SCAT (School and College Ability Test) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Column A: (1/3) × (1/4) | Column B: 1/16 — Which quantity is greater?

Column B is greater
The two quantities are equal
Column A is greater (Correct answer)
The relationship cannot be determined

Correct answer: Column A is greater

(1/3) × (1/4) = 1/12, and 1/12 > 1/16 because a smaller denominator means a larger fraction.

Question 2: OVEN is to BAKE as BROOM is to _______.

SWEEP (Correct answer)
DUST
FLOOR
CLEAN

Correct answer: SWEEP

The relationship is 'object to its primary function'. An OVEN's primary function is to BAKE. Similarly, a BROOM's primary function is to SWEEP. While a broom can be used for cleaning in general, 'sweep' is its most specific and direct action.

Question 3: FAMINE : STARVATION :: DROUGHT : _____

RAIN
FLOOD
HEAT
THIRST (Correct answer)

Correct answer: THIRST

A famine causes starvation due to a lack of food, just as a drought causes thirst due to a lack of water.

Question 4: After the long hike, the campers felt LETHARGIC and were slow to set up their tent. Which of the following is the best synonym for LETHARGIC?

Vigorous
Sluggish (Correct answer)
Animated
Energetic

Correct answer: Sluggish

Lethargic describes a state of being sluggish, drowsy, or lacking energy. Sluggish is the best synonym among the options provided.

Question 5: The ancient ruins were so ________ that archaeologists spent years studying them.

ordinary
familiar
fascinating (Correct answer)
insignificant

Correct answer: fascinating

Fascinating means extremely interesting, which is the logical reason archaeologists would dedicate years to their study.

Question 6: Which word is most similar in meaning to ARDENT?

Passionate (Correct answer)
Indifferent
Cool
Calm

Correct answer: Passionate

Ardent means very enthusiastic or passionate, so 'passionate' is the best synonym.

Question 7: On a strange planet, the following statements are true: All wimbles are zoodles. Some zoodles are flurgs. No flurgs are glonks. Which of the following statements must also be true?

All wimbles are flurgs.
Some wimbles are glonks.
Some zoodles are not glonks. (Correct answer)
No wimbles are zoodles.

Correct answer: Some zoodles are not glonks.

We know that some zoodles are flurgs, and we know that no flurgs are glonks. This means there is a specific group of zoodles (the ones that are also flurgs) that are definitely not glonks. Therefore, the statement 'Some zoodles are not glonks' must be true. We cannot be sure if the wimbles are part of the zoodles that are flurgs, so the other options are not guaranteed.

Question 8: Which word is most similar in meaning to VENERATE?

Despise
Question
Revere (Correct answer)
Ignore

Correct answer: Revere

Venerate means to regard with great respect and reverence, so 'revere' is the best synonym.

Question 9: A car rental costs $25 per day plus $0.15 per mile. What is the total cost for 3 days and 200 miles?

$95
$85
$105 (Correct answer)
$115

Correct answer: $105

Cost = 3 × $25 + 200 × $0.15 = $75 + $30 = $105.

Question 10: His ________ behavior in class constantly interrupted the lesson and frustrated the teacher.

cooperative
exemplary
attentive
disruptive (Correct answer)

Correct answer: disruptive

Disruptive means causing disturbance, which logically connects to interrupting lessons and frustrating the teacher.

Question 11: Compare: Column A: 2x + 3 when x = 7 | Column B: 3x − 4 when x = 5

The relationship cannot be determined
The two quantities are equal
Column B is greater
Column A is greater (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Column A is greater

Column A = 14 + 3 = 17 and Column B = 15 − 4 = 11, so Column A is greater.

Question 12: SYNTAX : LANGUAGE :: MELODY : _____

MUSIC (Correct answer)
RHYTHM
SOUND
NOTE

Correct answer: MUSIC

Syntax is a structural component of language, just as melody is a structural component of music.

Question 13: Which word is OPPOSITE in meaning to OBSTINATE?

Unyielding
Stubborn
Rigid
Compliant (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Compliant

Obstinate means stubbornly refusing to change; its antonym is 'compliant,' meaning willing to yield.

Question 14: A bicycle that normally costs $350 is on sale for 20% off. If the sales tax is 6% of the sale price, which of the following represents the final cost of the bicycle?

$280.00
$301.00
$295.40
$296.80 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: $296.80

First, calculate the discount amount: 20% of $350 is 0.20 * 350 = $70. The sale price is $350 - $70 = $280. Next, calculate the sales tax on this new price: 6% of $280 is 0.06 * 280 = $16.80. Finally, add the tax to the sale price to get the final cost: $280 + $16.80 = $296.80.

Question 15: A jacket originally costs $80 and is on sale for 35% off. What is the sale price?

$48
$56
$52 (Correct answer)
$28

Correct answer: $52

Discount = 0.35 × $80 = $28; sale price = $80 − $28 = $52.

Question 16: Which word is most nearly SIMILAR in meaning to BENEVOLENT?

Strict
Cautious
Selfish
Charitable (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Charitable

Benevolent means well-meaning and kind, which is closest in meaning to charitable.

Question 17: MARATHON : RUNNING :: REGATTA : _____

ROWING
SWIMMING
SAILING (Correct answer)
RACING

Correct answer: SAILING

A marathon is a competitive event centered on running, just as a regatta is a competitive event centered on sailing.

Question 18: Compare: Column A: the number of real solutions to x² + 1 = 0 | Column B: 0

The two quantities are equal (Correct answer)
Column A is greater
Column B is greater
The relationship cannot be determined

Correct answer: The two quantities are equal

x² + 1 = 0 has no real solutions since x² ≥ 0, so Column A = 0, which equals Column B.

Question 19: In the letter sequence A, C, E, G, ___, which letter comes next?

K
H
I (Correct answer)
J

Correct answer: I

The sequence skips every other letter of the alphabet, so after G the next is I.

Question 20: A bar graph shows monthly sales: Jan=40, Feb=55, Mar=35, Apr=70. What is the mean monthly sales?

60
50 (Correct answer)
55
45

Correct answer: 50

Mean = (40+55+35+70)/4 = 200/4 = 50.

Question 21: A rectangle has a length of 12 cm and a width of 5 cm. What is its perimeter?

24 cm
17 cm
34 cm (Correct answer)
60 cm

Correct answer: 34 cm

Perimeter = 2(length + width) = 2(12 + 5) = 2(17) = 34 cm.

Question 22: DIMINISH : INCREASE :: CONTRACT : _____

GROW
SHRINK
EXPAND (Correct answer)
REDUCE

Correct answer: EXPAND

Diminish and increase are antonyms, just as contract and expand are antonyms meaning to shrink and enlarge, respectively.

Question 23: BOTANIST : PLANTS :: ORNITHOLOGIST : ___

Birds (Correct answer)
Fish
Insects
Reptiles

Correct answer: Birds

A botanist studies plants; an ornithologist studies birds.

Question 24: Find the odd one out: 8, 27, 64, 100, 125.

125
8
100 (Correct answer)
27

Correct answer: 100

8=2³, 27=3³, 64=4³, 125=5³ are all perfect cubes, but 100=10² is only a perfect square.

Question 25: Which word is most similar in meaning to EPHEMERAL?

Eternal
Significant
Solid
Brief (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Brief

Ephemeral means lasting only a very short time, making 'brief' the closest synonym.

Question 26: decrease : increase ::

wide : shrink
shallow : deep (Correct answer)
grow : expand
reduce : reuse

Correct answer: shallow : deep

The analogy 'decrease : increase' establishes an antonym relationship, where the two words have opposite meanings. To decrease is the opposite of to increase. Similarly, 'shallow : deep' presents a pair of antonyms, as shallow is the opposite of deep in terms of vertical extent.

Question 27: Four children—Mark, Nina, Omar, and Pam—each own exactly one pet: a cat, a dog, a fish, or a bird. Use the following clues to determine who owns the dog: 1. Pam's pet can fly. 2. Mark's pet does not have fur. 3. Nina is allergic to cats.

Nina (Correct answer)
Omar
Pam
Mark

Correct answer: Nina

From clue 1, Pam owns the bird. From clue 2, Mark's pet does not have fur; since the bird is taken, Mark must own the fish. From clue 3, Nina is allergic to cats, so she cannot own the cat. The only pets left are the dog and the cat. Since Nina cannot have the cat, she must own the dog. This leaves Omar with the cat.

Question 28: Column A: 11/12 | Column B: 8/9 — Which quantity is greater?

The two quantities are equal
Column A is greater (Correct answer)
The relationship cannot be determined
Column B is greater

Correct answer: Column A is greater

With common denominator 36: 11/12 = 33/36 and 8/9 = 32/36, so Column A is greater.

Question 29: SCALPEL : SURGEON :: GAVEL : _____

DOCTOR
JUDGE (Correct answer)
LAWYER
CARPENTER

Correct answer: JUDGE

A scalpel is the primary tool of a surgeon, just as a gavel is the primary tool of a judge.

Question 30: A tank holds 5 gallons of water. How many fluid ounces is this? (1 gallon = 128 fl oz)

1,280
640 (Correct answer)
960
320

Correct answer: 640

Multiply gallons by 128: 5 × 128 = 640 fluid ounces.

SCAT (School and College Ability Test)

The SCAT is a Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth above-level assessment for academically talented students in grades 2–11, measuring verbal reasoning through word analogies and mathematical reasoning through quantitative comparisons.

Questions

30 min

Time Limit

70%

To Pass

Checking for saved progress...

Exam Rules

You can skip questions and return to them later
Flag questions for review before submitting
No feedback shown until you submit the entire exam
Unanswered questions count as wrong — answer everything
10 pretest questions are mixed in and don't affect your score
Timer auto-submits when time runs out
Your progress is auto-saved every 30 seconds