PI Cognitive Assessment (Predictive Index) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Compare: 7/12 ___ 11/18

7/12 > 11/18
Cannot be determined
7/12 < 11/18 (Correct answer)
7/12 = 11/18

Correct answer: 7/12 < 11/18

Common denominator 36: 7/12 = 21/36, 11/18 = 22/36. Since 21 < 22, 7/12 < 11/18.

Question 2: Passage: 'Customer satisfaction surveys reveal that response time is the most critical factor in customer service. Customers who receive quick responses to complaints are more likely to remain loyal, even if the resolution is not perfect, than those who experience delays.' Which inference is most reasonable based on the passage?

Surveys are the only way to measure customer satisfaction
Customer loyalty depends entirely on perfect resolutions
Customers do not care about the quality of problem resolution
Speed of response is more valued by customers than a perfect solution (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Speed of response is more valued by customers than a perfect solution

The passage states customers prefer quick responses over perfect resolutions, supporting that speed is more valued.

Question 3: If it rains, the ground gets wet. The ground is not wet. What must be true?

The ground is dry for another reason
It is raining
It did not rain (Correct answer)
It will rain later

Correct answer: It did not rain

By contrapositive, if the ground is not wet, then it did not rain.

Question 4: A car depreciates 15% per year. If it was purchased for $30,000, what is its value after 2 years?

$22,500
$25,500
$21,675 (Correct answer)
$21,000

Correct answer: $21,675

After year 1: $30,000 × 0.85 = $25,500. After year 2: $25,500 × 0.85 = $21,675.

Question 5: Cartographer is to map as choreographer is to:

music
dance routine (Correct answer)
costume
stage

Correct answer: dance routine

A cartographer designs and creates maps; a choreographer designs and creates dance routines. Both relationships pair a specialist with the structured work product they author.

Question 6: A series: 64, 32, 16, 8, ___. What comes next?

2
4 (Correct answer)
8
6

Correct answer: 4

Each term is halved; 8 ÷ 2 = 4.

Question 7: In a 3×3 pattern grid, each row and each column contains exactly one black shape, one gray shape, and one white shape. Row 1: black circle, gray circle, white circle. Row 2: gray circle, white circle, _. Row 3: white circle, _, black circle. What fills the two blank cells (Row 2 last cell, then Row 3 middle cell)?

Black, then gray (Correct answer)
White, then gray
Black, then white
Gray, then black

Correct answer: Black, then gray

Row 2 already has gray and white, so it needs black. Row 3 already has white and black, so it needs gray. Each column also confirms this: column 3 has white and black already (needs black for row 2, but wait — column 3 is white, ?, black → needs gray... let me re-check). Column 3: white (R1), ? (R2), black (R3) → needs gray. But row 2 needs black. So R2C3 = black and R3C2 = gray.

Question 8: AUTHOR is to NOVEL as COMPOSER is to:

Painting
Symphony (Correct answer)
Sculpture
Poem

Correct answer: Symphony

An author creates a novel just as a composer creates a symphony.

Question 9: A sequence follows the rule: each term is the sum of the two before it. The sequence starts 2, 3, 5, 8, __. What is next?

13 (Correct answer)
16
10
11

Correct answer: 13

8 + 5 = 13, following the Fibonacci-style rule.

Question 10: Which word is closest in meaning to HASTY?

Careful
Rash (Correct answer)
Deliberate
Thorough

Correct answer: Rash

Hasty means acting too quickly without thought, synonymous with rash.

Question 11: A product's price dropped from $160 to $124. By what percentage did the price decrease?

22.5% (Correct answer)
20%
25%
18%

Correct answer: 22.5%

Decrease = $36; percentage = (36÷160)×100 = 22.5%.

Question 12: A warehouse has 5,000 items. After shipping 1,200 items and receiving 800 new items, how many items remain?

4,000
3,800
4,600 (Correct answer)
4,200

Correct answer: 4,600

5,000 − 1,200 + 800 = 4,600 items.

Question 13: PIANO, GUITAR, VIOLIN, and HARP all share which property?

They are all percussion instruments
They are all woodwind instruments
They all produce sound through vibrating strings (Correct answer)
They all require a bow to play

Correct answer: They all produce sound through vibrating strings

Piano, guitar, violin, and harp are all string instruments that produce sound by vibrating strings.

Question 14: A 2x2 grid with the top-left square shaded is to a 2x2 grid with the top-right square shaded as a 2x2 grid with the bottom-left square shaded is to:

A 2x2 grid with the top-left square shaded
A 2x2 grid with the top-right square shaded
A 2x2 grid with all squares shaded
A 2x2 grid with the bottom-right square shaded (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A 2x2 grid with the bottom-right square shaded

The relationship is a movement of the shaded square one position to the right within its row. Applying this rule to the second pair, the shaded square in the bottom-left position moves one position to the right, ending up in the bottom-right position.

Question 15: Which of the following word pairs expresses the same relationship as FATIGUE : YAWN?

Sadness : Cry (Correct answer)
Hunger : Eat
Itch : Scratch
Thirst : Drink

Correct answer: Sadness : Cry

The relationship is a state or feeling (cause) leading to a largely involuntary physical reaction (effect). Fatigue can cause one to yawn. Sadness can cause one to cry. The other options describe a stimulus followed by a deliberate, corrective action.

Question 16: Archipelago is to Islands as Constellation is to ___.

Planets
Galaxies
Stars (Correct answer)
Moons

Correct answer: Stars

An archipelago is a group of islands; a constellation is a group of stars.

Question 17: GLOVE is to HAND as HELMET is to:

Shoulder
Neck
Head (Correct answer)
Face

Correct answer: Head

A glove protects and covers the hand just as a helmet protects and covers the head.

Question 18: If the alarm is on, the door is locked. If the door is locked, no one can enter. The alarm is on. What follows?

No one can enter (Correct answer)
The door might be open
Someone can enter
The alarm may turn off

Correct answer: No one can enter

Alarm on → door locked → no one can enter, so no one can enter.

Question 19: A is taller than B. B is taller than C. C is taller than D. Who is the shortest?

A
B
D (Correct answer)
C

Correct answer: D

The chain A > B > C > D places D at the bottom.

Question 20: Author is to novel as sculptor is to:

statue (Correct answer)
canvas
sonnet
melody

Correct answer: statue

An author's primary creative output is a novel; a sculptor's primary creative output is a statue. Both relationships pair a creator with the finished work they produce.

Question 21: Series: 100, 50, 25, 12.5, ___. What comes next?

6
7
5
6.25 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 6.25

Each term is halved: 12.5 ÷ 2 = 6.25.

Question 22: In a class of 40 students, 22 play basketball, 18 play soccer, and 6 play neither sport. How many students play both basketball and soccer?

6 (Correct answer)
10
4
8

Correct answer: 6

Students who play at least one sport = 40 − 6 = 34. Using inclusion-exclusion: Both = Basketball + Soccer − At least one = 22 + 18 − 34 = 6.

Question 23: Which word is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to BOUNTIFUL?

Scarce (Correct answer)
Rich
Plentiful
Generous

Correct answer: Scarce

Bountiful means large in quantity; scarce means insufficient or in short supply.

Question 24: In a group of 30 people, 18 speak English, 15 speak French, and 5 speak neither. How many speak both languages?

3
5
10
8 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 8

People who speak at least one language: 30 - 5 = 25. Using inclusion-exclusion: 18 + 15 - both = 25, so both = 8.

Question 25: Which word is closest in meaning to RESOLUTE?

Unsure
Determined (Correct answer)
Hesitant
Wavering

Correct answer: Determined

Resolute means firmly determined and unwavering, synonymous with determined.

Question 26: What do MARATHON, SPRINT, HURDLES, and RELAY have in common?

They are all track and field running events (Correct answer)
They all involve a team of runners
They all require specialized equipment
They are all Olympic long-distance events

Correct answer: They are all track and field running events

Marathon, sprint, hurdles, and relay are all track and field running events competed in athletics.

Question 27: Straight line is to zigzag line as solid circle is to:

Dotted line
Dashed circle (Correct answer)
Wavy circle
Solid square

Correct answer: Dashed circle

A straight line becomes a zigzag by breaking it into segments. Similarly, a solid circle becomes a dashed circle by breaking the continuous line into segments.

Question 28: Rudder is to ship as steering wheel is to:

bicycle
car (Correct answer)
locomotive
airplane

Correct answer: car

A rudder is the mechanism that controls the direction of a ship; a steering wheel is the mechanism that controls the direction of a car. Both are directional controls for their respective vehicles.

Question 29: Select the word that is most opposite in meaning to TURBULENT:

Restless
Tranquil (Correct answer)
Stormy
Chaotic

Correct answer: Tranquil

TURBULENT means characterized by conflict, disorder, or wild movement. TRANQUIL means free from disturbance or agitation — the clear opposite. Chaotic, stormy, and restless all reinforce the meaning of turbulent.

Question 30: Five tasks must finish before task 6. Tasks 1 and 3 depend on task 2. Task 2 depends on task 4. What must be done first?

Task 1
Task 4 (Correct answer)
Task 3
Task 6

Correct answer: Task 4

Task 4 has no listed dependencies and must precede task 2, which precedes tasks 1 and 3.

Question 31: If no Blips are Blops, and all Blops are Blaps, which must be true?

Some Blaps are not Blips (Correct answer)
All Blips are Blaps
All Blaps are Blips
No Blips are Blaps

Correct answer: Some Blaps are not Blips

Since all Blops are Blaps but no Blips are Blops, Blops (which are Blaps) are not Blips, so some Blaps are not Blips.

Question 32: An arrow pointing right is to an arrow pointing left as an arrow pointing up is to:

An arrow pointing left
An arrow pointing up
An arrow pointing down (Correct answer)
An arrow pointing right

Correct answer: An arrow pointing down

The first transformation reflects the direction horizontally (right → left). By analogy, the vertical direction is reflected, so up becomes down.

Question 33: Which is larger: 40% of 3/5, or 3/5 of 40%?

Cannot be determined
3/5 of 40%
40% of 3/5
They are equal (Correct answer)

Correct answer: They are equal

Multiplication is commutative: 0.40 × 0.60 = 0.60 × 0.40 = 0.24 in both cases.

Question 34: What comes next: 100, 81, 64, 49, 36, ___?

25 (Correct answer)
16
20
30

Correct answer: 25

These are perfect squares in descending order: 10², 9², 8², 7², 6², 5²=25.

Question 35: What comes next in the pattern: AZ, BY, CX, DW, ___?

FV
EV (Correct answer)
EU
EX

Correct answer: EV

The first letter advances forward (A,B,C,D,E) while the second letter moves backward (Z,Y,X,W,V). Next: EV.

Question 36: In a pattern, shaded squares move one column to the right each step. At step 4, the shaded square is in column 5. At step 7, which column is it in?

9
6
7
8 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 8

The shaded square advances one column per step, so from step 4 to step 7 is 3 more steps: column 5 + 3 = 8.

Question 37: In miles, distance is. According to mass:

Gravity
Scale
Kilogram (Correct answer)
Liter

Correct answer: Kilogram

This question is an analogy. Miles are a unit of measurement for distance. Similarly, kilograms are a standard unit of measurement for mass. The other options (Liter, Gravity, Scale) are either units for different quantities or measuring tools, not units of mass.

Question 38: Autobiography is to self as biography is to:

History
Others (Correct answer)
Author
Fiction

Correct answer: Others

An autobiography is a life story written about oneself. A biography is a life story written about others.

Question 39: IMPEDE is to PROGRESS as MUFFLE is to:

Speed
Sound (Correct answer)
Vision
Light

Correct answer: Sound

To impede slows or blocks progress just as to muffle reduces or blocks sound.

Question 40: Compare: 7/9 ___ 3/4

<
Cannot be determined
=
> (Correct answer)

Correct answer: >

Convert both to a common denominator of 36: 7/9 = 28/36 and 3/4 = 27/36. Since 28 > 27, we have 7/9 > 3/4.

Question 41: Bark is to Tree as Skin is to ___.

Body (Correct answer)
Bone
Blood
Hair

Correct answer: Body

Bark is the outer covering of a tree, just as skin is the outer covering of a body.

Question 42: Conductor is to Orchestra as Captain is to ___.

Harbor
Anchor
Boat
Crew (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Crew

A conductor leads an orchestra just as a captain leads a crew.

Question 43: 2 : 8 as 3 : ___.

12
27 (Correct answer)
9
18

Correct answer: 27

2 cubed equals 8, and 3 cubed equals 27.

Question 44: Read the statement: 'All employees who completed training received a certificate. John did not receive a certificate.' What can be concluded about John?

John did not complete training (Correct answer)
John completed training
John is not an employee
Nothing can be concluded

Correct answer: John did not complete training

By modus tollens: if completing training → certificate, and John has no certificate, then John did not complete training.

Question 45: Which feature is shared by all three shapes: a blue triangle, a blue square, and a blue hexagon?

Shape type
Size
Number of sides
Color (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Color

All three shapes are blue. They differ in the number of sides and shape type.

Question 46: SUMMIT is to MOUNTAIN as MOUTH is to:

River (Correct answer)
Ocean
Lake
Valley

Correct answer: River

The summit is the endpoint (top) of a mountain just as the mouth is the endpoint (outlet) of a river.

Question 47: White shape on black background is to black shape on white background as uppercase letter is to:

Bold letter
Italic letter
Reversed letter
Lowercase letter (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Lowercase letter

The first analogy shows an inversion of the figure-ground relationship. The analogous inversion for letter case is uppercase to lowercase.

Question 48: Which number is the odd one out: 4, 9, 16, 20, 25?

16
9
20 (Correct answer)
4

Correct answer: 20

4, 9, 16, and 25 are all perfect squares (2², 3², 4², 5²), but 20 is not.

Question 49: A small filled shape surrounded by a large hollow shape is to a large filled shape surrounded by a small hollow shape as a dark shape overlapping the right side of a light shape is to:

Two separate non-overlapping shapes
A dark shape overlapping the left side of a light shape (Correct answer)
A light shape overlapping the right side of a dark shape
A dark shape below a light shape

Correct answer: A dark shape overlapping the left side of a light shape

The transformation reverses the spatial relationship while keeping the shapes and their properties the same. The overlap switches from the right side to the left side, mirroring the inside-out reversal in the first pair.

Question 50: Which word is closest in meaning to ABUNDANT?

Plentiful (Correct answer)
Minimal
Restricted
Scarce

Correct answer: Plentiful

Abundant means existing in large quantities, which is synonymous with plentiful.

Question 51: Caterpillar is to butterfly as tadpole is to:

Fish
Lizard
Salamander
Frog (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Frog

A caterpillar is the larval stage that metamorphoses into a butterfly. A tadpole is the larval stage that metamorphoses into a frog.

Question 52: If ▲▲▲ relates to 3, and ▲▲▲▲▲ relates to 5, then ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲ relates to ___.

9
8
6
7 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 7

Each triangle symbol represents the number 1, so counting 7 triangles gives 7.

PI Cognitive Assessment (Predictive Index)

The PI Cognitive Assessment (Predictive Index) exam validates essential knowledge and skills required for certification or licensure in this field.

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12 min

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70%

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