigid the more extreme cold equivalent.

Question 56: If the code for ARMY is 1-18-13-25 (using alphabet position), what is the code for BASE?

2-1-20-5
3-1-19-5
2-1-19-5 (Correct answer)
2-2-19-5

Correct answer: 2-1-19-5

B=2, A=1, S=19, E=5, giving the code 2-1-19-5.

Question 57: What number is 35 more than the product of 8 and 7?

91 (Correct answer)
81
87
95

Correct answer: 91

8 × 7 = 56; 56 + 35 = 91.

Question 58: A soldier needs to assemble a box from a flat piece of cardboard. The pattern is a standard six-square cross shape for a cube. If the bottom-most square in the vertical part of the cross is the base of the cube, which square becomes the top lid?

The top-most square in the vertical column. (Correct answer)
The second square from the bottom in the vertical column.
The square to the left of the vertical column.
The square to the right of the vertical column.

Correct answer: The top-most square in the vertical column.

In a standard cross-shaped net (four squares in a vertical line and one on each side of the second square from the top), if you designate the bottom square as the base, the three squares above it will fold up to form the front, top, and back sides in sequence. Therefore, the top-most square folds over to become the lid.

Question 59: Find the missing number: 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, ?

56
64 (Correct answer)
81
60

Correct answer: 64

These are perfect squares starting at 3² — the next is 8² = 64.

Question 60: A pattern shows a sequence: triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon. What comes next?

Square
Octagon
Circle
Heptagon (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Heptagon

The pattern increases the number of sides by one each time: 3, 4, 5, 6, so the next shape has 7 sides (heptagon).

CFAT – Canadian Forces Aptitude Test

The Canadian Forces Aptitude Test (CFAT) is a mandatory multiple-choice aptitude test administered by the Canadian Armed Forces to all applicants. It consists of 60 questions across three sections — Verbal Skills, Spatial Ability, and Problem Solving — with a total time limit of 60 minutes. There is no single passing score; the required score varies by military occupation.

Questions

60 min

Time Limit

50%

To Pass

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