Cognitive Ability Test
The Cognitive Ability test has no pass mark: your score sets your rank among job applicants. We've handpicked 545 questions covering most topics on the latest syllabus, to help you push for a top score before test day!
Try 10 free questions and see your levelTake a full mock exam and check your level
- 545 questions in the bank
- 100 questions in 125 min per mock
- 54 flashcards
Past exam questions with every option explained
If your exam were today, would you pass?
Try 10 free questions without signing up. Get your score and find your weak areas as soon as you finish.
ما مرادف كلمة «اللَّمَم»؟
All 10 free questions with answers and an explanation for every option
What you get
- 545questions in the bankPractise with the answer shown right away, or sit a full timed mock
- 4unitsSplit by the exam syllabus
- 54flashcardsTo lock in terms and definitions
- 71quick review pointsEach unit in a few key lines
Unit map
- 01Verbal Ability30 questions
- 02Quantitative Ability35 questions
- 03Reasoning Ability20 questions
- 04Spatial Ability15 questions
Exam facts
Cognitive Ability Test — Number of questions: 100 questions. Exam time: 125 minutes. Pass mark: No pass mark; scores are used to compare applicants. Calculator: Not allowed. Exam fee: SAR 200 (early registration), SAR 250 (late registration). Next test: 6 – 10 December 2026. Source: Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC) (Last verified: 2026-10-18). Question bank: full mock exams of 100 questions in 125 minutes, like the real test with a result for every unit, plus 545 explained questions across 4 units, every option explained, a review of your mistakes, and two ways to practise: see the answer right away, or sit a full timed mock. Free questions: a 10-question diagnostic test covering the main units, no sign-up; at the end you get your score and your weakest units.
- Exam language
- Arabic
- Number of questions
- 100 questions Source
- Exam time
- 125 minutes Source
- Pass mark
- No pass mark; scores are used to compare applicants Source
- Calculator
- Not allowed Source
- Exam fee
- SAR 200 (early registration), SAR 250 (late registration) Source
- Registration
- Registration has been open since 7 September 2026; late registration starts on 5 November 2026 (SAR 200, then SAR 250) Source
- Retakes
- 7 times within 3 years, and an eighth attempt three years after your first test Source
- Validity
- Five years from the test date Source
Last verified: 2026-10-18
How to register
- Go to ETEC's e-services portal (e-services.etec.gov.sa) and open your beneficiary profile, or create an account if you do not have one.
- Choose the Cognitive Ability Test, pick the format (paper or computer-based) and an available date, then pay the fee: SAR 200 in the early period and SAR 250 in the late period.
- After paying you can delete or change the booking up to 72 hours before a paper test and 48 hours before a computer-based test.
- On test day bring an original, valid, plastic ID card with a clear photo: national ID, iqama for non-Saudis, a paper passport or a Saudi driving licence. Work ID cards and university student cards are not accepted. For the paper test, know your seat number.
- Your result is valid for five calendar years from the test date, and you may sit the test 7 times within 3 years.
Exam body
Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC): Official website: Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC)
Study guides
- Cognitive Ability Test Content: The Four Abilities, Their Weights and Question Types
- Registering for the Cognitive Ability Test: Steps, Fees, Dates and ID
- Who Needs the Cognitive Ability Test? Target Jobs and How Your Score Is Used
- Cognitive Ability Test Study Plan: What to Study by Days Left
- Cognitive Ability Test Day: Arrival, Hall Rules, Results, Objections and Retakes
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are there and how long is the test?
100 multiple-choice questions in 5 sections of 20 questions each, in 2 hours 5 minutes, for both the paper and the computer-based test. The test is in Arabic only and calculators are not allowed.
Can I try Cognitive Ability questions for free?
Yes. Free questions: a 10-question diagnostic test covering the main units, no sign-up; at the end you get your score and your weakest units. The free practice test page lists the same questions with answers and an explanation for every option. The rest of the questions and the full mock exams come with a pass from SAR 26.
What makes this Cognitive Ability question bank different?
Question bank: full mock exams of 100 questions in 125 minutes, like the real test with a result for every unit, plus 545 explained questions across 4 units, every option explained, a review of your mistakes, and two ways to practise: see the answer right away, or sit a full timed mock. Every question is reviewed and referenced, ready to practise on your phone. Try the free questions and read the explanations before buying full access.
What abilities does the test measure?
Four abilities according to ETEC's page: verbal 30%, quantitative 35%, reasoning (deductive and inductive) 20% and spatial 15%.
What is the pass mark?
There is no pass mark. ETEC says scores do not mean pass or fail; they are a basis for comparing job applicants, so the higher your score, the better your ranking.
Who needs to take this test?
Applicants for administrative jobs, whether for appointment or for comparison in promotions, on the general scale of the Saudi human resources system, except health and education jobs. Ministries, authorities, universities and other bodies that require it use the results.
How many times can I sit the test, and how long is the result valid?
You may sit the test 7 times within 3 years, and an eighth attempt is allowed three years after your first test. Your result is valid for five calendar years from the test date.
When is the next test?
According to ETEC's page, the next sitting is the computer-based test on 6–10 December 2026. Registration has been open since 7 September 2026 and late registration starts on 5 November 2026.
Is my mock exam score an official result?
No. Scores on this site are for practice only and are not an official result. This site is independent and is not affiliated with ETEC, Qiyas or any government body. They do show where you'd stand if the test were today: the full mock exam has the real question count and time, and your score is split by part of the exam so you can see where you lose points.
Is this an official site, and how do I pay?
It is an independent site, not part of Qiyas or any government body, and every question is reviewed before it is published. You pay once, with no automatic renewal, through Waffo Pancake (the merchant of record) by Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and your statement shows "WAFFO". If you were charged twice or the pass did not open, email support@saudiexams.com.
Study material sample: Verbal Ability
Summary
Verbal ability measures understanding word meanings and using words effectively, and grasping the relations between words and the meanings within a sentence, paragraph or written text. It makes up 30% of the test, about 30 of the 100 questions. This unit covers five question types: synonyms (choosing the word closest in meaning to the given word), antonyms (choosing the word opposite in meaning), sentence completion (choosing the word or words that make the sentence sound in meaning and structure), verbal analogies and word relations (finding the relation between a pair of words and a matching pair, or picking the odd word out), and reading comprehension (understanding a short text and answering questions on main idea, details, inference, word meaning and title). The test is offered in Arabic only, so preparation centres on formal Arabic vocabulary, linking words and clues from context.
What the exam focuses on
- Synonyms: the target words are often formal, less common words; choose the word that can replace it in a sentence without changing the meaning, not one that is merely related to the same topic.
- Antonyms: pin down the word's exact meaning first and predict its opposite before reading the options, then eliminate any option that is a synonym; a synonym placed among the options is the most common trap.
- Sentence completion: linking words set the direction; contrast words (lakinna, baynama, raghma, bal) call for an opposing meaning, while cause and addition words (li'anna, lidhalika, fa-, wa) call for a consistent meaning.
Show 5 more
- Sentences with two or three blanks: start with the blank you are surest about, eliminate every option that does not fit it, then read the whole sentence with the remaining option to check.
- Verbal analogies: write a precise sentence linking the two words of the given pair, then apply it to each option in the same order; the option for which the same sentence holds true is correct.
- Odd one out: look for the most specific feature shared by three words that excludes the fourth; if more than one grouping works, choose the more specific one.
- Reading comprehension: read the questions before the passage, mark their key words, then look for the answer in the passage itself, not in your general knowledge.
- Time management: the test is 100 questions in 2 hours 5 minutes, about 75 seconds per question on average; vocabulary questions go quickly, so save time for the passage questions.
Common traps
- Confusing two words spelled alike but voweled and meant differently, such as al-jalad (endurance, fortitude) and al-jild (skin); when the word appears without vowel marks, test both meanings against the options.
- In antonym questions a synonym is placed among the options: the opposite of al-wahan (weakness) is 'strength', while 'feebleness' is its synonym, not its opposite.
- Choosing a word from the same field instead of the synonym: the synonym of al-saghab is 'hunger', while 'food' is related to it but is not a synonym.
Show 5 more
- In sentence completion an option may fit the meaning but break the structure: a word that does not agree in gender or number with what precedes it, does not suit the accompanying preposition, or fits one blank but not the other.
- Reversing the order in analogies: 'pen : writer' is a tool-to-user relation, so 'surgeon : scalpel' is reversed and does not match; the right pattern is 'scalpel : surgeon'.
- Stating a vague analogy relation such as 'they are connected' makes several options fit; make the relation specific (part of a whole, tool and user, cause and effect) so only one option remains.
- In reading comprehension: choosing a statement that is true in real life but not stated in the passage, or one with absolute wording such as 'always', 'all' or 'only' that goes beyond what the passage says.
- Negative questions such as 'Which statement is false?' or 'Which was not mentioned in the passage?': a hasty reader treats them as asking for the true statement, so underline the negative word before answering.
Try the flashcards
Tap a card to see the answer
About how many questions does verbal ability take up in the test?
About 30 of the 100 questions, since its official weight is 30%.
What is the difference between a synonym and a related word?
A synonym replaces the word without changing the meaning; a related word only shares the topic, e.g. 'hunger' is a synonym of al-saghab, while 'food' is merely related.
What is the synonym of al-wajal?
Fear.
What is the antonym of al-ijaz (brevity)?
Al-ishab, i.e. lengthiness or speaking at great length.
What is the antonym of al-shuhh (stinginess)?
Generosity.
What is the difference between al-jalad and al-jild?
Al-jalad means endurance and fortitude; al-jild means skin.
In sentence completion, what do lakinna and baynama signal?
Contrast: what follows them opposes what comes before.
A sentence has two blanks: which do you tackle first?
The one you are surest about; eliminate options that do not fit it, then read the whole sentence with the remaining option.
Why you can trust these questions
- Published questions: 545. We reviewed every one before publishing it: the answer, the explanation of each option and the source.
- Exam facts last checked against the organiser’s website: 2026-10-18. We check them again every three months and two weeks before each test.
- Found a mistake? Tap "Report an error" under any question in the practice area, or email us at support@saudiexams.com
- Independent website. Not affiliated with ETEC (Qiyas), the Financial Academy or any government body.
Update log
- 2026-10-31 Free diagnostic test: 10 questions covering every unit, with every option explained and your weakest units shown.
- 2026-10-18 Published the exam facts and the December 2026 dates from ETEC's page.