The cognitive runner is the only one with a strict clock. Everything else about it is straightforward, but the time pressure is real and worth preparing for.
Before you start
Three pre-requisites:
- A quiet space for twenty-five minutes (or whatever the template's time limit is — most are 25 minutes in v0.7).
- A laptop or desktop with a keyboard. The runner works on tablets but is harder; phones are not recommended.
- A glass of water and no other tabs open. The clock starts when you click Begin and does not pause.
The runner also does not allow back-navigation between items. Each answered item is locked.
What the runner looks like
The first screen is an instruction page that explains:
- The total time you have.
- The total number of items.
- The general format (multiple choice, four options per item, exactly one correct).
- A brief sub-domain breakdown (verbal, numerical, abstract, logical).
A Begin button at the bottom starts the clock.
After clicking Begin, the items appear one at a time. The top of the page shows two counters — items remaining and time remaining. The bottom shows a Submit answer button. Once you submit your answer for the current item, the next item loads automatically.
If you are unsure of the answer to an item, you have a Skip button. Skipped items count as incorrect at scoring time. There is no penalty for skipping versus guessing other than the obvious — guessing is right one time in four; skipping is right zero times in zero.
When time runs out
If the timer expires before you finish:
- Items you have answered are scored normally.
- Items you have not answered are scored as incorrect.
- You see a brief Time's up screen and your result page loads.
This is by design. The cognitive assessment measures speed-under-time-pressure as well as accuracy.
Thirty seconds before the timer expires, a non-dismissible warning banner appears reminding you that answers will be auto-submitted when time runs out. It is not an extra step you need to take — it is a clear notice so the auto-submit does not surprise you.
Auto-save and resume after a reload
Each answer is saved to the server as soon as you pick it (with a short debounce to coalesce rapid clicks). This means a flaky cellular connection on a Riyadh shuttle, a reloaded tab, or a browser crash does not lose your signal or force you to restart the test at 0%.
When you return to the assessment page after an interruption:
- The runner resumes at the first unanswered question.
- The timer continues from where it stood (you do not get extra time on reload — the start time is anchored on the server).
- Your previously chosen answers are preserved and visible.
The no back-navigation rule between items still applies — auto-save does not unlock answer editing, only ensures a clean resume.
What happens after submit (or timeout)
The result page shows:
- Your overall score band (developing, proficient, or advanced).
- Your sub-domain breakdown.
- A short narrative explanation.
The narrative is generated immediately for cognitive results (no background processing) since it is a deterministic interpretation of the score, not a generated essay.
How to take it well
- Read the instructions carefully, even if you have taken many cognitive tests before. The format here is consistent across templates but not identical to other tests you may have seen.
- Pace yourself. Spending three minutes on a single item leaves you with no time for the rest. If an item is taking too long, skip it and move on.
- Trust your first instinct on multiple choice. Second-guessing usually moves you toward the wrong answer.
- Do not Google. The items are written to be solvable from the information given; looking up the topic externally just costs you time.
Next
Technical runner — the self-and-manager rating — is next.