FREE FSOT Practice Test 2024 Official Study Guide [PDF]

Last Updated on November 8, 2024

FREE FSOT Practice Test 2024 Official Study Guide [PDF] Download the free pdf for the Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) Exam practice test question answers and the official study guide information PDF.

To become a Foreign Service Officer (FSO), you must register for and take the Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT). To register for the FSOT, you must meet specific eligibility requirements. These include U.S. citizenship, an age requirement, and worldwide availability.

Table of Contents

FSOT Practice Test 2025

The purpose of the practice Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) is to provide you with a realistic preview of the computer-based FSOT. The FSOT Practice Test 2022 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. The FSOT practice test includes the Job Knowledge, English Expression, and Situational Judgment sections of the FSOT, including Written Essay.

FSOT Exam 2025

The Foreign Service Officer Test is administered by Pearson VUE and is offered thrice yearly in February, June, and October. The Foreign Service Officer Test measures your knowledge, skills, and abilities, including writing skills that are necessary to the work of a Foreign Service Officer.

The FSOT is administered online at designated test centers in the U.S. and abroad and takes about three hours to complete. It includes three multiple-choice sections:

Job knowledge: Questions will cover a broad range of topics including, but not limited to, the structure and workings of the U.S. Government, U.S. and world history, U.S. culture, psychology, technology, management theory, finance and economics, and world affairs;
English expression; and
A situational judgment section will present scenarios (i.e., descriptions of situations) that a candidate might encounter as a Foreign Service Officer.

In addition, you will be given 30 minutes to write an essay on an assigned topic. You must complete the multiple-choice tests to have your essay graded.

Sections	Total Question	Question Type	Time Duration
Job Knowledge Test	60	MCQ	40 minutes.
Situational Judgment Test	28 scenarios	MCQ	42 minutes
English Expression test	65	MCQ	50 minutes
Written Essay Test	select one of the three topics	Write 2,800 characters	7 minutes to read this screen 25 minutes to write your essay

The first three sections of the test contain items in a multiple-choice format. The Written Essay appears in the last section of the FSOT. Each section of the test is timed separately and must be completed within the designated time limit.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible, the U.S. Department of State requires that each candidate be:

A U.S. citizen on the date the candidate submits the registration package
At least 20 years old and no older than 59 years of age on the day the candidate submits the registration
At least 21 years old and not yet 60 on the day the candidate is appointed as a Foreign Service Officer
Available for worldwide assignments, including Washington, D.C.

Official Practice Test 2025

FSOT Practice Test: Candidates who wish to take a practice FSOT should visit https://careers.state.gov/survey/FSOT-Careers/.
FSOT Practice Test APP: Candidates can also download the Department’s mobile app at https://careers.state.gov/apps/ for additional practice FSOT questions.

FSOT Study Guide [PDF]

Knowledge of the following areas has been identified as essential for success across all five career tracks (Consular, Economic, Management, Political and Public Diplomacy):

Proper English usage
U.S. society, culture, economy, history, government, political systems and the Constitution
World history and geography
World political and social issues

In addition, all Foreign Service Officers should have a general understanding of:

Basic mathematics and statistics
Computer usage
Principles of management
Effective interpersonal communication
Basic economic principles

Depending on the career track, more in-depth knowledge is needed in some areas. In-depth knowledge may be required in the following areas:

U.S. and international political and economic principles, issues and history
U.S. Government and non-governmental agencies and organizations and their interactions with the Department of State
U.S. diplomacy, democratic philosophy and educational practices
U.S. policy issues and public and foreign policy formulation
Legislation and laws related to Foreign Service issues
International economics, finance and commerce
Administrative methods and procedures
Information and media resources

Information for How to Prepare for the FSOT 2025

Foreign Service Officer Selection Process at the Official U.S. Department of State Website

Use the Guide to the Foreign Service Selection Process, which contains sample test questions.
Mobile Application with over 500 retired questions for additional study [View]
Review the Suggested Reading List (PDF)
View the Suggested Course List (PDF)
If you have questions or want to find out about test information sessions that may be held in your area, contact a Diplomat in Residence near you.
Official Test Guide and Information Download link