The FSOT and the stages after it, at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| The test | Multiple choice, revamped from the October 18-25, 2025 sitting: a new logic and reasoning section, the situational judgement section discontinued, and no personal narrative essays |
| Results | On the score report right after the exam: whether you passed or failed |
| Attempt limit | Once in a 12-month period |
| Who can register | US citizens, aged 20 to 59 on the day they submit the registration; appointment needs age 21 to under 60 |
| Where | At home online (OnVUE), about 130 on-base test centers, and Pearson test sites in the US and overseas |
| Next stage | The FSOA: a Written Exercise in a 5-day window, then the Structured Interview and Negotiation Exercise |
On April 1, 2026 the State Department said it had returned to a Written Examination to replace the Qualification Evaluation Panel. Neither Pearson VUE nor the State Department pages we read on October 20, 2026 give a passing score as a number or a pass rate, so this page states neither.
Dates and windows
| What | When | Status |
|---|---|---|
| October 2026 testing window | October 10 to 31, 2026 | Confirmed |
| October 2026 registration closes | October 30, 2026 | Confirmed |
| February 2027 registration opens | December 31, 2026 | Confirmed, subject to change |
| February 2027 registration closes | January 28, 2027 (printed as 2026) | Confirmed, subject to change |
| February 2027 testing window | January 30 to February 6, 2027 | Confirmed, subject to change |
| Windows after February 2027 | Not listed on October 20, 2026 | Not published |
| FSOA invitations for the October 2026 cohort | Not published on October 20, 2026 | Not published |
Registration has two steps, submitting an application and selecting a seat, both in the same period of about five weeks before a window.
Source: Pearson VUE, FSOT
- 3 full timed practice tests: 125 questions in 3 parts, 115 minutes each
- Instant score by part, the reasoning behind every answer
- A 13-week plan that starts with your weakest part
- Drills: 50 key-topic questions in three 15-minute sets
- FSOT revision kit PDF and the 20-page Exam Toolkit
- Don’t pass? Free prep for your next attempt
What this means for your preparation
What to do next depends on where you are in the process. The dates below are Pearson VUE's; the advice is ours.
You sat the October 2026 FSOT
Your score report shows whether you passed or failed. If you are invited to the FSOA, the Written Exercise is the first step and must be taken on one of the dates in the 5-day window named in your invitation letter, so practise timed writing before the letter arrives. The fuller explanation is in our FSOT scoring guide.
You plan to sit in February 2027
Registration opens on December 31, 2026 and closes on January 28, 2027. You can test only once in a 12-month period, so a candidate who sat in any 2026 window (February-March, May, July or October) cannot sit in February 2027, while one who last sat in October 2025 can (our arithmetic from that rule).
You tested within the last 12 months
Check your own 12-month date before you register. Our FSOT dates guide has a calculator for the next window you can sit.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the next FSOT?
The October 2026 window runs October 10 to 31, 2026, with registration closing October 30. The next window is January 30 to February 6, 2027; registration for it opens December 31, 2026 and closes January 28, 2027, according to the Pearson VUE FSOT page.
When will I get my FSOT result?
Pearson VUE says the score report you receive right after the exam shows whether you passed or failed. "Scores are under review" on your Pearson profile is not the result.
When are FSOA invitations sent for the October 2026 FSOT?
No date was published on October 20, 2026. Pearson VUE's FSOA page says invited candidates schedule the Written Exercise within a 5-day window named in the invitation letter.
Is there a passing score for the FSOT?
No passing score is given as a number, and no pass rate is published, on the Pearson VUE or State Department pages we read on October 20, 2026. The score report shows pass or fail.
How often can I take the FSOT?
Once in a 12-month period, according to the Pearson VUE FSOT page.
