PURPOSE
The purpose of the practice Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) is to provide you with a realistic preview of the computer-based FSOT. The practice test simulates the actual FSOT in terms of questions, length of testing, and administration. Scores achieved will indicate your potential performance on an actual FSOT with good probability.
You can take the practice FSOT at any time from the convenience of your personal computer by accessing the link below.
When you finish the practice FSOT, you will receive feedback on questions you answered correctly and questions you answered incorrectly to provide an indication of how you performed relative to other candidates.
The FSOT was recently revised. It still includes the Job Knowledge section, but its content has been revised to only have questions on U.S. government, history, and society; world history and geography; economics; and math and statistics. The English Expression section has been revised to include reading comprehension questions, and it has been renamed the English Usage and Comprehension section. The Situational Judgment section has been replaced by a Logical Reasoning section, which assesses making inferences, justifying conclusions, finding logical flaws, and identifying assumptions. There is no longer a written essay. Finally, the FSOT no longer has a passing score; the State Department will instead select candidates to move on to the next stage based on the highest scores and needs of the Foreign Service.
The FSOT is just the first stage of the selection process into the Foreign Service. Subsequent stages include the Foreign Service Officer Assessment (FSOA), consisting of interviews and exercises, a background check, medical clearance, suitability clearance, and rank-order register from which job offers are made based on hiring needs by career track. Doing well on the FSOT does not ensure eventually being hired. However, it is the first selection hurdle, which is why we offer this preparation opportunity.