FSOT Practice Test 2024 and Study Guide [PDF]

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

If you are interested in becoming a Foreign Service Officer (FSO), you must first 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.

FSOT Practice Test 2024

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 2024

The Foreign Service Officer Test is administered by Pearson VUE and is offered three times each year 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 on the job 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 in order 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 2024

  • 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

Greater or more in-depth knowledge is needed in some areas, depending on the career track. 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 2024

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

  • Use the Guide to the Foreign Service Selection Process, (PDF) 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)
  • Contact a Diplomat in Residence near you if you have questions and to find out about test information sessions that may be held in your area.
  • Official Test Guide and Information Download link