Checked 1 November 2026. Test formats, timings and pass marks from the Public Service Commission of Canada test pages (TOJ 376, TOJ 377, GCT-2A-324), and the Foreign Service Development Program status and assessments from the IRCC pages, all read 1 November 2026. The IRCC pages do not name the PSC tests; recheck the job poster and assessment invitations when a process opens.
The official pages we found do not describe one Canada-wide "foreign service exam" like the US Foreign Service Officer Test. The one program-level description we found, IRCC's Foreign Service Development Program, says eligible applicants may be invited to a written exam and individual and group interviews. Separately, the Public Service Commission (PSC) publishes its standard tests for officer-level public service jobs: the Test of Judgement (TOJ 376 online and TOJ 377 supervised) and the General Competency Test Level 2 Abridged (GCT-2A) for reasoning. The IRCC pages do not name these tests, so check the assessments listed for your own process.
Below are two original worked questions: one reasoning question in the GCT-2A format and one judgement question in the TOJ format, each with an explained answer. Neither is a question from any government test. The kit's free sample plays in a timed player further down the page, and the written exam gets practice tips rather than a sample task, because the IRCC page does not describe its format.
Applied to the 2026 Global Affairs Canada Foreign Service Officer (FS-01) campaign? Its GC Jobs poster schedules a written exam for mid-to-late January 2027, then a simulation exercise and an interview. Our Foreign Service Officer 2027 Prep Pack has 32 practice items for those stages (6 timed written-exam tasks, 6 simulation tasks, 20 interview questions), plus Test of Judgement and GCT2 practice (47 situations, 100 questions), which this poster does not list, and 6 screening-answer examples: 185 items in all.
See the prep packPublic Service Commission of Canada test pages, read 1 November 2026.
Is there a Canadian foreign service exam in 2026?
Not that we could find. The US Foreign Service Officer Test is a separate US assessment; prepare for the assessments set out in your Canadian recruitment instructions instead. The Canadian official pages we read describe assessments process by process: IRCC tells applicants to review the current job poster for the most up-to-date qualifications and conditions, and federal jobs are listed on GC Jobs. When we checked on 1 November 2026, IRCC's Foreign Service Development Program apply page said the program "is not accepting new applications at this time" and that the page will be updated when the next recruitment opens.
What can be practised now are the published formats: the PSC's officer-level tests, which come with official formats and sample questions, and the assessments IRCC lists for its program. The table shows what each official page says, and where this page helps you practise it. Treat the PSC rows as tests you may meet, not as a confirmed part of any foreign service process.
| Assessment | What the official page says | On this page | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsupervised Test of Judgement 376 | Online, unsupervised, 52 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes; judgement for solving problems in work-related situations; result as a level from J-01 to J-10 | Question 2 | PSC, TOJ 376 |
| Supervised Test of Judgement 377 | In person at a federal government building, 40 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes; used alone, or as step 2 after the TOJ 376 (a department may use its own judgement assessment for step 2 instead) | Question 2 | PSC, TOJ 377 |
| General Competency Test Level 2 Abridged (GCT-2A-324) | Supervised, 50 multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes: number and letter series, numerical problems, analytical reasoning; in some selection processes, used as an alternative to a university education requirement (the FSDP page asks for a bachelor's degree and does not mention this alternative) | Question 1 | PSC, GCT-2A-324 |
| Written exam (Foreign Service Development Program) | After the application review, eligible applicants may be invited to a written exam, individual and group interviews, and to provide references; the format of the exam is not described | Practice tips | IRCC, FSDP apply page |
| Second language evaluation (FSDP) | CCC or higher in all 3 second language evaluation tests is a condition to be placed in a pool; paid language training may be offered | Not covered here | IRCC, FSDP apply page |
For the full career picture (departments, streams, salary, how to apply), read our guide on how to become a foreign service officer in Canada. This page is about the questions.
FreeTests: Analytical thinking
Canada Test of Judgement Practice: free sample
Answer 4 questions against the clock, like the real exam. You then see the right answer, the reason and your time on each. About 7 minutes · free · no sign-in.
4 questions to answer
Start nowabout 7 minThis one is free · no sign-in needed
Your result shows how long each question took you.
The Test of Judgement in two steps
The PSC's Understanding the Test of Judgement page explains the two ways a department can assess judgement. In two steps, applicants first take the Unsupervised Test of Judgement 376 online; only those who pass are eligible for step 2, the Supervised Test of Judgement 377 or a departmental assessment of judgement, which must happen before appointment. The department may screen further or assess other criteria before step 2. In one step, all candidates take the TOJ 377 only. In a two-step process you must pass both tests, and a valid earlier score on the supervised test does not let you skip step 1.
The TOJ 376 replaced the former Public Service Entrance Exam unsupervised judgement test (TOJ UIT 374) on 22 July 2025, so pages that describe the 374 (75 minutes, a top-80% pass rule) are out of date. Results come as a level: each level is a percentile band against a large sample of earlier test takers, and each department sets its own pass mark between J-02 and J-07. There is a 180-day wait before a retest, there is no penalty for guessing, and some answers earn partial marks. All of this is on the TOJ 376 page.
| Level | Percentile band | As a pass mark it means |
|---|---|---|
| J-02 | 10 to 14 | Only the lowest-scoring tenth or so are screened out |
| J-04 | 20 to 24 | You need to beat at least 20% of the comparison group |
| J-05 | 25 to 29 | You need to beat at least 25% |
| J-07 | 35 to 39 | The highest pass mark allowed: roughly the top 65% pass (the PSC's own example) |
| J-10 | 50 or higher | Not a pass mark; the top band, meaning you outperformed at least half |
Timings and question counts from the PSC test pages; minutes per question is our arithmetic. The supervised TOJ gives slightly less time per question than the online one.
Reasoning: one sample question (GCT-2A style)
The GCT-2A has three question types, named on its official page: number and letter series, numerical problems (an on-screen calculator is provided; the page sets rules for personal calculators) and analytical reasoning from a short passage. Each question has five options. Here is one number series to try before you open the answer.
Question 1 · Number series (original ProSyllabus question)
What number comes next? 7, 10, 16, 25, 37, ?
- 49
- 50
- 52
- 51
- 54
Show the answer and why
C, 52. The differences are 3, 6, 9, 12: each one grows by 3. The next difference is 15, and 37 + 15 = 52.
Method: write the gaps under the series first. If the gaps are not constant, look at the gaps between the gaps.
Want a full set? The ProSyllabus GCT2 practice test has timed sets of all three question types, including numerical problems and analytical reasoning, and our GCT2 sample questions guide explains the test in detail.
Judgement: one sample question (Test of Judgement style)
The PSC's own TOJ 376 sample question shows the format: a work situation, then response options, and for each option you choose how effective it is on a six-point scale from very ineffective to very effective. The test assesses "the judgement required for solving problems in work-related situations", and no specialised training, knowledge or experience is required. Our situation below follows that format.
Question 2 · Judgement (original ProSyllabus question)
Situation. Two senior colleagues have each asked you to finish a different urgent task by the end of the day. You cannot do both well in the time, and neither knows about the other's request.
Rate each response on the six-point scale: (1) Very ineffective · (2) Ineffective · (3) Somewhat ineffective · (4) Somewhat effective · (5) Effective · (6) Very effective.
- Do the task from the more senior of the two and leave the other one.
- Tell both colleagues about the conflict now and ask them, or your supervisor, to agree which task comes first.
- Do half of each task so that both have something by the end of the day.
Show the answer and why
- Response 1: our rating 3. Rank is one signal of priority, but you would leave a colleague to discover the gap at the end of the day.
- Response 2: our rating 6. Surfaces the conflict early so the people who own the priorities can decide, and nobody is surprised.
- Response 3: our rating 2. Hides the conflict and leaves both requests incomplete, without either colleague having agreed to that.
What it tests: managing competing demands. A common pattern in effective answers: communicate early, and let the decision sit with the people who own it.
These are our illustrative ratings, not an official key; on the test you choose one number per response. The PSC's TOJ 376 page says some answers earn partial marks, but does not say which ratings earn them.
Our Test of Judgement practice guide explains how to rate responses, and the PSEE exam guide explains the 376 and 377 in full.
- Timed written-exam tasks on invented information packs
- Simulation practice on invented mission scenarios
- 20 interview questions, 6 model answers
- Plus Test of Judgement and GCT2 practice kits
- One extra interview question free
How to prepare for a written exam
IRCC lists "a written exam" among the assessments for its Foreign Service Development Program but does not describe its format, so we do not print a sample task here. What can be practised are the skills the official pages describe for foreign service officers: IRCC says migration foreign service officers report on international migration trends and developments and make decisions on applications. Three exercises build those skills:
| Exercise | How to practise | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Summary for a busy reader | Take a news article of about 200 words on an international issue and cut it to 90 words for a manager who has a call in an hour | The change and its scale come first; every fact left in would change what the reader says |
| Trend note from data | Take any small public table with four to six figures and write a note of about 100 words: the trend, the peak, and one implication | Every number in your note matches the table, and your percentages add up |
| Plain-language rewrite | Rewrite a long, formal paragraph from any official letter in 30 words or fewer for the public | The action comes first, "you" and "we" replace the passive voice, and phrases that add length without meaning are gone |
Time each one (15 to 25 minutes) and set a word limit before you start: writing to a limit under time pressure is the skill, not the topic. The Foreign Service Officer 2027 Prep Pack has timed written-exam practice on invented information packs (briefing notes, recommendations, key messages), each task with a worked example.
FreeTests: Analytical thinking
Canada Test of Judgement Practice: free sample
Answer 4 questions against the clock, like the real exam. You then see the right answer, the reason and your time on each. About 7 minutes · free · no sign-in.
4 questions to answer
Start nowabout 7 minThis one is free · no sign-in needed
Your result shows how long each question took you.
Two ways to think, not just what to answer
Rating a response you half like
In the PSC's own TOJ 376 sample, one response is "Speak with your supervisor immediately to address the issue quickly and implement correct procedures." A thinking aid we use: ask three questions of any response. Does it solve the problem? Does it respect the people involved? Does it fit your role? Then rate the response on its overall effectiveness and likely consequences, on its own merits rather than against the other options: each response gets its own rating, so the scale is not a ranking.
Cutting a summary to the word limit
Suppose your first draft of a 90-word summary runs to about 150 words. Cut in this order: background the reader already knows, adjectives, then any fact that would not change what the reader says or decides. Keep a short phrase that shows the scale of the problem and one that says how long it may last; a long list of causes can usually shrink to a few words.
Common mistakes
- Preparing for the US FSOT. The US Foreign Service Officer Test is a separate US assessment. Prepare for the assessments named in your Canadian recruitment instructions.
- Studying the old 374. The former unsupervised PSEE judgement test 374 was replaced by the TOJ 376 on 22 July 2025. Use the current format.
- Treating judgement items as a ranking. Each response is rated on its own six-point scale; two responses can deserve the same rating.
- Leaving items blank. The PSC says there is no penalty for guessing and some answers earn partial marks: answer every question.
- Taking the online test on a phone or a VPN. The TOJ 376 page asks for a desktop or laptop and a connection without a VPN, which can block the platform.
- Ignoring the 180-day retest rule. A retest inside the waiting period is not valid, and it resets the clock.
- Forgetting language and security. In the FSDP, CCC in all three second language tests and a top secret clearance are conditions; start language practice early.
The other Canada guides
FreeTests: Analytical thinking
Canada Test of Judgement Practice: free sample
Answer 4 questions against the clock, like the real exam. You then see the right answer, the reason and your time on each. About 7 minutes · free · no sign-in.
4 questions to answer
Start nowabout 7 minThis one is free · no sign-in needed
Your result shows how long each question took you.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Canadian foreign service exam?
The official pages we found do not describe one Canada-wide foreign service exam. IRCC's Foreign Service Development Program says eligible applicants may be invited to a written exam and individual and group interviews. The Public Service Commission's standard officer-level tests are the Test of Judgement (376 online, 377 supervised) and the General Competency Test Level 2 Abridged; the IRCC pages do not name them, so check the assessments listed for your process.
What is on the Canadian foreign service test?
It depends on the process. For the FSDP, IRCC says eligible applicants may be invited to a written exam and individual and group interviews, and full qualification for the pool needs CCC or higher in all three second language tests and a confirmed top secret clearance. The PSC's officer-level tests, if a process uses them: the TOJ 376 has 52 judgement questions in 90 minutes, the TOJ 377 has 40 in 60 minutes, and the GCT-2A has 50 reasoning questions in 120 minutes.
Where can I find Canadian foreign service exam sample questions?
The PSC publishes one sample question on its TOJ 376 page and four on its GCT-2A page, plus online sample tests in the Candidate Assessment Tool. This page adds two original worked questions with explained answers, and the kit's free sample plays in a timed player.
Is the PSEE still used?
The former PSEE unsupervised judgement test 374 was replaced by the Unsupervised Test of Judgement 376 on 22 July 2025. Where a process needs an unsupervised judgement result, the current test is the TOJ 376; where it needs a supervised one, the TOJ 377. The official pages we read do not say which foreign service processes use them.
What is the pass mark for the Test of Judgement?
Each department sets its own, between J-02 (percentile 10 to 14) and J-07 (percentile 35 to 39). Results are a level from J-01 to J-10 and stay valid indefinitely unless a process asks for a new result.
Is the Foreign Service Development Program open?
When we checked on 1 November 2026, IRCC said the Foreign Service Development Program was not accepting new applications and would update its page when the next recruitment opens.
What is the starting salary for a foreign service officer in Canada?
IRCC says it hires FSDP officers at FS-01 with a starting salary of $81,792 a year, and promotes graduates of the program to FS-02, starting at $92,448, both as of 1 July 2025. Pay rates may change with new collective agreements.
Can I retake the Test of Judgement?
Yes, after a 180-day waiting period, whatever the format. A retest taken inside the waiting period is not valid and starts a new waiting period.
Is the Canadian foreign service exam the same as the US FSOT?
No. The FSOT is the US State Department's test. Canadian processes set their own assessments; check the job poster and invitations for yours.
Practise for the written exam, simulation and interview
The Foreign Service Officer 2027 Prep Pack has timed written-exam practice on invented information packs, simulation practice on invented mission scenarios and 20 interview questions (6 with full model answers), and opens the Test of Judgement practice (47 situations, every rating explained, and a 40-question, 60-minute mock) and the GCT2 practice test (2 full tests). All written by us; not official questions.
Independent practice, not affiliated with the Public Service Commission of Canada, IRCC or Global Affairs Canada.
See the prep packSources
- official — Public Service Commission of Canada: Unsupervised Test of Judgement 376 (TOJ 376)
- official — Public Service Commission of Canada: Supervised Test of Judgement 377 (TOJ 377)
- official — Public Service Commission of Canada: Understanding the Test of Judgement
- official — Public Service Commission of Canada: Public Service Entrance Exam, Test of Judgement Unsupervised Internet Test 374 (replaced)
- official — Public Service Commission of Canada: General Competency Test Level 2 Abridged (GCT-2A-324)
- official — Public Service Commission of Canada: list of current PSC tests
- official — IRCC: Foreign Service Development Program
- official — IRCC: Foreign Service Development Program, Apply to the program
- official — IRCC: Foreign Service Development Program, A career as a migration foreign service officer
- official — GC Jobs: Foreign Service Officer, Global Affairs Canada (FS-01, EXT26J-179609-000011)
- official — Government of Canada: Jobs in the federal public service (GC Jobs)
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.
