Revelian Cognitive Ability Test (RCAT) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: You are facing north. You turn 90° right, then 180°, then 45° left. What direction are you now facing?

South-west
North-east
South-east (Correct answer)
North-west

Correct answer: South-east

North → East (90° right) → West (180°) → South-west (45° left) — actually: East+180°=West; West−45°=South-west.

Question 2: In a sample of 200 people, 60 like tea only, 80 like coffee only, and 40 like both. How many like neither?

20 (Correct answer)
40
80
60

Correct answer: 20

Those who like tea or coffee or both = 60+80+40 = 180; neither = 200−180 = 20.

Question 3: A table shows a company's profit over 4 years: Year 1=$50k, Year 2=$65k, Year 3=$55k, Year 4=$80k. What was the average annual increase?

$30k
$15k
$10k (Correct answer)
$8k

Correct answer: $10k

Total increase over 3 intervals = $80k − $50k = $30k; average annual increase = $30k ÷ 3 = $10k.

Question 4: A factory produces 240 units in 8 hours. If the production rate increases by 25%, how many units will be produced in 6 hours?

225
225 (Correct answer)
180
250

Correct answer: 225

The new rate is 240/8 × 1.25 = 37.5 units/hour, so in 6 hours: 37.5 × 6 = 225 units.

Question 5: If you rearrange the letters in 'NEW DOOR,' you can make one word. What is it?

SNOOZE
WONDER
WOODEN (Correct answer)
NEWBORN

Correct answer: WOODEN

The letters N, E, W, D, O, O, R rearrange to spell WOODEN.

Question 6: A dataset has a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10. Approximately what percentage of data falls between 40 and 60?

95%
50%
68% (Correct answer)
99.7%

Correct answer: 68%

40 and 60 are each one standard deviation from the mean; the 68-95-99.7 rule states ~68% falls within ±1 SD.

Question 7: Select the word that is the most similar in meaning to "abandon."

Retain
Assist
Create
Forsake (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Forsake

Forsake" means to give up or leave, which is similar in meaning to "abandon.

Question 8: A staircase is built with 1 cube on the top step, 2 cubes on the second, and 3 on the third. How many cubes are in a 5-step staircase?

10
15 (Correct answer)
12
20

Correct answer: 15

1+2+3+4+5 = 15 cubes in a 5-step staircase.

Question 9: If you fold a paper in half twice and cut a small square from the center of the folded corner, how many holes appear when unfolded?

2
1
4 (Correct answer)
8

Correct answer: 4

Folding twice creates 4 layers; cutting once through all layers produces 4 holes when unfolded.

Question 10: Three boxes are labeled 'Apples,' 'Oranges,' and 'Mixed.' All labels are wrong. You pick one fruit from the 'Mixed' box and it is an apple. What does the 'Apples' box contain?

Cannot be determined
Oranges (Correct answer)
Apples
Mixed (apples and oranges)

Correct answer: Oranges

The 'Mixed' box must be either pure apples or pure oranges — it's apples; 'Apples' can't have apples (wrong label) so it has oranges; 'Oranges' gets the mixed fruit.

Question 11: A rod is bent into a U-shape and viewed from the front — it appears as a rectangle. What does it look like from the top?

A single line (Correct answer)
An L-shape
A rectangle
Three parallel lines (two ends and the base)

Correct answer: A single line

Viewed from directly above a U-shape lying flat, you see a single horizontal line (the base).

Question 12: A graph shows temperature readings at 6am, 9am, 12pm, 3pm, 6pm as 10°C, 14°C, 22°C, 25°C, 18°C. What was the range?

22°C
25°C
12°C
15°C (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 15°C

Range = maximum − minimum = 25 − 10 = 15°C.

Question 13: Some doctors are surgeons. All surgeons are skilled. Therefore:

All skilled people are doctors
Some doctors are skilled (Correct answer)
All doctors are skilled
No doctors are unskilled

Correct answer: Some doctors are skilled

Some doctors are surgeons; all surgeons are skilled; therefore some doctors (those who are surgeons) are skilled.

Question 14: A frequency table shows: Score 60–69: 5 students; 70–79: 12 students; 80–89: 18 students; 90–99: 10 students. What percentage scored 80 or above?

62.2% (Correct answer)
75%
51.1%
60%

Correct answer: 62.2%

Students scoring 80+: 18+10=28; total=45; 28/45×100 ≈ 62.2%.

Question 15: A piece of square paper is folded in half diagonally to form a triangle, then folded in half again. What fraction of the original area does the final shape represent?

1/8
1/4 (Correct answer)
1/2
3/4

Correct answer: 1/4

Each fold halves the visible area: fold 1 = 1/2, fold 2 = 1/4.

Question 16: A logic gate outputs TRUE only when both inputs are TRUE. Input A = TRUE, Input B = FALSE. What is the output?

Undefined
Either TRUE or FALSE
FALSE (Correct answer)
TRUE

Correct answer: FALSE

An AND gate requires both inputs to be TRUE; since B is FALSE, the output is FALSE.

Question 17: A form requires dates in the format DD/MM/YYYY. Which of the following entries is correctly formatted?

14-03-2025
03/14/2025
2025/14/03
14/03/2025 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 14/03/2025

'14/03/2025' places the day first, then the month, then the year, separated by forward slashes as required.

Question 18: No fish are mammals. All whales are mammals. Therefore:

No whales are fish (Correct answer)
All fish are whales
Some mammals are fish
Some whales are fish

Correct answer: No whales are fish

Since no fish are mammals and all whales are mammals, no whales can be fish.

Question 19: A table shows test scores: 72, 85, 91, 68, 79, 85, 90, 77. What is the median score?

82 (Correct answer)
79
80.9
85

Correct answer: 82

Sorted: 68,72,77,79,85,85,90,91; median = (79+85)/2 = 164/2 = 82.

Question 20: Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?

He doesn’t know the answer. (Correct answer)
She don’t like the new movie.
They was going to the park.
We is ready to leave.

Correct answer: He doesn’t know the answer.

This sentence uses correct subject-verb agreement.

Question 21: A cube is painted red on all faces and then cut into 27 equal smaller cubes. How many small cubes have paint on exactly two faces?

8
24
6
12 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 12

Edge cubes (not corners) have exactly 2 painted faces; a 3×3×3 cube has 12 edge cubes.

Question 22: What is the purpose of a hydraulic press?

To measure pressure
To compress gases
To reduce friction
To lift heavy objects using fluid pressure (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To lift heavy objects using fluid pressure

A hydraulic press uses fluid pressure to lift or compress heavy objects.

Question 23: Choose the word that best completes the sentence:

abandon
complete (Correct answer)
neglect
delay

Correct answer: complete

Without the sentence, we infer the question asks for the best word to complete it. 'Complete' means to finish or bring to an end, or to make whole. This word is generally used when an action or task needs to be finalized or made entire, making it a versatile and common choice for sentence completion.

Question 24: Which type of gear system allows for the change of direction by 90 degrees?

Helical gear
Bevel gear (Correct answer)
Spur gear
Worm gear

Correct answer: Bevel gear

Bevel gears are designed to change the direction of a drive by 90 degrees.

Question 25: Which figure does NOT belong: a circle with a dot inside, a square with a dot inside, a triangle with a dot inside, a pentagon with a dot inside, or a hexagon with a line inside?

Triangle with a dot inside
Hexagon with a line inside (Correct answer)
Square with a dot inside
Pentagon with a dot inside

Correct answer: Hexagon with a line inside

All other shapes contain a dot inside; the hexagon contains a line, making it the odd one out.

Question 26: What is the main purpose of an index in a book?

To provide a summary of the book
To list the chapters
To provide an introduction
To list topics and their page numbers (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To list topics and their page numbers

An index in a book serves as an alphabetical list of key topics, names, and concepts discussed within the text. Its main purpose is to help readers quickly locate specific information by providing the corresponding page numbers where each entry can be found. This allows for efficient navigation and research within the book.

Question 27: Which of the following serial numbers contains exactly 3 letters and 5 numbers?

12ABC345
A1B2C345
ABC12345 (Correct answer)
AB12345C

Correct answer: ABC12345

'ABC12345' has exactly 3 letters (A, B, C) and 5 digits (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), matching the requirement precisely.

Question 28: If p = 4 and q = −3, what is the value of 2p² − 3q²?

−59
−5
59
5 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 5

2(16) − 3(9) = 32 − 27 = 5.

Question 29: A rectangular field is 120 m long and 80 m wide. If the length is increased by 10% and the width by 5%, by what percentage does the area increase?

15%
16%
10.5%
15.5% (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 15.5%

New area = 132 × 84 = 11,088 m²; original = 9,600 m²; increase = 1,488/9,600 = 15.5%.

Question 30: A survey found that everyone who bought product X also bought product Y. 40 people bought Y. 25 bought X. How many people bought Y but NOT X?

40
15 (Correct answer)
25
65

Correct answer: 15

All 25 X-buyers also bought Y, leaving 40 − 25 = 15 who bought Y but not X.

Question 31: Which number correctly completes the series: 3, 6, 11, 18, 27, ___?

40
33
38 (Correct answer)
36

Correct answer: 38

Differences increase by 2 each time (3, 5, 7, 9, 11), so 27 + 11 = 38.

Question 32: Two products had sales of $30,000 and $20,000 last year. This year Product A grew by 10% and Product B by 20%. What is the new combined total?

$60,000
$57,000 (Correct answer)
$56,000
$55,000

Correct answer: $57,000

A: $30,000 × 1.10 = $33,000; B: $20,000 × 1.20 = $24,000; total = $57,000.

Question 33: A statement says: 'If you study, you will pass.' Which is the logically equivalent contrapositive?

If you did not pass, you did not study (Correct answer)
If you pass, you studied
If you did not study, you did not pass
If you did not study, you will pass

Correct answer: If you did not pass, you did not study

The contrapositive of 'If P then Q' is 'If not Q then not P': If you did not pass, you did not study.

Question 34: A series alternates between two rules: ×2 and +3. Starting from 1: 1, 2, 5, 10, 13, ___?

16
28
23
26 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 26

Pattern: ×2=2, +3=5, ×2=10, +3=13, ×2=26.

Question 35: If 5 workers complete a job in 12 days, how many days will 8 workers take to complete the same job?

9.6 days
6 days
8 days
7.5 days (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 7.5 days

Total work = 5 × 12 = 60 worker-days; 8 workers need 60/8 = 7.5 days.

Question 36: A salesperson earns a base salary of $1,200/month plus 8% commission on sales. If they earn $2,440 in a month, what were their total sales?

$15,000
$15,500 (Correct answer)
$14,500
$16,000

Correct answer: $15,500

Commission = $2,440 − $1,200 = $1,240; sales = $1,240 ÷ 0.08 = $15,500.

Question 37: In a code, A=1, B=2, C=3... If 'CAB' = 312, what does 'FACE' equal?

6135 (Correct answer)
6315
6013
1356

Correct answer: 6135

F=6, A=1, C=3, E=5, so FACE = 6135.

Question 38: A pipe fills a tank in 6 hours and another empties it in 9 hours. If both are open simultaneously, how long to fill an empty tank?

12 hours
15 hours
18 hours (Correct answer)
24 hours

Correct answer: 18 hours

Net fill rate = 1/6 − 1/9 = 3/18 − 2/18 = 1/18 tank per hour; time = 18 hours.

Question 39: Six tasks must be completed in sequence. Task 3 cannot start until Tasks 1 and 2 are done. Task 5 cannot start until Task 3 is done. What is the minimum number of tasks that must precede Task 5?

5
4
3 (Correct answer)
2

Correct answer: 3

Tasks 1 and 2 must precede Task 3, and Task 3 must precede Task 5 — so Tasks 1, 2, and 3 must precede Task 5 (3 tasks).

Question 40: A pie chart shows: Category A = 40%, B = 25%, C = 20%, D = 15%. If the total is 200 items, how many are in Category B?

40
25
50 (Correct answer)
80

Correct answer: 50

25% of 200 = 0.25 × 200 = 50 items.

Question 41: Which argument is logically valid? A: All A are B; X is B; therefore X is A. B: All A are B; X is A; therefore X is B.

Argument B only (Correct answer)
Argument A only
Both A and B
Neither

Correct answer: Argument B only

Argument B is valid (modus ponens); Argument A commits the fallacy of affirming the consequent.

Question 42: Amy is taller than Ben. Ben is taller than Carl. Dan is shorter than Carl. Who is the tallest?

Ben
Dan
Amy (Correct answer)
Carl

Correct answer: Amy

The order from tallest to shortest is Amy > Ben > Carl > Dan, so Amy is tallest.

Question 43: If it rains, the match is cancelled. The match was not cancelled. What can you conclude?

The match may still be cancelled later
Nothing can be concluded
It rained
It did not rain (Correct answer)

Correct answer: It did not rain

By modus tollens: if Rain → Cancelled, and NOT Cancelled, then NOT Rain.

Question 44: In a 3×3 grid, the number of shapes in each cell increases left-to-right and top-to-bottom. Row 1: 1, 2, 3. Row 2: 2, 3, 4. Row 3: 3, 4, ___?

7
6
4
5 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 5

Each row starts one higher than the previous, and each row adds 1 per column, so row 3, column 3 = 5.

Question 45: A table shows production: Mon=120, Tue=135, Wed=115, Thu=140, Fri=130. What day had production closest to the weekly average?

Monday
Wednesday
Friday (Correct answer)
Tuesday

Correct answer: Friday

Average = (120+135+115+140+130)/5 = 640/5 = 128; Friday (130) is closest to 128.

Question 46: Column 1 lists: Anderson, Blackwell, Chen, Delgado. Column 2 lists: Blackwell, Chen, Anderson, Fitzroy. Which name appears in Column 1 but NOT in Column 2?

Chen
Anderson
Delgado (Correct answer)
Blackwell

Correct answer: Delgado

'Delgado' appears only in Column 1; 'Fitzroy' appears only in Column 2; the other three names appear in both columns.

Question 47: If a 10N force is applied to a lever 2 meters from the fulcrum, what is the torque produced?

40 Nm
20 Nm (Correct answer)
10 Nm
5 Nm

Correct answer: 20 Nm

Torque is calculated as force times distance from the fulcrum: 10 𝑁 × 2 𝑚 = 20 𝑁 𝑚 0N×2m=20Nm.

Question 48: A store marks up an item by 50% and then offers a 20% discount. What percentage of the original price does the customer pay?

120% (Correct answer)
125%
110%
130%

Correct answer: 120%

1.50 × 0.80 = 1.20, so the customer pays 120% of the original price.

Question 49: Choose the word that best completes the analogy: Book is to Read as Knife is to ____

Write
Sharpen
Cut (Correct answer)
Eat

Correct answer: Cut

A book is used for reading, and a knife is used for cutting.

Question 50: Five people sit in a row: Adam, Beth, Carl, Dana, Eve. Adam is not at either end. Beth sits next to Carl. Eve is at one end. Dana is not next to Adam. Who could sit next to Adam?

Beth only
Dana
Eve
Beth or Carl (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Beth or Carl

Eve is at one end, Adam not at ends, Dana not next to Adam — so Adam's neighbors must be from {Beth, Carl}.

Question 51: A 3D cube is unfolded into a net. If the top face has a star, the front face has a circle, and the left face has a triangle, which face is directly opposite to the star?

Front face
Right face
Bottom face (Correct answer)
Back face

Correct answer: Bottom face

In a standard cube, the top face is directly opposite the bottom face.

Revelian Cognitive Ability Test (RCAT)

The Revelian Cognitive Ability Test (RCAT) measures general cognitive ability across verbal, numerical, and abstract reasoning domains. It is widely used by employers in Australia and New Zealand to assess candidates' potential to learn, adapt, and solve workplace problems.

Questions

20 min

Time Limit

70%

To Pass

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Unanswered questions count as wrong — answer everything
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