Checked October 14, 2026. Medium. The practice-test page was last modified Feb 18, 2026 and the practice test itself was open on Oct 14, 2026. Pearson VUE edits its exam-day pages without notice; re-read them in the week before your appointment. The reading list and the recorded prep sessions predate the October 2025 revision.
Yes, there is a free official FSOT practice test, and it is the current format. The State Department links it from its page "Instructions to the Online Practice FSOT" on careers.state.gov. The page says the practice test "simulates the length and the questions of the new test, which was revised in October 2025". It has three parts: Job Knowledge, 50 questions in 35 minutes; English, 45 questions in 35 minutes; Logical Reasoning, 30 questions in 45 minutes. It has no timer, so you time yourself. ProSyllabus is an independent study site. It is not affiliated with the US Department of State, its Board of Examiners or Pearson VUE, and nothing here is official. Every rule is quoted or summarised from State Department, Pearson VUE and Federal Register pages, and the Department decides every candidacy.
Official practice test and its instructions page (modified Feb 18, 2026). The total is our arithmetic.
Where other pages get this wrong
The official practice test is the three-part test used since October 2025. It has no essay, no Situational Judgment part and no passing score to aim at.
Commonly published instead: Free "FSOT practice tests" built on the four-part test, with Situational Judgment items, an essay prompt and a pass mark. Two State Department files that are still online describe that older test as well: the FSOT Information Guide PDF (carried from our earlier reading as describing that test) and the selection-process page whose body says "Updated: March 2024", which we re-read on October 14, 2026.
The instructions page (modified Feb 18, 2026) says: "The Situational Judgment section has been replaced by a Logical Reasoning section", "There is no longer a written essay" and "the FSOT no longer has a passing score". Practise on material that matches those three sentences.
What the State Department offers free today
| Resource | What it is | Matches the current test? |
|---|---|---|
| Online FSOT Practice Test | A Microsoft Form of 13 pages linked from the instructions page: three parts, 125 questions by our count | Yes. The page says it simulates the test "revised in October 2025" |
| Instructions to the Online Practice FSOT | The page that describes what each part now covers, and says there is no essay and no passing score | Yes. Modified Feb 18, 2026 |
| FSOT Suggested Reading List (PDF) | Six pages of periodicals, style guides, textbooks and histories. A 2022 FAQ on careers.state.gov still points candidates to it | Partly, on our reading. The file is named August 2013 and its headings include management and computer applications, which the revised Job Knowledge part no longer names |
| Recorded FSOT prep sessions | Three recordings listed on careers.state.gov: January 16, 2024, May 2024 and 18 Sept 2024 | No, on dates alone: all three were recorded before the October 2025 revision |
| FSOT Information Guide (PDF) | An 88-page guide that still opens on careers.state.gov. On 14 Oct 2026 we could open it but not read its text; our description of it as the older guide to the four-part test, from 2016-17, is carried from our earlier reading | Not as far as we know. Check its pages yourself before relying on it |
| Diplomats in Residence | State Department officers a candidate can contact by region, named in the same 2022 FAQ | Not a practice resource; a person to ask |
The "matches" column is our reading of the dates and the wording on each page. The State Department has not published a list that sorts its own resources into current and outdated.
The official practice test, part by part
| Part | Questions | Minutes allotted | Seconds per question (ours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1: Job Knowledge | 50 | 35 | 42 |
| Part 2: English Usage and Comprehension | 45 | 35 | 47 |
| Part 3: Logical Reasoning | 30 | 45 | 90 |
| All three (our arithmetic) | 125 | 115 | 55 on average |
The first page of the practice test repeats the purpose and adds one sentence the instructions page does not have: "Scores achieved will indicate your potential performance on an actual FSOT." The Job Knowledge page says: "There are 50 questions in this section and the allotted time is 35 minutes", and "There is no penalty for guessing, so you should try to answer every question." When we opened that part on October 14, 2026, all 50 questions had four answer options and each was marked as worth one point. Part 2 is headed "English Understanding and Comprehension" on the practice test and "English Usage and Comprehension" on the instructions page; it is the same part.
Minutes x 60 / questions, rounded. The form does not time you: set a clock for each part yourself.
How to sit the official practice test so that it tells you something
- Sit it once, cold, before you study. The instructions say you "receive feedback on questions you answered correctly and questions you answered incorrectly"; that list is your study plan.
- Time each part separately: 35 minutes, 35 minutes, 45 minutes. The page says candidates "are encouraged to time themselves to mirror the conditions of the actual test".
- Do all three parts in one sitting at least once. Pearson VUE says Department of State tests are conducted without breaks.
- Use no notes and no calculator. The real test is closed book.
- Answer everything. There is no penalty for guessing.
- Keep your own tally of right answers per part. The form's last page says you get a total score and can review the correct answers, but "will not see scores for each individual section", and that you may retake the practice test as often as you like. We did not submit the form, so we have not seen the result screen itself.
The quoted words are from the State Department's instructions page and Pearson VUE's pages; the order of the list is ours.
One limit of the official test is that it is a single fixed set. After one honest sitting you have seen its questions, and a second attempt measures memory as much as skill. That is the gap a second question set fills.
What the free part of the ProSyllabus practice test contains
On this page you will find the ProSyllabus FSOT practice test. The first four questions of each part are free to answer here, twelve in all, with the answer and the reason shown after each; the rest of the set, and a timed run of each part, are paid. The ProSyllabus FSOT practice test is our own work: original questions written to the State Department's published description of the three parts, with every answer explained. It is not the State Department's test, it does not contain State Department questions, and a score on it predicts nothing about a real candidacy.
| Part | Questions in our set | Free | What the free ones cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Job Knowledge | 50 | 4 | One each from US government, history and society; world history and geography; economics; math and statistics |
| English Usage and Comprehension | 45 | 4 | Four usage and grammar questions: subject-verb agreement, pronoun case, a misplaced opening phrase, parallel structure |
| Logical Reasoning | 30 | 4 | One each from making inferences, justifying conclusions, finding logical flaws and identifying assumptions |
| Total | 125 | 12 | The paid part adds the other 113 questions and a timed run of each part at the official practice test's lengths |
Two of the twelve free questions are shown below with their answers, so you can see the style before you scroll to the set. Both are our own questions.
Free example 1 · Usage and grammar
Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence.
The ambassador invited my colleague and ___ to the briefing.
- myself
- mine
- I
- me
Answer: D. The pronoun is an object of "invited", so the object form "me" is needed. Test it by removing "my colleague and": "The ambassador invited me."
How to work it (our note): Take the other person out of the sentence and read it again. The pronoun that sounds right alone is the one to keep.
From the ProSyllabus FSOT practice test, English Usage and Comprehension part (an original question, not a State Department one). It is one of the free questions of that set.
Free example 2 · Finding logical flaws
If the server is down, staff cannot log in. Staff cannot log in this morning. So the server is down.
The reasoning is flawed because it
- treats one thing that would produce the result as the only thing that could have produced it.
- draws a conclusion about every member of the staff from a few of them.
- rejects a claim because of the character of the person who made it.
- uses its conclusion as one of its own premises.
Answer: A. A server failure would stop logins, but so could other things, such as a network fault or expired passwords. The argument reasons from the result back to one possible cause as though no other existed.
How to work it (our note): Name the pattern before you read the options: "if A then B; B; so A". Then look for the option that describes it.
From the ProSyllabus FSOT practice test, Logical Reasoning part (an original question, not a State Department one). It is one of the free questions of that set.
| Example | Area or skill | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Usage and grammar | D: me |
| 2 | Finding logical flaws | A: treats one thing that would produce the result as the only thing that could have produced it. |
The four free Job Knowledge questions are worked through in the Job Knowledge practice questions guide. For the counts, minutes and pacing of each part see the format guide.
What to expect on test day, from Pearson VUE's pages
Pearson VUE delivers the FSOT for the State Department: at home through its OnVUE online proctoring, at test centers, and at about 130 On Base Test Centers on US military installations. The rules below are for a test taken at home, and each is quoted or summarised from the two Pearson VUE pages in the sources.
| When | What Pearson VUE says |
|---|---|
| Days before | Run the System Test "on the same computer, in the same location, and at the same time as your exam appointment". Avoid corporate, university and military firewalls. |
| Technology | Windows 10 or macOS 14 or higher; a working webcam, microphone and speaker, with no headphones or headsets; one display only; at least 6 Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload. |
| 30 minutes before | Log in and start check-in. The "Begin Exam" button appears 30 minutes before the appointment and stays until 15 minutes after it. |
| Check-in | You give a phone number, then photograph yourself, your ID and four views of the room. Check-in "takes approximately 15 minutes for candidates who have previously completed a system test". |
| Identification | One valid, unexpired, government-issued ID with your photo and signature; the name must match the registration exactly. Candidates testing outside the US must use a US passport. |
| Your desk | Empty except for the computer and pre-approved items. No books, notes, paper or pens. "FSOT exams are closed-book exams." On beverages the two pages disagree: see the note below the table. |
| During the test | "All Department of State tests are conducted without breaks." If you move out of the webcam's view the session is ended and the result invalidated. Do not speak or read aloud. |
| Working out | A digital whiteboard is provided on screen. "This does not grant permission to use physical whiteboards or writing materials of any kind." Calculators are on the list of items not allowed in the room. |
| More than 15 minutes late | You are "considered a No Show". An at-home appointment can be rescheduled or cancelled at no cost up to the appointment time. |
One point where the two pages differ. The FSOT page says no electronic devices may be in the room "except for your cell phone", which you use for the check-in photographs and then place "out of reach, but close enough to be heard". The general online-testing page lists mobile phones under prohibited technology, with a note that "some programs allow specific exceptions". Read together, the phone is for check-in and for the proctor to reach you, not for use during the test. That reading is ours; if in doubt ask the proctor at check-in.
A second point where the two pages differ: beverages. The online-testing page lists "a beverage in an unmarked container" among the items allowed on the desk. The FSOT page says "No personal items should be in the testing room" and lists, among them, "food, beverages, etc." We print both and cannot tell you which governs; ask Pearson VUE before your appointment.
The current window and what happens after the test
On October 14, 2026 the Pearson VUE page listed the October 2026 testing window as October 10 to October 31, 2026, with registration closing on October 30, and the February 2027 window as January 30 to February 6, 2027, with registration opening on December 31, 2026 and closing, as the page prints it, on "January 28, 2026" (a year before the window; we read it as January 28, 2027). The same page also says "The registration period closes three days prior to the opening of the testing window", which does not match an October close of October 30 for a window that opens October 10. The US Mission Korea page, read the same day, still lists the October window as October 10 to 17, 2026 with registration closing October 8. The Pearson VUE page says it was last updated 2026-09-25. It adds that "candidates may test only once in a 12-month period". The dates and the retake rule are covered in the windows and retake guide.
There is no pass mark to plan for. The instructions page says the Department "will instead select candidates to move on to the next stage based on the highest scores and needs of the Foreign Service". The same page lists the later stages as the Foreign Service Officer Assessment, a background check, medical clearance, suitability clearance and a rank-order register. A State Department fact sheet of April 1, 2026 adds that the Department "has returned to the use of a Written Examination to replace the Qualification Evaluation Panel". The instructions page was last modified before that fact sheet and does not mention the Written Examination; we print both. See the scoring guide and the selection stages guide.
What we could not find
- A second official practice test, or any official question bank beyond the one form.
- What the result screen of the official practice test looks like. We read the form without submitting it; its last page describes the result (a total score, a review of the correct answers, no per-section scores) but we have not seen it.
- An official statement of how a practice score relates to the scores of candidates who are selected. The form says only that scores "will indicate your potential performance".
- Test-day rules for the live test at a test center that are specific to the FSOT; the Pearson VUE FSOT page details the at-home rules.
- A State Department reading list issued after the October 2025 revision.
- Whether the recorded 2024 prep sessions will be replaced with sessions on the revised test.
If the Department publishes any of these, this guide will follow it.
Nothing on this page is legal, immigration or career advice. Questions about your own case go to the State Department at FSOTQuestions@state.gov.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free official FSOT practice test?
Yes. The State Department links a free online practice test from its page "Instructions to the Online Practice FSOT" on careers.state.gov. The page says it simulates the length and the questions of the test as revised in October 2025.
How many questions are on the official FSOT practice test?
Job Knowledge has 50 questions in 35 minutes, English has 45 in 35 minutes and Logical Reasoning has 30 in 45 minutes. That is 125 questions and 115 minutes by our addition.
Is the official FSOT practice test timed?
No. The State Department says it does not include an automatic timer and encourages candidates to time themselves to mirror the conditions of the actual test.
Does the FSOT practice test have an essay?
No. The instructions page says there is no longer a written essay, and the practice test has three multiple-choice parts.
What score do I need on the FSOT practice test?
No official target exists. The State Department says the FSOT no longer has a passing score and that candidates are selected on the highest scores and the needs of the Foreign Service.
What is free in the ProSyllabus FSOT practice test?
The first four questions of each of the three parts, twelve in all, each with its answer and the reason. The remaining questions and the timed run of each part are paid. The questions are our own, not the State Department's.
Can I use a calculator or scratch paper on the FSOT at home?
No. Pearson VUE lists calculators among the items not allowed in the room and says no writing materials of any kind may be used. A digital whiteboard is provided on screen.
Are there breaks during the FSOT?
Pearson VUE says all Department of State tests are conducted without breaks, and that moving out of the webcam's view ends the session.
Is the State Department's FSOT reading list still current?
It is still online and a 2022 FAQ still points to it, but the file is named August 2013 and predates the October 2025 revision. Treat it as background reading, not as a syllabus.
More in this series
- FSOT eligibility: citizenship and age
- FSOT sections, question counts and timing
- FSOT scoring: no passing score
- FSO selection stages and the Register
- FSOT dates, registration and the 12-month rule
- FSOT Job Knowledge practice questions
- FSOT essay and Personal Narratives
- US FSOT notice board — official updates
Sources
- official — careers.state.gov — "Instructions to the Online Practice FSOT" (modified 18 Feb 2026; re-read 14 Oct 2026, unchanged): purpose, no automatic timer, feedback, the revised content of each part, no written essay, no passing score, the later stages
- official — State Department "Online FSOT Practice Test" (Microsoft Form linked from the instructions page; all 13 pages stepped through read-only on 14 Oct 2026 with the Next button, nothing answered or submitted): Part 1 Job Knowledge, 50 questions in 35 minutes; Part 2 English Understanding and Comprehension, 45 questions in 35 minutes; Part 3 Logical Reasoning, 30 questions in 45 minutes; no penalty for guessing; the last page says what the result shows
- official — careers.state.gov — Foreign Service Officer page (page metadata modified 9 Oct 2026): the five career tracks and the registration link. The paragraph about the revamped FSOT ("we removed the requirement for personal narrative essays") is in the page's HTML but inside a block marked hidden, so a visitor does not see it on screen on 14 Oct 2026; the same sentence is visible in the 5 Sep 2025 Media Note
- official — Pearson VUE — Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) page (read 14 Oct 2026): eligibility, registration steps, testing windows for October 2026 and February 2027, exam-day rules for at-home testing, the 12-month rule
- official — Pearson VUE — online testing requirements for Department of State tests (read 14 Oct 2026): no breaks, technology and desk rules, check-in, the digital whiteboard
- official — careers.state.gov FAQ — "How can I prepare for the Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT)?" (2 Jun 2022): the practice test and the Suggested Reading List
- official — careers.state.gov — "FSOT Suggested Reading List" PDF (file named Aug 2013, six pages, opens in Chrome on 14 Oct 2026; page 1 re-read there, the headings on later pages are from our text extraction of the same file the same day; it predates the October 2025 revision of the test)
- official — careers.state.gov — recorded FSOT prep sessions listed by the site search on 14 Oct 2026: January 16, 2024, May 2024 and 18 Sept 2024 (all recorded before the October 2025 revision)
- official — US Department of State, Fact Sheet "U.S. Department of State Announces Reforms to the U.S. Foreign Service" (1 Apr 2026): Written Examination replaces the Qualification Evaluation Panel; oral exam redesigned; A-100 reformed
- official — careers.state.gov — "FSO Selection Process – Text Version" (modified 24 Feb 2026; its body says "Updated: March 2024", so its test format, Personal Narratives and QEP are out of date): Register, bump-up points, clearance, offers, training, the $72 no-show fee
- official — careers.state.gov — FSOT Information Guide PDF (88 pages; opens in Chrome on 14 Oct 2026 with the cover "U.S. Department of State Information Guide to the Foreign Service Officer..."; we could not read its text in that check, so the description of it as the 2016-17 guide for the old four-part test is carried from our earlier reading, not re-read on 14 Oct 2026)
official = a document published by the conducting body. reported = a news or coaching site we could not check against an original. Where sources disagree this page says so rather than picking one.
