Short answer: most people should start with free practice from the test owner, and decide on paid prep only after trying it. Paid packs can help if the format is unfamiliar and you have time to use one. They do not guarantee a result, and no publisher we checked says that practice will raise your score by a set amount.
Last checked: 15 October 2026. By Prepti. We are independent. See how we rank and our affiliate disclosure.
Honest answer by situation
You have a week or less. Use free official practice first. Take it once, find your slow spots, and repeat the question types that cost you time. A pack with a short plan can add more simulations. For example, JobTestPrep shows 7-day access for its CCAT pack at $79 (JobTestPrep CCAT). That price is as shown on 15 October 2026 and is not a recommendation.
You have a month. Free practice plus a few of your own timed runs is usually enough for a familiar kind of test, such as basic numerical or verbal reasoning. If you want structure, plans of around a month exist: JobTestPrep shows $89 for one month on several packs (PI Cognitive page), and Prepterminal shows $68 for 90 days on its course pages (Prepterminal Caliper page).
The format is unfamiliar. This is where practice helps most. First check whether the owner has a free demo. Saville has free timed practice tests by range (Saville practice tests). SHL has free practice tests, including an interactive version (SHL practice tests). Criteria shows sample questions on its CCAT page (Criteria). Predictive Index says sample questions are in the employer’s invitation if the employer included them (PI).
You are anxious. Familiarity is the most useful thing, and free practice gives you that. A paid pack is not needed to feel calmer. If timing worries you, ask the employer about adjustments before you start. SHL says time extensions need the employer’s approval (SHL support).
The test is a personality questionnaire. There is little to learn beyond the format. Hogan’s own advice is that there are no right or wrong answers, so just be honest (Hogan FAQ).
What free covers
- Owner demos and sample questions. SHL, Saville, Criteria, Wonderlic and Predictive Index each publish some free material, linked above.
- Free practice from providers. JobTestPrep says its free CCAT test offers a free full-length simulation and sample questions type by type (JobTestPrep CCAT). Prepterminal has a free CCAT test of 20 questions in 12 minutes, which is slower than the real pace (Prepterminal). These are the providers’ own questions, not the test owner’s.
- Public guides, such as ours.
When paid can help
- You have a specific, unfamiliar test and at least a week.
- You want many timed full-length simulations and explanations in one place.
- You have used the free material and still feel slow on a specific question type.
What to check before paying
- The pricing page for your exact test. Prices are per test, and they differ by plan and by region. JobTestPrep’s Saville pack is on its UK site in pounds, while most other packs we checked show dollars.
- Plan length. Compare days of access with the days you have. Plans we saw run from 7 days to 90 days.
- Refund terms. Read them, not just the badge. JobTestPrep’s terms say refunds “may be granted” for content mismatch, a technical issue or an unused product, by request form, with an answer within five business days (terms). Prepterminal’s terms describe a 7-day money-back guarantee with conditions, including partial refunds of 20 to 70% where material only partly matches the test (terms).
- Automatic renewal. We did not find it described on the product pages we read. Check the checkout page.
- What is included for your test. Not every pack covers every test. Check the contents list.
- Which test you have. Confirm the exact test name in your invitation.
Red flags
- Outcome language. Prepterminal’s homepage shows a “Money-back guarantee” badge and a sample result card reading “SHL Verify G+ 94/100 Passed Top 5% 1st try” (homepage). The card is an illustration on the provider’s own page. Its terms describe a 7-day money-back guarantee with conditions, not a guaranteed result (terms). Always read the terms behind a badge.
- Pass rates and user numbers you cannot check. The same homepage shows a “92% PASS RATE” headline figure. That is its own claim and we cannot verify it. Treat any such figure as marketing unless there is a method behind it.
- Pressure tactics, such as countdown timers or “last chance” banners. A real test date does not change with a banner.
- Claims of “leaked” or “real” questions. Test owners do not publish their live questions.
Our independence
We link the provider’s own page behind every price and show when we last checked it.
FAQ
Is free practice enough? Often, for a familiar test. Try it first.
Will paid prep raise my score? No source we checked promises a specific change. It can help you get used to the format and pace.
Which paid provider is best? It depends on your test and timeline. Compare providers test by test in our guides.
Should I buy several packs? Probably not. Start with one, only for your test.
What if I buy the wrong one? Check the refund terms before you pay.