It was on 2008 when I became interested in taking the Foreign Service exam. My then boyfriend, who happens to be my husband now shared a lot of wonderful stories being a child of an ambassador and it captured my interest...
I always wanted to take the exam however there were a lot of issues from year to year like missing my diploma, getting pregnant, missing the deadline and etc. I was not able to take the exam.
However, on one fateful day in December 2017, I remembered to check who pass the FSOET and saw that the deadline for 2018 exam application is in three days time. Hurriedly, without thinking twice (since Im not pregnant) I have decided to take the exam. I filed my application on December 8 which happens to be the deadline of accepting applicants.
Today, January 28, 2018 is the Qualifying Test schedule. I took the exam at Angelicum College, and while taking the exam I thought of writing down my experience to help the fellow FSO aspirants like me because resources and blogs about this exam is really limited. Im just sharing my experience, hoping it will kind of help or inspire others. Its prohibited to share the exact questions or part of it, you might get jailed. :)
Tip number 1.
* You have to be really early at the testing site. They do not accept late comers and they are very strict with time.
7:30 am is the call time but the exam starts around 8am, (its actually around 8:15 when the bell rang).
While waiting for the exam to start, you will have to fill up the attendance sheet, write down your examinee number and answer sheet in number in a big sheet of white paper consisting of pictures of applicants, their name and of course signature.
Tip number 2
* Use regular ballpens- no sign pen, fancy shiny pens, correction pen (yung pwede mabura yung ink)
The proctor said, if you use other than the regular pen the computer will not be able to scan the answers it properly.
Tip number 3
* Water- I am quite surprised that they are strict with mineral water bottles because they have asked the examinees to remove the labels of the bottles. Forget your starbuck tumbler dear, bring something transparent and if you will buy wilkins, remove the label.
The first three tips are actually written in the test permit instruction though.
Tip Number 4.
*Exam- Be prepared- the questions on Qualifying test is like a Civil service exam. By the way, i just realised that the qualifying exam is actually officiated by the Civil service commission and not DFA.
They will give you an answer sheet, you have to write down your examinee number, exam details such as dates, place of exam etc. Names are not written. Your answer sheet number, written on the right most part should be the same with your assigned seat number.
Test booklet number should be the same with your answer sheet number. Few minutes before we started, we check if the pages were complete by briefly scanning each pages.
Exam starts once the bell rang.
Exams consists of 160 items.
Grammar, sentence construction- questions came in English and Filipino.
I was surprised there was no abstract reasoning- yung mag pictures na kung ano no haha..
Math was more of analyzation, it thought they will give out complicated fractions, algebra, calculus which I am really scared of but none! Happy me.
I got really kamote with Management exam. Its a situational kind of question and they also gave out question na if you were the Philippine ambassador what would you do? Questions about performance management. Older applicants with broad management experience might treat these questions as bonus.
I was not able to prepare for this kind of questions but its okay.. IF I pass i would be really happy, if not ok lang. I will try again. Besides, this is just the beginning of the long 5 phase examination.
Study Civil Service exam reviewer and other IQ test you can find in the internet.
look for some management/leadership questions too.
I will let you guys know if I passed, for sure there will be part II of this article.
I will start to prepare for the next phase, Preliminary Interview and Written test. Since the result will be released 41 days from now pa naman. Its better to prepare, if di man pumasa charge to experience na lang. :)
If someone could share some tips, please post naan to help me and others pass this exam..
Here are some of the great sites I read for tips and inspiration.
FSOE sample question
Tips from the Passer
I pray I will pass this exam to make my Nanay in Heaven proud of me.
This is for you Nanay Leony! I miss you and I love you so much!
Para ng halamang lumaki sa tubig, daho'y malalanta munting 'di madilig; ikinaluluoy ang sandaling init; gayundin ang pusong sa tuwa'y maniig.
