The first section of the written portion of the Foreign Service Officer Test is the essay section. In the Essay Section, you’ll be offered a couple of prompts. The prompts will require you to take a position and effectively argue it. Officially, it doesn’t matter what your position is, but I’d avoid anything offensive. You have 30 minutes to write your essay.
- As soon as you start the test, read each prompt and choose the best one. Don’t look back!
- Write a thesis on your blank piece of scratch paper. I usually write a brief outline as well, but that’s just personal.
- What kind of essay you write depends on how fast you are and how many points you think of. If you have three strong arguments, go with a 5 paragraph essay, if you only have two, go with a two paragraph essay. If you only have one point, think harder!
- Write, write, write! Go quickly, but try not to make simple spelling and grammar mistakes.
For those of you who haven’t written any essays in a while, here are some basics. Always have a thesis. The thesis should generally be one sentence that explains your positions and offers 2-3 arguments that support it. The five paragraph essay consists of an introduction, three paragraphs of arguments, and a conclusion. The thesis should be the last line of your introduction, and the first sentence of each argument paragraph should restate one point from your thesis. The conclusion should restate the thesis and broaden things a bit. The two paragraph essay is much simpler. The first sentence of the essay is the thesis, and the rest of the first paragraph is devoted to arguing the first point. The second paragraph begins by restating the second point, building on it, and closes by restating the thesis. Practice writing essays in 30 minutes so you know how much you can write during that amount of time.
Hints
- The test is computer-based, so you’ll the faster you type, the more time you’ll have for thinking. There are several free, internet-based typing courses that can help you improve your skills.
- If you can’t think of good supporting arguments to your position, try arguing the other side, even if you don’t agree with it. All that matters is how well you write and convince.
- If you run out of things to say, go back and elaborate on what you’ve already said. You don’t want to start over again and end up with two halves of an essay when you run out of time.
This post is part of my unofficial Guide to the Foreign Service Exam.
{ 87 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you…it’s been a more than a decade since I’ve responded to an essay question. Thanks also for the time, thought and effort putting the FSOT section together.
Once again, thank you for your site. I just returned home from taking the FSOT and doubt I would have ‘felt’ as good about the essay if I hadn’t looked online and at your blog beforehand.
My test had two essays and they were the last two sections of my exam. In the prompt for the last essay, I was to discuss the ‘North American Treaty Organization (NATO’. In my essay, I corrected it to ‘Atlantic’. Even testmakers have bad days…..
Since when are there TWO essays on the exam? That’s nuts.
Thank you for your comment, what a phenomenal story. Good luck, let me know how it turns out!
I don’t know about anybody else, but I had two essays on my exam. One dealt with litigation and the other with NATO. The order of my test was 1) job knowledge 2) personal/bio 3) english then 4) two essays.
As an aside, the testing center not only had issues getting the three FSOT takers signed in (~45 minutes), but computers froze ~1 hour into the exam. Staff tried in vain to contact ACT via telephone, then continuously kept re-logging us in. Finally, one-by-one, the testing computers began working again….interesting day.
I’ll let you know the results in a few weeks. Once again, thanks for the site.
Yeah, I took the test today and had two essay questions. There didn’t appear to be an option of essay questions.
I think Brooks’ disclosure of the essay topics may violate the non-disclosure agreement s/he had to accept.
but his generiosity helps us to do well on the exam! Go Brook! we need more information!
I just took the test, and I swear there is no way to write a complete essay in thirty minutes. I managed three paragraphs and (most of) a concluding sentence. In your opinion, Hegemonist, which is more more important–accuracy and complexity, or producing a complete essay?
I just took the test this past week as well. I could only crank out 4 paragraphs (intro, 2 points, close). I originally had 3 points but had to delete one because I was running out of time and hadn’t written a conclusion. I really do not feel good about the essay :( I keep thinking of better ways I could have expressed myself, but 30 minutes goes by in a snap! My essay felt really hokey and pointless, too. Very “kumbaya, let’s all hold hands.” Sigh. I guess there’s always next year.
I’m glad to hear I wasn’t the only one who had trouble wrapping up in 30 minutes. I winnowed mine down to four paragraphs as well; I felt pretty good about the other sections but I’m sweating that one.
Oh, good. It’s not just me. I was writing so fast I’m not entirely sure what I wrote–I can only hope it was coherent. I’m impressed that you managed four paragraphs.
If I don’t make it through this time, I’ll have to brush up on my typing.
Anyway, best of luck to everyone who took the FSOT this week–and let’s keep our fingers crossed until the letters arrive.
Glad to read the other posts. I tested this past week too and was most anxious about this part going into the test. I just sat there frozen for at least five minutes trying to figure out what they were asking, but the question was so long and wordy and I was a little clueless about how to answer it. I tried to pre-write but that didn’t work too well. Fortunately I came up with three paragraphs of about 3 sentence each. Well written in terms of structure and grammar I hope, but unsure about the strength of my arguement.
The 30 minutes flew by and I kept thinking “THIS IS IT. DO IT”. But at the end of a 3 hour test it was a very hard. I typed til the last seconds. Like Brian, if I miss one section, this will be it. Then I’ll want to take an English composition refresher course or force myself to work on essays. This is where all that studying and reading the newspaper matters.
Thanks for the kudos Bets!
I just took the test a week ago. Good luck guys, this thing is tricky. The job knowledge felt anticlimactic as others have mentioned. Not that it was easy, but that I was clear about which ones I knew and clear about which ones I didn’t. No curve balls. One question actually straight up asked what the capital of a country was. And an easy one, not like South Africa where it changes every 6 months. (or am i confused?) I had a lot of trouble with the bio section as the time and space was limited and I felt my answers were incomplete and made little sense without an explanation (which didn’t fit, ever) Some of those questions were repeats or just reworded and asked again. I’m worried that I may have answered them differently since looking at the same question 3 or 4 times makes you doubt your original answer. The English section went well I think. Everyone sounds like the essay was most stressful. I have to admit I was quite intimidated at my half-page prompt and reread it a few times. Eventually I wrote what felt like a lot of fluff and far reaching, inconclusive conjecture. Later, I was talking to a friend and told him what I wrote. His response was “have you read the energy independence and security act of 2007?” no. of course i haven’t. as it turns out, my “fluff” was actually me rewriting this act without ever knowing about it. I squeezed out 5 meager paragraphs of about 4 sentences each and felt not so confident. His comment made me feel a new hope that if i don’t pass, at least it wasn’t the essay that screwed me. Moral of the story: you probably did better than you think. and maybe it’s just about how you write and not what you write about or even if your facts are right. overall i wish we had some point of reference like… “you need a 90 percent overall to pass” type of information so that i could gauge how i did. unfortunately, i have no clue.
Here’s how i think i did, where do you guys think this puts me?
Knowledge: at least 70% as high as 85% correct
Bio: no clue whatsoever
English: 95-100%
Essay: no clue. good. maybe?
wish there were more math questions….
Clueless,
I took the FSOT this past Saturday and I feel a lot of your concerns. The text box in the biographic section where they would ask for explanations of your answer didn’t seem sufficient. If I’m remembering correctly, it restricted you to 30 to 40 words. Of course, that had me constantly going back and trying to reword so as not to go over. It was like writing a Twitter update!
As for the job knowledge section, I seriously employed the “throw two ‘distractor’ answers out, and pick among the two left” strategy a good percentage of the time. I’m hoping that did well for me.
Of the remainder of the test–the grammar section and the essay–I feel a bit more confident. I was an English major, and I got a master’s in writing. I will say that I was originally freaked out when I saw that the grammar section had like, 65 questions which had to be completed in 50 minutes or so. My first thought was: The hell?! But there was a part in that section that had me correcting maybe 10 sentences, independent of any larger, longer “report.” So, the time turned out to be more sufficient than I had thought previously.
Took the FSOT 8 June. I finished the essay, had enough time (but could have used more). When I walked out I felt pretty good about my answer, but as time goes by I get more nervous. I am also not sure about the bio questions, but as the poet said, “it is what it is” (he wasn’t much of a poet, by the way).
Dear “Clueless”,
The capitals of South Africa are Pretoria, (Legislative) and Cape Town (Judicial). They have been this way for the last 100 years, and certainly do not change every six months. Please get your facts right about the world, especially before you consider becoming an ambassador for the USA.
Dear “David”,
There are three capitals in South Africa; Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial). Please get your facts right about the world, especially before you consider being an ass
Please comment nice.
@David - Clueless admitted he wasn’t sure, and I think he was just trying to say that some capital situations are more complicated than others.
@Mugatu - Let’s not resort to name-calling please.
Just when I thought I knew about anything and everything that was out there to be known (people say that’s impossible, I say they’re wrong) here I am learning something new! Thanks to David and Mugatu, I read up on the South African capital(s) and no longer feel so clueless, at least about that specific subject.
@ David - I’m sorry to have somehow personally offended you.
@ Mugatu - thanks for standing up for a [somewhat ignorant] stranger
@ Hegemonist - thanks for understanding what i meant about the capital situation. i hate blogs. Love yours. and not that it matters but Clueless = she.
all I have to say is that they’d better get us June testers the results soon. I’VE GOT TO KNOW!!! the suspense is killing me!
Hi guys,
I am a new poster and I took the FSOT on June 10th. Although, I prepared for it, I am a first time taker and this was sort of a dry run for me. I am trying to manage my expectations because this process is long and can be heartbreaking. Even if we ALL get through, you always have the personal narratives, then the group interviews, then the security clearance, then even after all this you are not guaranteed an appointment…GEEee…sure is a good gig but a tough one to pull. Listen I hope we all do well but I just don’t want any huge disappointments. So, as we go through this, please manage your expectations and don’t drop everything else in your life because there are no guarantees with this.
Although, I feel pretty good about my essay (btw I only had one), i didn’t think that 30 minutes were enough.Anyway, good luck everyone!!!We shall see next week!!!
WOOHOOO! I just got the email–I PASSED! I guess my 4-paragraph essay passed muster. I hope you all had similar good news!
And now…more essays.
Just passed the written. Here was my essay strategy; it mimics the 5 para structure above. I believe we all had the same essay question, but that’s irrelevant. What is important isn’t what you say, but the way in which you say it.
I. Intro
o Restate question, get reader prepared for delivery of your thesis
0 Thesis: The proper method of ____ is __(x)__, __(y)__, __(z)__.
II. Body I
o Item x, as stated above, is an important consideration in ___.
o First, ___.
o As an example, ____
o In addition, ___.
o Restate why item x is important and transition into next item.
III. Body II
Repeat steps above for item y
IV. Body III
Repeat steps above for item z
V. Conclusion
Restate the question and the important considerations x, y, z above.
Conclude with closing sentence.
For specific questions, feel free to email me. My approach was similar to High School Regents exam essays (for New York, anyway).
Apologies for not conveying the specific topic; I believe that’s an FSOT “No-No.”
QEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey I just got my pass letter too! Congratulations Andrea. I totally felt the same way about my essay, as I had to cut it short due to the time constraint. I walked out of that test center thinking “well at least I know what to study for next time, next year!”
Hey Diatus, I think you should give yourself more credit because it is a big accomplishment to even pass this test! Even if you don’t get the job you still have the satisfaction of knowing that you have succeeded where many have failed.
Mugatu, that was awesome! haha
looks like my ignorance about South Africa’s capitals didn’t hinder me from passing. yayyy!
so… i know this is an awkward thought process but… did EVERYONE pass? or are only people that passed posting? my friend that tested with me passed as well. sounds like everyone did really well. i know i shouldn’t be celebrating since this is only the beginning (and by most accounts the easiest part) but i was so sure i did horribly…
congrats everyone!! couldn’t have done it without The Heg!
@Diatus I think you’re correct on the importance of managed expectations. Not everyone will get through and it won’t always be evident why he/she doesn’t get the call offering an A-100 spot. That said, remember the importance of optimism, perserverance, and discernment regarding whether or not you think this career/profession is a good fit for you and vice versa. If you think it’s for you & don’t pass at some point along the way, keep trying & gain experiences that will support your case in making it in. Best of luck!
@Clueless Please remember the non-disclosure agreement that you signed not to release substantive information about the test.
What do u mean? South africa was a running joke over my last few posts
People really need to stop policing others about the NDA. It’s so annoying.
I think what IrishEyes was objecting to was the possibility that people could infer (rightly or wrongly) that there were no questions about South Africa on the FSOT. Or that there were not a sufficient number of questions about South Africa to affect Clueless’ score. Thereby giving others an unfair advantage by allowing them to focus on the other 250 some odd countries around the world.
Clearly a violation of the NDA.
LOL. please tell me you’re joking.
Frankly, I don’t know about you all, but I was simply shocked that they asked that easy question on world culture! I mean–it wasn’t like they were asking questions about the didgeridoo performance practices of the Aborigines of Northern Australia or something hard like that. I mean! I was shocked! The question they asked was sooooo easy in comparison!
**OH DEAR. Have I violated the NDA??! NOW SOMEONE WILL KNOW THEY DON”T HAVE TO STUDY DIDGERIDOO HISTORY. They can instead focus on all the other areas of world culture. MY GOD WHAT HAVE I DONE?**
Frankly, if someone takes the trouble to learn all capitals of the world because of a random, nebulous, somewhat sarcastic post on a message board, I say more power to them. This whole obsession with the NDA just reeks of insecurity by other candidates. Positively REEKS. The only person who should be criticized is the person who point blank posted what the essay topics were. But even in that case WHY do you feel the need to correct/remind/criticize/jump all over that person? If you are that obsessed with minutiae and correcting everyone, I think you’re going to have one HELL of a time getting along in the foreign service. Or any career, for that matter.
/RANT OVER. Now go study the didgeridoo. Or don’t. Infer what you will.
Apparently what was intended as a friendly reminder was taken as a more strident comment. I apologize, and hope you all have a happy Fourth of July.
I filled out my test registration in 2008 and wrote several personal narratives as a part of that process. I passed the FSOT in June and have moved on to the QEP personal narratives. The only problem is that the questions are identical to what I filled out during the first test registration. On this forum I read that the test has recently changed and the current registration process does not require you to fill out personal narratives before you take the test. Now I suppose they simply recycled the questions and are now asking them post successful test completion. I liked my answers from the first time I wrote my personal narratives. Should I come up with all new personal narrative answers or should I submit my personal narratives from my 2008 test registration? What do you all think?
Since the only thing that has changed is the order in which the questions are asked (before or after the written exam), one could logically assume that resubmitting the same personal narratives would be the way to go. I somehow doubt that the QEP really has the time to read a double set of narratives for a single candidate, so if you think your answers are strong, stick with them. That said, use this as a chance to polish up your answers–I’m always amazed what a little time can do to aid the editing process.
I’m sure you’re original answers have just been jettisoned anyway–I agree with Bets about taking a fresh look at them and resubmitting if you still like them. Amen on the time thing! In my excitement I wrote the essays the first night I found out I passed, but I’m glad I’m sitting on them because I’ve already thought about better things to talk about and better ways to say it. I’ll probably use almost the whole 3 weeks to just…tweak.
I meant your. lol. DOH– better go proofread those essays again
I don’t understand the results of my FSOT - I got a 181 on the multi-choice and a 4 on the essay.
I thought I slammed dunked the essay - about principles for economic development in Alaska - but…I have no idea what I did wrong.
I used classical paragraph structure, setting the theme in the introduction and developing each point in each paragraph.
Any clues? resources? references?
Solo,
Feel free to email me directly.
I will take the FSOT in October does any of you guys did any Prep Course? Can you recommend one? Do you guys will take any foreign language test? I am fluent in two foreign languages but none of them are the critical ones, I am very nervous to take the test, best of luck to all of you
Does anyone know how the essay is graded? For example, what criteria do they use and is the grade on a numerical scale? Are there different grades for different criteria that are added up at the end?
Also, since it seems to contrast with others’ experience, I took the exam just last month and had only one essay, at the end, and no choice of prompt.
Does anyone know how long after submission of the Personal Narratives one hears about being invited to the oral exam?
Mick,
October, I believe. Good luck!
Hey all,
Thanks for all the helpful comments. I’m taking the test in October also. A friend of mine passed both portions and is entering the September class…
M
I am taking the test in October and have been studying for about 2 months now. I have a bunch of review books on US history and bought a $100 dollar set of flashcards that cover economics, world history, government, etc. One book in particular that I bought is by NLC (National Learning Corp) and is called “Foreign Service Officer Test Preparation Guide.” There are such ridiculous questions in this book and I can’t possibly believe that this information is expected of us.
Here are some examples:
1. Approximately how many tons of the nerve agent VX remained unaccounted for in Iraq by 2002. a) 500pounds, b) 900 pounds, c) 1.5 tons, d) 14 tons
2. In the summer of 2002, longtime Palestinian terrorist Abu Nidal, whose grouped was blamed for attacks in more than 20 countries was found dead in the city of a) Gaza, b) Mecca, c) Baghdad, d) Ramallah
3. The terror group in the Phillipines with ties to al-Qaeda is a) Jemaah Islamiyah, b) ELA , c) Tamil Eelam , d) Abu Sayyaf
If you guys know the answers to these, than respect.
For those of you who have taken the test, can I expect questions like that to be on the exam??
for all those who passed, how did you study? how did practice your grammar? and writing?
Hi Bill,
I read the magazine, The Economist (which I read anyway), and read Strunk & White’s _Elements of Style_. I only squeaked by with a 7 on my essay, so perhaps should have put time in on that. I’m hanging fire on the QEP now with fingers crossed. Good luck!
Bill,
I passed the June FSOT. I recommend keeping up with the news, watching Jeopardy everyday and selecting books on the recommended reading list in areas that you are not familiar with.