Vista Equity Partners Assessment Test (CCAT & Personality) – Practice Tips to Score High

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Vista Equity is a great workplace to boost your career, but getting in has become extremely hard in recent years.

The first tough challenge in the hiring process is the CCAT (and the personality test that follows), in which you MUST score very high to advance to the next hiring step.

This page will strive to give you everything needed to increase your chances of scoring high and getting invited to the interview rounds.

So, without further ado, let’s get started:

What Is on the Vista Equity Partners Assessment Test?

The Vista Equity Partners online assessment is the initial screening step after submitting your resume. It comprises a 15 minute-50 questions cognitive test named Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT) and a personality test named EPP. You must pass both tests to advance to the interview and Superday rounds.

The tests are taken on Criteria’s platform, the On-demand Assessment. If you’re applying for one of Vista Equity’s portfolio companies, be aware that many also use the CCAT and the EPP. To determine if the portfolio company you’re applying for uses these tests, visit this page.

To pass the CCAT, you need to score in the highest percentiles, as there are plenty of excellent candidates who compete for the same position as you.

Below, we’ll go over each test in detail (CCAT and EPP) and give you practice tips and advice to increase your chances of acing them.

The Vista CCAT Test

As mentioned above, the CCAT includes 50 questions you must answer within 15 minutes. The 50 questions are divided into four categories: Math, Logic, Spatial Reasoning, and Verbal Ability.

Less than 1% of test-takers actually manage to answer all 50 questions correctly, making it almost impossible to reach the perfect score of 50.

While Vista doesn’t expect you to get this rare score, you will need to score very high (more on that later on).

The CCAT is NOT an IQ or intelligence test, contrary to some beliefs. The CCAT measures cognitive skills important for employers, such as your ability to process information, learn quickly, and apply new information to solve problems.

Now, let’s get to know the assessment sections, so you’ll know exactly what to expect on test day.

Take this free CCAT practice test for additional CCAT practice questions that resemble the real test.

CCAT Math Questions

Math questions make up the largest chunk of the CCAT test, and you’re expected to see 17 to 18 math questions on the test.

CCAT’s math questions are split into three different sub-categories:

  • Word Problems
  • Number and Letter Series
  • Tables, Charts, and Graphs

Try the following Number Series sample question that resembles the format of questions you’ll see on the real test:

What would be the next number in the following series?

5 … 20 … 45 … 80 … 125 … ?

A. 92
B. 112
C. 135
D. 180
E. 190

The correct answer is (D) – 180

  5        20       45       80       125      180

5*12    5*22    5*32    5*42    5*52     5*62

The series in this question follows the pattern: 5*n2, while n= 1, 2, 3 …

CCAT Spatial Reasoning Questions

CCAT’s spatial reasoning questions measure your ability to mentally picture objects in 2 or 3 dimensions and draw conclusions about those objects from limited information.

You’ll encounter between 11 to 12 spatial reasoning questions that come in three different types:

  • Next in Series
  • Odd One Out
  • Matrices

Let’s see an example for an Odd One Out question. In this question type, your task is to find which of the figures doesn’t match the characteristics of the other four. This figure will be the odd one out.

Choose the odd one out.

CCAT Spatial Reasoning Odd One Out Sample Question

The correct answer is 2.

Each square contains 16 circles, half are black, and half are white. The common feature among all options (except for option 2) is that each square has at least one black row/column.

One may claim that option 5 is the odd-one-out since the top-left corner is white, while black is in the rest of the options. However, using the same reasoning, one may find option 3 to be the odd-one-out since it is the only option in which the bottom right corner is white.

If you find two options with a different feature than the rest of the options, but these two features fall into the same category, they mutually exclude one another from being marked as the odd-one-out. In such a case, continue searching for an additional different feature.

CCAT Verbal Questions

CCAT’s verbal questions mainly measure your vocabulary level and your ability to identify relations between words. You’ll likely see 16 to 17 verbal questions on the test that come in four types:

  • Word Analogies
  • Sentence Completion
  • Antonyms
  • Attention to Detail

Try the following Word Analogy sample question:

VOWS is to WEDDING as:

A. POEM is to LETTERS
B. CONCERT is to SONG
C. TEXT is to BOOK
D. WORDS is to DIALOGUE

The correct answer is D.

First, let’s format a sentence that’s true for the original analogy.

Vows are exchanged at a wedding.

Now, let’s go over the answer options:

Poem : letters is incorrect because poems comprise letters (and words), but they are not “exchanged” in letters.

Concert : song is incorrect because songs are not exchanged in a concert, and the order of the words is reversed.

Book : text is incorrect because a book contains text, but it is not exchanged.

That leaves us with answer (D) as the correct one since words are exchanged in a dialogue.

CCAT Logic Questions

CCAT’s logic questions evaluate your critical thinking and deductive reasoning skills. You’ll likely encounter only a few of these question types, making this category the smallest one on the test.

The logic questions are divided into three sub-categories:

  • Seating arrangements
  • Syllogism (deductive reasoning)
  • Error checking

Let’s see an example of a Syllogism question:


Assume the first two statements are true.

Is the final statement: 1) True, 2) False, or 3) Uncertain based on the information provided?

All athletes are hard workers.

Alice is not an athlete.

Alice is not a hard worker.

1) True
2) False
3) Uncertain

The correct answer is: Uncertain.

You can deduce from the first statement that all athletes are hard workers, but you do not have any information about non-athletes.

Therefore, according to the second statement, you cannot conclude anything regarding Alice, which is not an athlete.

The sample questions above are of medium-level difficulty. As you progress through the test, the questions become more challenging and take longer to answer. To prepare for these tougher questions, visit this guide that covers the hardest CCAT questions (including examples).

Vista’s Proctored CCAT

If you pass the CCAT, the personality assessment, and the phone interview rounds afterward, you’ll be invited for the Superday.

On this day, except for tough panel and one-on-one interviews, you’ll likely need to sit a proctored CCAT.

This test version will be an observed one, either by actual proctors or using a webcam.

If you score significantly lower on this proctored CCAT, you might have a problem. Because it could imply to your recruiters that you cheated on your first test (even if you didn’t).

So, if you make it to the Superday, set aside time to prepare for the CCAT again.

Take these CCAT practice tests to improve your skills and get a feel for the actual test.

The Vista CCAT Scores Explained

The CCAT scores are divided into three:

  • Raw score: the raw score is the number of correct answers (between 0 to 50). So, if you answered 35 questions correctly out of 50, your raw score will be 35.
  • Percentile score: measures how your score compares to others who have taken the test. For example, if your percentile score is 90%, it means that you scored better than 90% of the people who’ve taken this test.
  • Sub-category score: Each of the sub-categories on the CCAT (Spatial Reasoning, Verbal Ability, Math & Logic) has its own percentile score. This means that Vista’s recruiters can see how you performed in each sub-category and how it compares to other candidates.

How to Score High on the Vista CCAT Test?

As mentioned above, you must score high on the CCAT to advance to the interview stages.

How high?

For many positions, we’re talking about a score of 40 and above (!).

In fact, the CCAT score is so important that even a target school graduation and a top BB internship completion won’t help if you don’t reach the cutoff score.

Fortunately, there are ways to increase your chances of scoring high on the CCAT, even if the test is just a few days ahead.

Since the CCAT doesn’t measure your IQ or raw intelligence, you can use different techniques to answer questions faster and more accurately.

We recommend getting a CCAT prep course that includes full-length practice tests, explanations, and time-saving tactics. This will enable you to (1) prepare with test-like conditions (15 minute-50 question simulations) and (2) learn efficient solving methods using the answer explanations.

After comparing several test prep companies, we found that JobTestPrep’s CCAT practice kit has the best value for money.

And it can also help you further down the road when you prepare for the proctored CCAT on Superday.

Eventually, it’s a rather small investment to ensure you give yourself the best chance of success.

Take these full-length CCAT practice simulations to help you pass the test.

The Vista Equity Partners Personality Test

For most positions at Vista Equity Partners, you’ll receive a personality test named EPP in addition to the CCAT.

The Employee Personality Profile (EPP) includes 140 items and takes about 10 minutes to complete. It measures 12 personality traits that give insights into your work style and how you interact with colleagues, management, and customers.

Here are the characteristics that it evaluates:

EPP Personality Test 12 Key Traits

The responses for each item are rated on a scale of 1 to 5, from ‘Always True’ to ‘Always False.’ Here’s an example from the actual EPP:

“I like to be in a career where things are always changing.”

  1. Always True
  2. Mostly True
  3. Sometimes True and Sometimes False
  4. Mostly False
  5. Always False

JobTestPrep offers a combined practice kit for the CCAT and the EPP personality test.

Take full-length practice simulations for the CCAT & EPP tests.

What to Expect on the Rest of Vista Equity Partner’s Hiring Process?

A typical recruitment process at Vista Equity Partners is comprised of:

  1. Application
  2. Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT) and EPP personality test
  3. First-round phone interview
  4. Second round phone interview
  5. Virtual/on-site Superday with several interviews and proctored CCAT
  6. Background check and drug test (not for all positions)
  7. Job offer

Interview Questions Examples (and What They Have to Do with the Personality Test)

Some of the interview questions they’ll ask you at Vista Equity Partners are directly related to your responses on the personality test (EPP).

This means that the recruiters will further investigate some personality traits that you presented on the test.

(this also emphasizes why you shouldn’t lie on this test)

For example, if you scored high on the Extroversion scale, the interviewer might ask you to:

“Talk about an example of when you had to be proactive and outgoing for a work project to be successful.”

And if you scored high on the Competitiveness scale, you might be asked:

“In the past, how have you measured your own performance against that of your peers?”

So, when you move on to the interview rounds, try to think about the responses you provided in the personality assessment and align them with the answers you give to your interviewers.

Other Vista Subsidiaries That Use the CCAT Test

Here’s an updated list (for 2023) of the companies owned by Vista Equity. Most of these companies administer the CCAT and the personality test to their candidates.

So, if you’re applying to one of these portfolio companies, make sure you prepare for these assessments beforehand.

AccelyaAcquiaAdvancedAGDATAAlegeus
AlertMediaAllvue SystemsApplauseApptioAptean
ARCOSCentralSquare TechnologiesComplySciCventDatto
DispatchDriftEABEagleViewEllucian
ESO SolutionsFinastraFour Winds InteractiveFusion Risk ManagementGainsight
GranicusGreenway HealthGreenway HealthiN2LInfoblox
Integral Ad ScienceJamfJio PlatformsKazooKhoros
KiboLogicMonitormablMediaoceanMenlo Security
MINDBODYNAVEX GlobalNavigaOlivePing Identity
PipedrivePlanSourcePluralsightPower FactorsPowerSchool
QuickbaseRadarFirstSchooxSecureLinkSmartBear
Social SolutionsSoleraSonatypeStats PerformTIBCO
TOMIATribute TechnologyTrintechTripleLiftTripleseat
Upside Business TravelVena SolutionsVivid SeatsXactlyZapproved
Vista Equity Portfolio Companies 2023

Conclusion

This was an in-depth guide for the Vista Equity Partners assessments – the CCAT test and the personality assessment.

You learned what to expect on these tests, tried four sample questions, and saw our recommended practice materials to increase your odds of scoring high.

Additionally, you saw how the CCAT scoring works and learned what the interviews have to do with your personality test results.

If you’d like to learn more about the CCAT test and how to prepare for it, visit our CCAT test prep guide.