The California Critical Thinking Skills Test Family is a set of critical thinking skills tests based on the Delphi Expert Consensus Definition of Critical Thinking. Research has shown that these instruments predict strength in critical thinking in authentic problem situations and success on professional licensure examinations. As measures of core critical thinking skills, these tools address the application of one's reasoning skills for the purpose of forming a reflective judgment about what to believe or what to do in a given context or problematic situation.

All the tests listed below in the CCTST family provide objective measures of critical thinking skills. Different questions progressively invite test-takers to analyze or to interpret information presented in text, charts, or images; to draw accurate and warranted inferences; to evaluate inferences and explain why they represent strong reasoning or weak reasoning; or to explain why a given evaluation of an inference is strong or weak.

Each test returns scores: an overall total critical thinking skills test score as well as scores on analysis & interpretation, inference, evaluation & explanation, inductive reasoning, and deductive reasoning. The different tests in this family are designed for different populations of test-takers ranging in educational level from middle school through graduate school. All the tests in this family are available on-line and in paper-and-pencil format. There are authorized translations for many of them. Visit the webpages for each test for more specific information about its recommended uses, features, intended test-taker population, translations.

California Critical Thinking Skills Test

Adults, Undergraduate and Graduate Students

Health Sciences and Health Care Professionals and Students

Law and Legal Studies Professionals,
Paraprofessionals, and Students

Community and Technical College Students, Adults,
High School Students grades 10 through 12 or equivalent

Children grades 6 through 9 or equivalent