Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) Updates

This press release from the State Department announces updates to its Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT), as part of "ongoing efforts to modernize and strengthen the merit-based selection process for America’s diplomats." The press release also indicates several new updates: a new logic and reasoning section, the removal of the situational judgment section and requirement for personal narrative essays, as well as amendments to the job knowledge and English expression questions so that they "are more closely aligned" with job requirements. News media reports that a senior State Department official reported that the FSOT will be replaced with a new formulation not "riddled with [Diversity, Equity and Inclusion] principles." The union representing many foreign service officials, the American Foreign Service Association, objected to the requirement that candidates currently on the Foreign Service Officer register who had already taken and passed the FSOT must retake this updated FSOT to remain eligible for service.