How To Study For The Foreign Service Exam

The Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) is a screening examination for people looking for a career in the foreign service. The different sections on the exam test your knowledge, judgment, and English skills.

The foreign service test is the third step in the FSO pick process, and the first major hurdle you lot will need to overcome on your path to becoming a strange service officeholder. Y'all will be unable to move on in the process until you take passed the test.

Y'all will have the FSOT examination at a Pearson VUE test center on a calculator. You'll accept most 3 hours to complete 125 multiple selection questions, navigate 28 multiple choice scenarios, and write one essay.

Did you know?

The FSO exam is divided into 4 sections covering a wide range of topics: (1) Job knowledge, (two) situational judgment, (3) English expression, and (four) English essay writing. If you score less than a 154 on the get-go three sections of the test, your essay will not be graded. To excel on this test you will need a wide range of noesis, and be able to piece of work speedily through the material.

Free FSOT Practice

FSOT Question Types Explained

The Foreign Service Officeholder Test is a multiple-choice test with an essay covering 4 unlike sections. You will take iii hours to complete all the sections of the test. Occasionally, the FSO includes an actress thirty minutes of questions, which are not included in your score simply are used for enquiry purposes. You should exist fabricated enlightened of that before y'all go in for the test.

Section	Number of Questions	Fourth dimension Limit	Average Time Per Question
Task Cognition	60	40 minutes	40 seconds
Situational Judgement	28	42 minutes	90 seconds
English Expression	65	50 minutes	46 seconds
Written Essay	1	32 minutes

Job Noesis Test

The Job Knowledge test covers several major content areas and is as of import across all five foreign service tracks. You lot volition have 40 minutes to reply 60 questions covering a wide range of subject field affair.

Those subjects include:

U.S. Regime
U.S. History, Guild, Customs, and Culture
World History and Geography
Economics
Math and Statistics
Management Principles, Psychology, and Human Behavior
Advice
Computers and Cyberspace

The following paragraphs provide additional detail into each of the subjects.

United States Authorities – general understanding of federal government, the constitution, Congress and its part in foreign affairs, the U.S. political arrangement and its role in regime policies

The states History, Order, Customs, and Culture – includes major events, institutions, history, politics, national community and civilisation, social problems, trends, influence of society on foreign policy

World History and Geography – includes earth-historical events, issues, developments, and their impact on US foreign policy

Economics – understanding of basic economical principles and the economic system in the U.S.

Mathematics and Statistics – basic math and statistical procedures

Management Principles, Psychology, and Human Behavior – general agreement of man behavior, leadership, motivational strategies, and equal employment practices

Communications – knows principles of effective advice, public speaking, media, and the goals and techniques of public diplomacy

Computers and Internet – basic knowledge of word processing, databases, spreadsheets, email, and cyberspace use

All questions are multiple-selection, and y'all volition have four options from which to choose.

Winning Tip

Your score is based on the number of correct answers you lot submit. If you don't know an answer, y'all can always skip the question and come up back to it after you've finished the questions you know, earlier you get out the section of the test.

Effort a Job Knowledge Sample Question

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Situational Judgment Exam

The Situational Judgment section presents you with 28 scenarios and four or 5 possible responses. You lot are asked to identify both the best and worst possible responses amongst the choices given. The scenarios encompass adaptability, decision making, judgment, operational effectiveness, professional standards, team building, and workplace perceptiveness.

Y'all don't need to know State Department policies or procedures to answer these questions.

Winning Tip

Accept your time to read through the scenario and response options carefully. You are being asked to place ii things in these questions, just yous also have a minute-and-a-half for each scenario, and then utilise the time fully.

Try a Situational Judgment Sample Question

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English Expression

The English Expression portion of the test gives yous 65 questions testing you in all manners of English language. You will be asked to select correctly written sentences, make corrections in sentences using the options provided, and organize or revise paragraphs.

All questions are multiple-choice and have 4 options for each question.

Winning Tip

Familiarize yourself with the types of questions y'all will see on the exam, so you don't waste material a lot of time trying to understand what is being asked of you.

Endeavor an English Expression Sample Question

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Written Essay

You lot will be presented with 3 topics for the essay, and have 7 minutes to choose the topic you lot desire to write virtually. One time selected, you will have 25 minutes to write a well-written, concise, ii,800-character essay that takes a position on your topic and develops a rationale for that opinion.

You will be scored on your ability to analyze a topic and the quality of your writing. You are non evaluated based on your stance.

Winning Tip

Practice writing essays earlier the test to give yourself a amend sense of 2,800 characters. That will enable you to visualize the essay and plan the length of your arguments.

FSOT Preparation Strategies

While there are sections inside the foreign service officer test that are difficult to study for, you can ready for many of the components inside the test. While we unremarkably recommend buying a book to study from, the FSO is dissimilar. Most of the bachelor books are out of date and don't comprehend the situational judgment test. Look to online sources, including iPrep'south course, which tend to be updated more oft and should serve you well.

1. Read the Newspaper

Start by reading major newspapers, like the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Mail. Make sure to read foreign papers as well, such as The Guardian and The Daily Postal service. Don't ignore online publications like The Times of Republic of india or Red china Daily, which requite insight into a number of areas.

ii. Have the FSOT Exercise Test

The official foreign service exam practice test will simulate weather and give yous a realistic preview of what to expect, besides as offer you study materials that volition assist you pass. Withal, you can only take the practice test once every six months, and the do FSOT test does non include the essay.

It behooves y'all to enroll in online report courses with test simulators, like the one offered past iPrep, which volition help you marker progress as you prepare for the test.

3. Double Check Your Online Materials

The FSOT has changed over the years, and many online sources will fix you for a test that has changed. Exist sure that the exam prep site you are looking at is aware of the changes, and the description of its materials is aligned with the current FSOT exam.

four. Do Multiple Option Questions

Multiple-pick questions are a skill, and learning to answer them quickly can make the divergence between finishing within the allotted time and reading through question 34 when the time is up.

Take a course that shows how to chop-chop eliminate options, and brand educated guesses.

v. Find a Study Buddy

Piece of work with a friend or someone you lot find online to study together. Endeavour to find someone who can help make full in general knowledge areas where you may be weaker. You'll also be able to talk over situational judgment scenarios, and talk through the notions that are being assessed.

Test Features

Exam Fast Facts (tl;dr)

Full of 153 questions and scenarios
The test takes about three hours to complete
In that location are four sections
- Job Knowledge – includes politics, current events, history, geography, math, and more
- Situational Judgment – asks you to identify reactions to scenarios
- English Expressions – covers a range of English questions
- Written Essay – asks y'all to write a ii,800-grapheme essay on a topic
The examination is administered three times a yr: February, June, and October
Yous may non apply calculators or mobile devices during the test
The test costs $5
If you miss the test or fail to cancel at least 48 hours in advance you will be charged $72
The exam is administered at Pearson VUE testing centers
You must show a current government or state-issued ID
For security purposes, your picture will be taken at the test eye

Common Names of the Test

While the official name of the test is the Foreign Service Officeholder Examination, the test has many unofficial names, including:

FSOT
Strange Service Exam
Strange Service Officer Test
FSOT Written Exam
FSO Test
FSO Exam
Foreign Service Officer Test
Foreign Service Test
FSOT Exam
U.s. Foreign Service Exam
Foreign Officer Test
Pearson VUE FSOT

All these names refer to the aforementioned test.

Retake Policy

If you practice not pass the examination, y'all may retake it once every 12 months, as many times every bit you lot like. If you do pass the test but are not selected equally an FSO, you will demand to retake the test to be considered for the position again.

Fees

There is a $5 fee to take the test. Still, if you miss the test or exercise not abolish at least 48 hours in accelerate, yous will be assessed a $72 fee. Y'all will be unable to sign up for time to come tests unless you pay the fee.

Technical Facts

The FSOT is given as a screening examination for candidates interested in condign a member of the foreign service. To utilise, you must meet the post-obit criteria:

U.S. denizen
Anile 20-59 on the solar day y'all submit FSOT registration
Aged 21-59 on the day you are appointed every bit a Foreign Service Officeholder
Available for worldwide assignments, including Washington D.C.

FSO Choice Process

The selection process for becoming a Foreign Service Officer is quite lengthy. At that place are viii steps that you lot must consummate to get an FSO.

Stride 1: Cull a career path

In that location are many different careers within the foreign service. They fall into five categories:

Consular
Economic
Management
Political
Public Diplomacy

You must declare your career runway before taking the Foreign Service examination.

Step 2: Annals for the FSOT

You may annals for the exam at Pearson VUE five weeks before the testing window. You volition demand to create an account with Pearson VUE, and submit the following materials:

Eligibility verification forms
Application forms
6 complete personal narratives

You will select a test location and seat for your test date.

FSOT registration closes three days before the exam or when all available seats are filled.

Step 3: Take the FSOT

You'll be sitting in front of a computer for several hours. Yous volition not be in contact with any Foreign Service Officers during the test, so dress comfortably.

Pace iv: Qualifications Evaluation Panel (QEP)

If y'all pass the FSOT exam, the QEP will review your written essay and read through your personal narratives. Successful candidates will then be invited to the Oral Cess.

While examination scores figure prominently in this process, you lot may successfully consummate all stages to this point and not exist invited to the next stage if there aren't bachelor positions. If that happens, you volition be required to repeat the selection process.

QEP results are available approximately two months after completing the FSOT.

Step 5: Oral Assessment

This full-day assessment takes place in Washington D.C., and occasionally in Chicago and San Francisco. Successful candidates demonstrate the following 13 dimensions throughout the assessment.

Composure
Cultural adjustability
Experience and motivation
Initiative and leadership
Judgment
Objectivity and integrity
Voice communication
Planning and organizing
Quantitative analysis
Resourcefulness
Working with others
Written advice

This is a task interview, so dress professionally, exist on fourth dimension, be prepared. After passing the oral assessment, you will receive a provisional job offering

Stride 6: Medical and Security Clearances

You volition receive instructions on how to utilise for the clearances that are required.

Step 7: Suitability Review Panel

A console will review your entire file, and determine whether you are suited for a career in the Foreign Service. The panel takes past behaviors into consideration, including criminal conduct and behavior at prior workplaces.

Stride viii: The Annals

One time you have passed all steps, your name is placed on the register, listed by successful candidates. Your proper noun will remain on the register for up to xviii months. During that fourth dimension, if an appropriate opportunity comes up, you lot may be offered an engagement.

Results Scale and Interpretations

Your FSOT results are available about 3 weeks after taking the test. Your raw scores are normalized into percentiles that compare your scores to every other candidate inside your testing period.

The precise algorithm has not been disclosed by Pearson VUE. Nonetheless, you must score a 154 or college on the test. Anything below that score is considered declining and you will not move on in the process.

A score of only over l in each department is considered a passing score
Scores that are above sixty in each section are considered to exist practiced scores
Scores that are above 70 are considered to exist an astonishing score
Scores above fourscore are rare, and 99.ix% of all test takers score below 80

College scores volition oft enable yous to move forward in the procedure, and get through the QEP phase.

If you lot score 154 or higher, the QEP will evaluate your essay. The essay is worth up to 12 points, with 6 existence a passing score. Scores are rarely higher than viii. If you lot score below a 6, your candidacy volition be eliminated regardless of how high you scored on the other sections of the test.

Source: The U.s.a. Board of Examiners for the Strange Service

NOTES

Your FSOT score is valid simply for the fourth dimension period during which yous were tested. If you lot scored well only did non submit your personal narratives, your candidacy volition not exist considered and yous must wait 12 months to take the examination once more.
There is no penalty for wrong answers in the Job Noesis and English Expression sessions, then if you are stuck, y'all are better off guessing.

Wrong answers will reduce your score in the Situational Judgment section. If you are completely unsure, you will be better off leaving an answer bare.

FSOT FAQs

What is the Strange Service test?

The Foreign Service Exam is an informal name of the Foreign Service Officeholder Exam (FSOT). It is a screening test used by the Strange Service to identify candidates for roles within its organization.

What is on the FSO written test?

The Foreign Service Officers Test is a multiple-option examination that covers a broad spectrum of topics including the U.South. Regime, history, economic science, math, and English. It also includes scenarios where you are asked to cull the all-time and worst reactions from a series of choices.

How do I prepare for the FSOT?

To fix, you'll want to take imitation do FSOT tests, like those offered by iPrep, to familiarize yourself with the test format and types of questions. Yous tin also study using online test prep courses.

What score exercise yous demand to pass the FSOT?

In that location isn't an exact pass/fail score, but generally speaking, a score of 154 or higher will be enough to have your personal narratives and essay evaluated by the QEP.

How many questions are on the FSOT?

In that location are 153 questions and scenarios on the FSOT, plus one essay.

Is the Foreign Service Officer Test hard?

The FSOT is a challenging test, with questions covering a wide assortment of content. Nonetheless, with most of the questions, you either know the reply or y'all don't. You lot won't demand to do many calculations to arrive at an reply.

What is on the Foreign Service Officer Test?

The FSOT tests your noesis of America and the world. It examines the judgments you brand and tests your English and writing skills.

What are the requirements to be a foreign service officer?

Foreign officers must be U.South. citizens anile 21 and upwards. New employees must exist younger than threescore.

How hard is information technology to join the foreign service?

The Foreign Service has a clearly designed process to bring together. You will demand to write personal narratives, pass a test, spend a twenty-four hours on oral examinations, and then pass a final review. Once you have successfully completed that process, your opportunities will depend on whether at that place are available jobs for you.

What happens if you pass the FSOT?

If you pass the FSOT, your essay and personal narratives are reviewed by the QEP. If you pass their review, you lot will be invited to the oral examination.

Can you retake the FSOT?

Y'all can retake the FSOT one time every 12 months for as many years as you want.

What is a good score on the FSOT?

A score of 154 or college is considered to be a good score on the FSOT.

Does FSOT score matter?

Your FSOT is one of the criteria used by the Foreign Service in determining whether you will be successful there. If you fail the FSOT, you volition not exist able to join the Foreign Service.

What should I study for the FSOT?

The FSOT covers a big corporeality of content. You should make an effort to study the following subjects:
– English Composition/Rhetoric
– American History
– American Studies (including cultural and social history)
– American Political Idea
– United states of america Political System
– American Economic History
– Introduction to Economics (micro and macro)
– Earth History (Western and not-Western)
– World Geography
– International Economic science
– World Religions
– Introduction to Statistics
– Introduction to Direction Principles
– Intercultural Advice
– Mass Advice
– Psychology

How much does the FSOT cost?

The FSOT costs $v to take the test. However, if yous miss your test or cancel within 48 hours of the exam, you will be assessed a $72 fee.

How many times can you take the foreign service exam?

You can take the test once every 12 months, for as many years as you need to.

FSOT Test Tips

Here are some tips to assist go you lot through examination day.

one. Answer the questions you lot know first

While you tin can't leap from one section to the next, you lot can skip questions within a section and so come back to the questions you skipped. Since all questions are worth the same number of points, and the test doesn't get progressively more than difficult, it makes sense to answer the items you know right away.

2. When in doubt, eliminate and guess

There are no penalties for wrong answers in the Job Knowledge and English language Expressions sections, and so if you are unsure about an answer, do your best to eliminate some of the options. If you can eliminate two obviously wrong answers, the odds of guessing right increases by fifty%. Wrong answers in the situational judgment sections can hurt your score, so if you are going to estimate, only do and so if you have eliminated several of the options. If you are completely unsure, you lot will be all-time off leaving the item unanswered.

3. Read the directions carefully

Make sure to understand what is being asked of y'all earlier submitting your answer. Skimming over keywords might cost you the correct answer.

iv. Practice writing two,800-graphic symbol essays

Write some essays that meet the length requirement. Y'all may be surprised at how much—or how lilliputian—2,800 characters can be.

5. Exist aware of time

Don't spend as well much time on whatsoever one question. For many of the sections you take less than a minute to answer so practise your best, and either respond the question or skip information technology for later.

vi. Stay at-home and be well-rested

Taking care of yourself earlier the test will help you perform your all-time on test solar day. Get a good dark'due south sleep beforehand, eat a salubrious meal, and keep your brain feeling articulate and ready.

Administration

Exam Location: Tests are given at Pearson VUE testing centers
Exam Schedule: In that location are three test windows during the year, each of which lasts for i calendar week. Tests are administered in February, June, and Oct. FSOT registration opens 5 weeks earlier the test dates and closes when all seats are taken or 3 days earlier the examination.
Test Format: Multiple selection taken on a computer.
Test Materials: Taken on a computer. You may not use any exterior materials.
Cost: The fee for the test is $5. If yous miss the test or cancel within 48 hours, you lot will be assessed a $72 fee, which must exist paid before you can reschedule the test.
Retake Policy: You may take the test every 12 months.

Free FSOT Practice

Test Provider

The FSOT examination is administered past the Pearson VUE on behalf of the Foreign Service and the Department of State.

The exam is designed to provide the Foreign Services Office with unbiased information regarding the likelihood of a candidate succeeding in the Foreign Service.

Disclaimer – All the data and prep materials on iPrep are genuine and were created for tutoring purposes. iPrep is not affiliated with the Foreign Service, Section of Country, Pearson VUE testing centers, or any other visitor mentioned.

Source: https://www.iprep.online/courses/foreign-service-officer-test/

Posted by: suttonyoule1997.blogspot.com

How To Study For The Foreign Service Exam

Did you know?

FSOT Question Types Explained

Job Noesis Test

Effort a Job Knowledge Sample Question

Data

Categories

Situational Judgment Exam

Try a Situational Judgment Sample Question

Information

Categories

English Expression

Endeavor an English Expression Sample Question

Information

Categories

Written Essay

FSOT Preparation Strategies

1. Read the Newspaper

ii. Have the FSOT Exercise Test

3. Double Check Your Online Materials

four. Do Multiple Option Questions

v. Find a Study Buddy

Test Features

Exam Fast Facts (tl;dr)

Common Names of the Test

Retake Policy

Fees

Technical Facts

FSO Choice Process

Results Scale and Interpretations

FSOT FAQs

FSOT Test Tips

one. Answer the questions you lot know first

2. When in doubt, eliminate and guess

3. Read the directions carefully

iv. Practice writing two,800-graphic symbol essays

5. Exist aware of time

vi. Stay at-home and be well-rested

Administration

Test Provider

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