- The CHA is Crossover's CCAT-based screen: 50 questions, 15 minutes, no calculator.
- 35/50 is the most common role threshold; 43/50+ is considered excellent; the average is 24/50.
- Wrong answers cost nothing, so answer every question rather than leaving blanks.
- Your score badge lasts six months; a miss means a six-month wait before retesting.
What the CHA Actually Tests
The Crossover Hiring Assessment (CHA) is not a knowledge exam about a specific job function - it's a timed cognitive-aptitude screen built on Criteria's Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT). Crossover uses it as an early filter for its remote-first hiring pipeline, applying it across a wide range of roles from engineering to operations to management. That means the same 50-question, 15-minute test appears whether you're applying for a technical role or a business role - only the passing threshold changes by position.
If you're still mapping out what this exam is and why Crossover uses it, the CHA Study Guide 2026 walks through the full picture before you dive into review mode. This cheat sheet assumes you already know the basics and just need the must-remember facts in one place.
The Numbers That Matter: Scoring & Thresholds
Every number below is one you should be able to recite without hesitation before test day.
- Total questions: 50, multiple choice
- Time limit: 15 minutes for all 50 questions
- Most common minimum score: 35 out of 50
- Excellent score: 43 out of 50 or higher
- Average score across test takers: 24 out of 50
- Penalty for wrong answers: none - guessing costs nothing
The gap between the average score (24/50) and the most common minimum (35/50) is the single most important fact on this page. It tells you that a large share of candidates fall short not because the questions are unsolvable, but because 15 minutes for 50 questions leaves almost no room for slow, careful reasoning. For a deeper breakdown of exactly what separates a passing attempt from a failing one, see the CHA Passing Score guide, and for the broader question of how selective the process really is, read CHA Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows.
Key Takeaway
Because wrong answers carry no penalty, never leave a question blank in the final seconds - a guess has better odds than a zero.
Format & Rules Quick Reference
These are the logistical rules that trip people up when they haven't reviewed them ahead of time:
- Calculators: prohibited during the assessment
- Pen and paper: allowed for working through math and logic problems
- Delivery: free, online, self-administered for the initial screen
- Cost: the initial CCAT-based stage is free; see the CHA Certification Cost breakdown for the full picture of what's free versus what happens later in the process
- Scoring feedback: role-specific thresholds, not a universal pass/fail line
Because no calculator is permitted, mental math and estimation shortcuts matter more than formula memorization. Keep scratch paper nearby during any timed practice session on the main practice test site so your rehearsal conditions match the real constraints.
The Three Domains at a Glance
All 50 questions are distributed across three domains. For the full breakdown of question styles and sample topics inside each one, the CHA Exam Domains Guide is worth bookmarking - but here's the condensed version for quick review.
Domain 1: Verbal Reasoning
Tests your ability to interpret written information quickly and draw accurate conclusions under time pressure.
- Reading short passages and identifying valid inferences
- Recognizing logical relationships between statements
- Spotting the difference between what's stated and what's merely implied
Domain 2: Math and Logic
Covers numerical reasoning, word problems, and pattern-based logical sequences - all without a calculator.
- Ratios, percentages, and basic arithmetic done mentally or on scratch paper
- Number and letter sequence completion
- Deductive logic puzzles with multiple conditions
Domain 3: Spatial Reasoning
Measures your ability to mentally manipulate shapes, patterns, and visual sequences.
- Identifying the next shape in a visual pattern
- Mentally rotating or folding shapes
- Matching pieces to a completed whole
Because the three domains are blended into a single 50-question, 15-minute run rather than timed separately, you can't "bank" extra time from a domain you finish quickly and apply it elsewhere without a plan - pacing across all three matters as much as accuracy within any one of them. If you want a candid read on which domain typically eats the most time relative to its difficulty, How Hard Is the CHA Exam? covers that in detail.
Timing, Validity & Retake Mechanics
Three dates matter once you've taken the CHA, and all of them are worth writing down:
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Score badge validity | Six months from the date you earn it |
| Retake wait after an unsuccessful attempt | Six months |
| Test duration | 15 minutes for all 50 questions |
A six-month badge validity window means candidates actively job-hunting across multiple Crossover roles don't need to retest for every application - as long as the badge hasn't expired. But a six-month retake wait after falling short means there's real cost to walking in unprepared. Treat your first attempt as your best attempt. For anything related to when specific hiring windows or assessment cycles open, check CHA Exam Dates 2026, and if you're unsure whether you're even eligible to sit for the assessment in the first place, review CHA Requirements 2026.
PCCAT: The Proctored Finalist Round
Passing the initial CHA screen isn't the finish line. Candidates who advance to finalist status retake the same 50-question format as the PCCAT - a live-proctored version of the identical test. This stage adds verification requirements that the free initial screen doesn't have:
- Government-issued ID check before the session starts
- A computer webcam active for the full duration
- A second camera device positioned to show your hands, desk, and surroundings
- A live workspace scan to confirm no unauthorized materials or aids are present
Because the questions and time limit mirror the original CHA, the PCCAT rewards candidates who trained under realistic timed conditions rather than those who simply memorized answer patterns. Since calculators remain prohibited and the same three domains apply, everything you rehearsed for the initial screen transfers directly - the added complexity is entirely logistical (camera setup, ID readiness, a clean desk) rather than content-based.
Key Takeaway
Test your webcam, second camera angle, and workspace setup well before your scheduled PCCAT session - technical delays under proctoring conditions can be more stressful than the questions themselves.
A Compressed Domain-by-Domain Review Plan
Given the 15-minute time limit, your review time is better spent building speed within each domain than exploring generic test-taking theory. Here's a compact structure that maps directly to the CHA's three domains rather than to abstract study techniques.
Math and Logic Speed Work
- Drill mental arithmetic and percentage/ratio problems without a calculator
- Practice number-sequence and pattern-completion questions under a strict timer
- Log where seconds are lost - usually re-reading the question, not solving it
Verbal Reasoning & Spatial Reasoning
- Practice short-passage inference questions, timing each one individually
- Work mental rotation and shape-matching sets to build pattern-recognition speed
- Mix all three domains into short timed blocks to simulate the real 15-minute crunch
Full Simulation & Logistics
- Run at least one full 50-question, 15-minute simulation start to finish
- Confirm your scratch-paper setup and remove any calculator or aid from your desk
- If you're at the finalist stage, test your webcam and second camera for the PCCAT
Notice this plan skips generic productivity frameworks entirely - the CHA's tight 15-minute window rewards raw pattern speed across Domain 1, Domain 2, and Domain 3 far more than it rewards elaborate study systems. Running full-length, timed simulations on the practice test platform before your real attempt is the single highest-leverage thing you can do in the final days.
Approved Prep vs. Everything Else
Crossover officially endorses only its own guide and one third-party resource: 12minprep. Every other "CHA prep course" or "official practice bank" you find online is not endorsed and should be treated with skepticism - some may even misrepresent the test's structure.
| Resource Type | Status |
|---|---|
| Crossover's official guide | Endorsed |
| 12minprep | Endorsed third-party exception |
| Unaffiliated "CHA question banks" | Not endorsed - treat with caution |
| Timed practice tests mirroring the CCAT format | Useful for pacing, not a substitute for official materials |
The most reliable way to build speed on verbal reasoning, math and logic, and spatial reasoning items is timed repetition under realistic conditions - which is exactly what running full simulations on this practice test site is designed to support. Combine that with the official guide and 12minprep for content accuracy, and you've covered the two things that matter most: realistic timing and correct material.
Once you're past the assessment stage, it's worth thinking ahead about what the badge actually unlocks. The CHA Salary Guide and Is the CHA Certification Worth It? both address that longer-term question, while CHA Jobs covers the types of roles the assessment feeds into.
Frequently Asked Questions
The CHA consists of 50 multiple-choice questions covering verbal reasoning, math and logic, and spatial reasoning, all within a 15-minute time limit.
Crossover sets role-specific thresholds rather than one universal cutoff. The most common minimum is 35 out of 50, while 43 or higher is considered excellent; the average score across candidates is 24 out of 50.
No. Calculators are prohibited, though pen and paper are allowed for working through math and logic problems.
You'll need to wait six months before retaking it. If you do pass, your score badge remains valid for six months from the date you earn it.
The PCCAT is the same 50-question test taken live-proctored by finalists, requiring a government ID check, an active webcam, a second camera device, and a workspace scan before the session begins.