The present invention pertains to a process for testing FCC catalysts on a small scale wherein: a) the feed to be cracked is heated to a temperature between 50 and 500° C., b) the heated feed is injected into a riser reactor containing the FCC catalyst to be tested having a temperature between 500 and 800° C., the injection time being less than 2 seconds, c) the feed is contacted with the FCC catalyst under fluidized conditions for a contact time of less than 8 seconds, and d) the feed is stripped from the FCC catalyst and the properties of the product are analyzed. The invention also comprises the apparatus employed to carry out the process. With the process of the invention the mass transfer and diffusion limitations of commercial FCC units are properly simulated.