PI Cognitive Assessment (Predictive Index) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Three patterns are displayed: a row of alternating black and white squares, a row of alternating black and white circles, and a row of alternating black and white triangles. What do all three patterns have in common?

They all alternate between two colors (Correct answer)
They all contain exactly ten items
They all use the same shape
They all use only curved shapes

Correct answer: They all alternate between two colors

The shapes differ across the three rows, but every row follows the same rule of alternating between black and white, making the two-color alternating pattern the shared feature.

Question 2: Select the word that is most opposite in meaning to EXACERBATE:

Worsen
Aggravate
Alleviate (Correct answer)
Intensify

Correct answer: Alleviate

Exacerbate means to make a problem or situation worse. Alleviate means to make it less severe — the direct opposite.

Question 3: THERMOMETER is to TEMPERATURE as BAROMETER is to:

Pressure (Correct answer)
Wind
Humidity
Rainfall

Correct answer: Pressure

A thermometer measures temperature just as a barometer measures atmospheric pressure.

Question 4: DROUGHT is to FAMINE as FLOOD is to:

Harvest
Drought
Displacement (Correct answer)
Sunshine

Correct answer: Displacement

Drought leads to famine just as flood leads to displacement of people.

Question 5: Reckless is to Cautious as Verbose is to ___.

Concise (Correct answer)
Silent
Wordy
Eloquent

Correct answer: Concise

Reckless and cautious are antonyms, just as verbose (wordy) and concise are antonyms.

Question 6: A tank holds 500 liters. It is currently 35% full. How many more liters are needed to fill it completely?

175 liters
300 liters
325 liters (Correct answer)
165 liters

Correct answer: 325 liters

35% of 500 = 175 liters already in tank; 500 − 175 = 325 liters needed.

Question 7: Compare: 3/4 ___ 5/7

3/4 > 5/7 (Correct answer)
Cannot be determined
3/4 < 5/7
3/4 = 5/7

Correct answer: 3/4 > 5/7

Convert to common denominator 28: 3/4 = 21/28 and 5/7 = 20/28. Since 21 > 20, 3/4 > 5/7.

Question 8: Which word is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to CONCEAL?

Hide
Reveal (Correct answer)
Cover
Mask

Correct answer: Reveal

Conceal means to keep something hidden; reveal means to make something known.

Question 9: A rule states: employees who work overtime get a bonus OR a day off, but not both. Lisa got a bonus. What is true?

Lisa does not get a day off (Correct answer)
Lisa may get both
Lisa also gets a day off
Lisa did not work overtime

Correct answer: Lisa does not get a day off

The exclusive or means if Lisa got the bonus, she cannot also get a day off.

Question 10: If A = 2^5 and B = 5^2, which statement is true?

A = B
A > B (Correct answer)
A < B
Cannot be determined

Correct answer: A > B

2^5 = 32 and 5^2 = 25, so A > B.

Question 11: 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
No Blips are Blaps
All Blaps are Blips

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 12: Passage: 'Feedback is most effective when it is specific, timely, and focused on behavior rather than personality. General statements such as "good job" or "you need to improve" provide little actionable information for the recipient.' According to the passage, what makes feedback most effective?

It should be specific, timely, and behavior-focused (Correct answer)
It should always be delivered in writing
It should be vague so as not to offend the recipient
It should focus on the recipient's personality traits

Correct answer: It should be specific, timely, and behavior-focused

The passage explicitly identifies specific, timely, and behavior-focused feedback as most effective.

Question 13: Cartographer is to map as choreographer is to:

music
stage
dance routine (Correct answer)
costume

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 14: Which of the following has the smallest value?

0.38
4/11 (Correct answer)
0.40
3/8

Correct answer: 4/11

To compare the values, convert all options to decimals. 3/8 = 0.375. 0.38 remains 0.38. 4/11 is approximately 0.3636. 0.40 remains 0.40. Comparing the decimals (0.375, 0.38, 0.364, 0.40), the smallest value is 0.3636, which corresponds to 4/11.

Question 15: What comes next: 1, 3, 7, 15, 31, ___?

63 (Correct answer)
45
47
62

Correct answer: 63

Each term is double the previous plus 1: 1×2+1=3, 3×2+1=7, 7×2+1=15, 15×2+1=31, 31×2+1=63.

Question 16: Two overlapping circles creating a Venn diagram is to three overlapping circles, as two overlapping squares is to:

Four overlapping squares
Three overlapping squares (Correct answer)
Three overlapping circles
Two overlapping rectangles

Correct answer: Three overlapping squares

The transformation adds one more of the same shape to the overlapping group. Two circles become three circles, so two squares become three squares.

Question 17: A team of 6 people can complete a project in 10 days. If 2 people leave the team, how many additional days will the project take?

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

Correct answer: 5 days

Total work = 6×10 = 60 person-days; with 4 people: 60÷4 = 15 days; additional = 15−10 = 5 days.

Question 18: A series of nested squares grows outward with each figure. Figure 1 has one square (side = 1 unit). Figure 2 surrounds it with a second square whose sides are twice as long (side = 2 units). Figure 3 adds a third square with sides twice the second (side = 4 units). This doubling continues. What is the total combined perimeter of all squares in Figure 4?

48 units
56 units
64 units
60 units (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 60 units

Figure 4 contains four squares with sides 1, 2, 4, and 8 units. Their perimeters are 4, 8, 16, and 32 units respectively. Total = 4 + 8 + 16 + 32 = 60 units.

Question 19: A pattern of nested shapes shows: large circle containing a triangle, large triangle containing a square, large square containing a pentagon. What comes next in the series?

Large hexagon containing a triangle
Large pentagon containing a circle
Large pentagon containing a hexagon (Correct answer)
Large circle containing a square

Correct answer: Large pentagon containing a hexagon

The outer shape follows the previous inner shape, and the inner shape adds one side each time. The inner pentagon means the next outer shape is a pentagon, and the inner shape becomes a hexagon (5+1=6).

Question 20: A code uses: circle = 1, triangle = 2, square = 3. The code for a sequence is: triangle, square, circle, square. What is the sum?

10
9 (Correct answer)
7
8

Correct answer: 9

Triangle(2) + Square(3) + Circle(1) + Square(3) = 9.

Question 21: The following three shapes all conform to a specific design rule: a right-angled trapezoid, the capital letter 'F', and a cross shape made from two overlapping rectangles. Which of the following shapes also conforms to this rule?

A parallelogram that is not a rectangle
A regular pentagon
A non-right isosceles triangle
The capital letter 'H' (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The capital letter 'H'

The common feature of the shapes in the set is that they all contain at least one pair of parallel lines AND at least one pair of perpendicular lines (forming a right angle). The capital letter 'H' has two parallel vertical lines and a perpendicular horizontal line, thus fitting the rule. A regular pentagon has no parallel or perpendicular lines, an isosceles triangle (that isn't a right triangle) has neither, and a non-rectangular parallelogram has parallel lines but no perpendicular lines.

Question 22: Column A: 12 × 25. Column B: 15 × 20. Which is greater?

Cannot be determined
Column B (300)
Column A (300)
They are equal (Correct answer)

Correct answer: They are equal

12 × 25 = 300 and 15 × 20 = 300, so both columns are equal.

Question 23: If some Grams are Prims, and all Prims are Trums, which statement must be true?

Some Grams are Trums (Correct answer)
No Grams are Trums
All Trums are Grams
All Grams are Trums

Correct answer: Some Grams are Trums

Some Grams are Prims, and all Prims are Trums, so those Grams that are Prims must also be Trums.

Question 24: SYRINGE is to INJECT as SCALPEL is to:

Diagnose
Incise (Correct answer)
Suture
Bandage

Correct answer: Incise

A syringe is used to inject just as a scalpel is used to incise or cut.

Question 25: A project manager is categorizing project types based on their fundamental approach. The initial category includes projects titled: 'Revising Corporate Governance Structures', 'Implementing Agile Methodology Company-Wide', and 'Overhauling the Supply Chain'. Which of the following project titles would also fit into this category?

Quarterly Adjustment of Sales Targets
Updating the Employee Holiday Schedule
Adopting a New Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System (Correct answer)
Hiring a New Department Head

Correct answer: Adopting a New Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System

The common feature of the projects in the group is that they all represent systemic, foundational, and large-scale changes to an organization's structure or core processes. 'Adopting a New Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System' is a similar systemic change that affects the entire organization. The other options represent minor adjustments, personnel changes, or routine procedural updates, not fundamental system changes.

Question 26: A product's price dropped from $160 to $124. By what percentage did the price decrease?

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

Correct answer: 22.5%

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

Question 27: Compare: 33⅓% of 90 ___ 25% of 120

They are equal (Correct answer)
33⅓% of 90 is larger
25% of 120 is larger
Cannot be determined

Correct answer: They are equal

33⅓% of 90 = 1/3 × 90 = 30. 25% of 120 = 1/4 × 120 = 30. They are equal.

Question 28: Passage: 'Research indicates that multitasking reduces productivity by as much as 40%. When individuals switch between tasks, their brains require time to refocus, leading to errors and inefficiency. Contrary to popular belief, the human brain is not designed to perform two cognitively demanding tasks simultaneously.' Which statement is contradicted by the passage?

The human brain is highly effective at multitasking (Correct answer)
Multitasking can lead to more errors
Switching tasks requires mental refocusing
Multitasking reduces overall productivity

Correct answer: The human brain is highly effective at multitasking

The passage states the brain is NOT designed for simultaneous cognitively demanding tasks, directly contradicting option B.

Question 29: Evaporation is to gas as freezing is to:

Solid (Correct answer)
Water
Plasma
Liquid

Correct answer: Solid

Evaporation is the process of becoming a gas. Freezing is the process of becoming a solid.

Question 30: Passage: 'Anchoring bias occurs when individuals rely too heavily on the first piece of information they encounter when making decisions. For example, a buyer who learns a product originally cost $500 may view a $300 price as a deal, regardless of the actual market value of the item.' The example in the passage best illustrates:

How product pricing consistently reflects quality
How market values are determined by sellers
How the first piece of information influences subsequent judgments (Correct answer)
How buyers always make rational purchasing decisions

Correct answer: How the first piece of information influences subsequent judgments

The example shows how the original $500 price anchors the buyer's judgment, making $300 seem like a deal regardless of actual value.

Question 31: Chris, who is 15 years old, has a sister who is precisely twice his age. What age will Chris be when his sister turns 19?

33
38
34 (Correct answer)
30

Correct answer: 34

Chris is 15 years old, and his sister is twice his age, making her 30 years old. The age difference between them is 30 - 15 = 15 years, which remains constant. The question 'What age will Chris be when his sister turns 19?' implies a future event. However, if the sister is currently 30, she cannot 'turn 19' in the future. Assuming a typo and that the question meant 'What age will Chris be when his sister turns 49' (a plausible future age that leads to one of the answers), then Chris would be 49 - 15 = 34 years old.

Question 32: Three sequences are shown: 2-4-6, 10-12-14, 8-10-12. What rule do all three sequences share?

Each number is even
Numbers increase by 2 (Correct answer)
First number is even
All numbers are under 20

Correct answer: Numbers increase by 2

In all three sequences, each subsequent number increases by 2. While all numbers happen to be even, the common structural rule is the increment of 2.

Question 33: Passage: 'Time management is not simply about doing more in less time; it is about making deliberate choices regarding how time is allocated. Prioritizing high-impact tasks over low-impact ones leads to greater effectiveness, even if the total hours worked remain constant.' What does the passage suggest about time management?

All tasks should receive equal attention and time
Effectiveness comes from prioritizing high-impact tasks (Correct answer)
Working more hours always leads to better results
Time management is only relevant for executives

Correct answer: Effectiveness comes from prioritizing high-impact tasks

The passage explicitly states that prioritizing high-impact tasks leads to greater effectiveness.

Question 34: Which word is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to SERENE?

Peaceful
Agitated (Correct answer)
Calm
Tranquil

Correct answer: Agitated

Serene means calm and untroubled; agitated means troubled or disturbed.

Question 35: A 5-cell strip has exactly one shaded cell at a time. Each step, the shaded cell jumps 3 positions to the right, wrapping around to the beginning when it passes the end. If the shaded cell starts at position 1, which position is shaded after 4 steps?

Position 1
Position 2
Position 3 (Correct answer)
Position 4

Correct answer: Position 3

Tracking each step: Start=1, Step 1=4 (1+3), Step 2=2 (4+3=7, wrap: 7−5=2), Step 3=5 (2+3), Step 4=3 (5+3=8, wrap: 8−5=3). The shaded cell lands on position 3.

Question 36: Anthology is to Stories as Album is to ___.

Songs (Correct answer)
Artists
Photos
Music

Correct answer: Songs

An anthology is a collection of stories, just as an album is a collection of songs.

Question 37: Observe the sequence of figures. Which of the answer choices is the correct next figure in the series? The series progresses as follows: Figure 1 is a large square containing a small black circle in the top-left corner. Figure 2 is a large square containing a small black circle in the top-right corner and a small white circle in the top-left corner. Figure 3 is a large square containing a small black circle in the bottom-right corner, a small white circle in the top-right corner, and a small black circle in the top-left corner.

A large square with a black circle in the bottom-left, a white circle in the bottom-right, a black circle in the top-right, and a white circle in the top-left. (Correct answer)
A large square with a black circle in the bottom-left, a white circle in the bottom-right, and a black circle in the top-right.
A large square with only a black circle in the bottom-left corner.
A large square with a white circle in the bottom-left, a black circle in the bottom-right, a white circle in the top-right, and a black circle in the top-left.

Correct answer: A large square with a black circle in the bottom-left, a white circle in the bottom-right, a black circle in the top-right, and a white circle in the top-left.

The pattern has two rules. First, the original black circle moves 90 degrees clockwise to the next corner in each step. Second, a new circle is added in the corner that the original black circle just vacated. The color of the newly added circle alternates, starting with white, then black, then white, and so on. In Figure 4, the original black circle moves to the bottom-left. A new, white circle is added in its previous position (the bottom-right). This results in four circles in total.

Question 38: Which word is closest in meaning to FRUGAL?

Extravagant
Wasteful
Thrifty (Correct answer)
Generous

Correct answer: Thrifty

Frugal means being careful with money and resources, synonymous with thrifty.

Question 39: Passage: 'Change management is the process of transitioning individuals, teams, and organizations from a current state to a desired future state. Resistance to change is natural and predictable; the most successful change initiatives address this resistance proactively by involving stakeholders early and clearly communicating the benefits.' Which approach does the passage recommend for managing resistance to change?

Ignoring resistance and proceeding with changes quickly
Implementing changes only for highly motivated employees
Delaying change initiatives until all resistance disappears
Involving stakeholders early and communicating benefits clearly (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Involving stakeholders early and communicating benefits clearly

The passage recommends proactively addressing resistance by involving stakeholders early and communicating benefits.

Question 40: Which expression has the greatest value: 10% of 500, 20% of 240, or 50% of 100?

They are all equal
20% of 240 (48)
50% of 100 (50)
10% of 500 (50) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 10% of 500 (50)

10% of 500 = 50, 20% of 240 = 48, 50% of 100 = 50; first and third tie but 48 < 50.

Question 41: Which word is closest in meaning to JOVIAL?

Serious
Angry
Gloomy
Merry (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Merry

Jovial describes someone cheerful and friendly, which aligns with merry.

Question 42: A store sold 240 units in January, 300 in February, and 180 in March. What is the average monthly sales for this period?

280 units
260 units
240 units (Correct answer)
220 units

Correct answer: 240 units

Total = 240+300+180 = 720; average = 720÷3 = 240 units.

Question 43: An employee earns $24 per hour for the first 40 hours and 1.5 times that rate for overtime. If they work 52 hours in a week, what is their gross pay?

$1,056
$1,392 (Correct answer)
$1,464
$1,248

Correct answer: $1,392

Regular: 40 × $24 = $960. Overtime: 12 × $36 = $432. Total: $960 + $432 = $1,392.

Question 44: Some athletes are vegetarians. All vegetarians avoid red meat. What can be concluded?

Some athletes avoid red meat (Correct answer)
Vegetarians are not athletes
All athletes avoid red meat
No athletes eat red meat

Correct answer: Some athletes avoid red meat

The athletes who are vegetarians also avoid red meat, so some athletes avoid red meat.

Question 45: A company buys 400 units at $6 each and sells them at $9.50 each. What is the total profit?

$1,400 (Correct answer)
$1,600
$1,000
$1,200

Correct answer: $1,400

Profit per unit = $9.50 − $6 = $3.50; total = 400×$3.50 = $1,400.

Question 46: A car rental company charges $35 per day plus $0.20 per mile. If a customer rents for 3 days and drives 150 miles, what is the total charge?

$125
$115
$135 (Correct answer)
$105

Correct answer: $135

3×$35 = $105; 150×$0.20 = $30; total = $105 + $30 = $135.

Question 47: If a stock price increases by 20% one day and decreases by 20% the next day, what is the net percentage change from the original price?

-4% (Correct answer)
-2%
0%
+4%

Correct answer: -4%

Starting at 100: after +20% = 120. After -20% of 120 = 120×0.80 = 96. Net change: -4%.

Question 48: 'No one who was late to the meeting was given the project update. Maria was given the project update.' What must be true?

Maria was late
Maria organized the meeting
Maria was not late (Correct answer)
Maria already knew the update

Correct answer: Maria was not late

No late person got the update. Maria got the update. Therefore, Maria was not late (contrapositive reasoning).

Question 49: Select the word that is most opposite in meaning to OBSCURE:

Ambiguous
Hidden
Vague
Prominent (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Prominent

OBSCURE means not well known or difficult to understand. PROMINENT means easily noticed or widely known, making it the strongest antonym. Hidden, vague, and ambiguous all align with the meaning of obscure.

Question 50: What is affability's opposite?

Pliability
Caution
Gentleness
Impoliteness (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Impoliteness

Affability describes someone who is friendly, good-natured, and easy to talk to. The opposite of being friendly and approachable is being rude or lacking courtesy. Therefore, 'impoliteness' is the most direct antonym, representing a lack of good manners or consideration for others.

Question 51: Which is larger: 2³ × 3 or 2 × 3²?

2 × 3² is larger
They are equal
Cannot be determined
2³ × 3 is larger (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 2³ × 3 is larger

2³ × 3 = 8 × 3 = 24. 2 × 3² = 2 × 9 = 18. 24 > 18.

Question 52: Caterpillar is to butterfly as tadpole is to:

Frog (Correct answer)
Salamander
Lizard
Fish

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.

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

Time Limit

70%

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