Question 1
The Bill of Rights is
FSOT format: sections, questions and timing
The FSOT is 125 multiple-choice questions in three timed sections, in this order: Job Knowledge, English Usage and Comprehension, and Logical Reasoning. It takes 115 minutes. There is no calculator and no passing score.
| Job Knowledge | 50 questions in 35 minutes |
|---|---|
| English Usage and Comprehension | 45 questions in 35 minutes |
| Logical Reasoning | 30 questions in 45 minutes |
| In total | 125 questions in 115 minutes, no calculator |
| Passing score | None: the highest scores move on, by the needs of the Foreign Service |
Job Knowledge
50 questions in 35 minutes, about 42 seconds each. The questions cover U.S. government, U.S. history and society, world history and geography, economics, and math and statistics. Most reward broad knowledge you can recall fast, so the pace is quick.
English Usage and Comprehension
45 questions in 35 minutes, about 47 seconds each. Usage questions ask you to find and fix errors in grammar, punctuation, word choice and sentence structure. Comprehension questions ask what a short passage says, implies or is mainly about.
Logical Reasoning
30 questions in 45 minutes, 90 seconds each. Each question gives a short argument or set of facts and asks you to work with it.
- Make an inference: what must be true, given the facts.
- Justify a conclusion: what makes the argument stronger.
- Find a logical flaw: where the reasoning goes wrong.
- Identify an assumption: what the argument takes for granted.
What changed in October 2025
The State Department revised the test in October 2025. The essay, the personal narratives and the situational judgment section were removed. Logical Reasoning is the new third section. What remains is all multiple choice.
How candidates are chosen
There is no passing score. The State Department selects candidates for the next stage from the highest scores and the needs of the Foreign Service. A higher score gives you a better chance, so every question counts.
You must be at least 20 to sit the test. If you sit it, you can take it again after 12 months. The 2026 to 2027 windows are October 10 to 31, 2026 and January 30 to February 6, 2027.
Try 3 questions
Question 2
Which sentence expresses the idea most clearly and concisely?
Question 3
Only officers with a security clearance may enter the vault. Lena entered the vault.
If the statements above are true, which of the following must also be true?
Next step
Questions people ask
How many questions are on the FSOT?
125: 50 in Job Knowledge, 45 in English Usage and Comprehension and 30 in Logical Reasoning.
How long is the FSOT?
115 minutes of testing: 35 minutes for Job Knowledge, 35 for English Usage and Comprehension and 45 for Logical Reasoning.
Is there a calculator on the FSOT?
No. There is no calculator in any section, so the math in Job Knowledge is done by hand.
Does the FSOT still have an essay?
No. The essay, the personal narratives and the situational judgment section were removed in October 2025.
What is a passing score on the FSOT?
There is none. The State Department moves the highest scorers forward, by the needs of the Foreign Service.