If you need help studying for the FSOT exam or just want some more information about what the test is like, you’ve come to the right place.
Click below to take a free FSOT practice test!
Exam Eligibility
What’s on the Exam?
How to Register
Exam Scores
Personal Narratives
Retaking the Exam
Online FSOT Prep Course
FAQs
Subject-Specific FSOT Practice Tests
If you need some extra practice on a specific section, click one of the subjects below to get started on a section-specific FSOT practice test.
Exam Eligibility
To be eligible to register to take the FSOT exam, you need to be a US citizen between 20 and 59 years old.
What’s on the Exam?
The test is split into four parts: three multiple-choice sections and one essay section. The multiple-choice sections contain a total of 153 questions.
The time limit for the exam is about 3 hours. There aren’t any scheduled breaks, but you’re free to take restroom breaks as needed.
Let’s take a closer look at the different sections of the FSOT test.
1. JOB KNOWLEDGE
60 questions | 40 minutes
- The US government
- US History
- US culture, customs, and society
- World history
- World geography
- US foreign policy
- Economics
- Math and statistics
- Management principles
- Human behavior and psychology
- Communications
- Computers
- The internet
2. SITUATIONAL JUDGMENT
28 questions | 42 minutes
- Decision-making
- Team-building
- Adaptability
- Workplace perceptiveness
- Operational effectiveness
- Professional standards
3. ENGLISH EXPRESSION
65 questions | 50 minutes
You’ll be tested on your knowledge of English grammar, sentence structure, and spelling.
4. ESSAY
1 prompt | 32 minutes
You then have 25 minutes to write an essay taking a position on your chosen topic. You won’t be evaluated on your opinion, just your ability to express it within the 2,800-character limit.
How to Register
To get started, you’ll need to create a Pearson VUE account and submit an application. The application will ask you for your contact information and any documentation to prove your eligibility (among other things).
When you submit the application, you’ll also need to submit the hold fee, which is $5. The hold fee is exactly what it sounds like—a fee to hold your spot for the test. The good news is that the $5 will be returned to you after you take the test!
FSOT Study Guide and Flashcards
Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.
Exam Scores
For the multiple-choice sections of the test, the scores for each section are combined into a total score. The essay is scored separately on a scale from 0 to 12.
The passing scores are based on the performance of all of the candidates taking the exam, so the scores you need will vary.
FSOT Personal Narratives
If you pass the test, you’ll be asked to submit six “personal narratives” as part of the Qualifications Evaluation Panel (QEP) review. Each narrative should describe your knowledge, skills, and abilities that you can bring to the Foreign Service.
These are the six areas you’ll be asked to write about:
- Leadership skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Communication skills
- Management skills
- Intellectual skills
- Substantive knowledge
You’ll have two weeks after you receive your score report to submit your personal narratives.
If you don’t submit your narratives within two weeks, your FSOT test scores will be invalidated, and you will be disqualified from the current selection cycle.
Tips for Writing FSOT Personal Narratives
Here are some things to keep in mind when writing your personal narratives:
You might have some interesting personal stories/anecdotes to share that highlight your unique qualities, but make sure that you’re answering the question at hand and not going off on unrelated tangents.
Highlight Impact and Process
A simple list of things you’ve done or theories you’ve learned isn’t what the QEP panels are looking for. Focus on the specifics of what you’ve done, how you did it, why it mattered, and what effect(s) it had.
Don’t Exaggerate
You should be as honest and specific as possible, but the QEP panel will see right through any attempts to inflate the facts or exaggerate the details. The panel is made up of very experienced officers.
Don’t Assume What the Panel Wants
Don’t try to guess what sort of responses the panel is looking for—just answer the questions in a way that is truthful and highlights your unique experiences.
Keep Your Career Track in Mind
When reviewing your narratives, the QEP will be referencing the career track that you indicated when you registered for the test, so make sure your narratives are appropriate to that career track.
Retaking the Exam
If you didn’t get a passing score on your first try, that’s okay! You can retake the test after a one-year waiting period.
A year seems like a long time to have to wait, but you can use that time to study and improve your knowledge and skills before trying again!
Online FSOT Prep Course
If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online FSOT prep course. The course is designed to provide you with any and every resource you might want while studying. The FSOT course includes:
- Review Lessons Covering Every Topic
- 1,700+ FSOT Practice Questions
- More than 900 Digital Flashcards
- Over 180 Instructional Videos
- Money-back Guarantee
- Free Mobile Access
- and More!
The FSOT prep course is designed to help any learner get everything they need to prepare for their FSOT exam. Click below to check it out!
FAQs
How many questions are on the FSOT?
The test contains 153 questions and one essay.
How long is the FSOT?
The test is timed at about 3 hours.
What is a good FSOT score?
A good FOST score is generally considered to be a score of 160 or higher.
How much does the FSOT cost?
The test is technically free! You’ll have to pay a temporary hold fee of $5, which is returned after you take the test. If you register for a testing appointment but fail to show up, you’ll have to pay a $72 no-show fee.
