FBI Assessment Tests

Careers at FBI

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the intelligence and security service of the United States. It helps to protect the country and its communities, businesses, and institutions from domestic and international threats.

The FBI works across the fields of counterterrorism, counterintelligence, weapons of mass destruction, cybercrime, public corruption, civil rights, organized crime, white-collar crime, and violent crime, offering many diverse career opportunities.

The FBI hires frontline staff as special agents, intelligence analysts, surveillance officers, forensic accountants, and foreign language experts.

It also hires specialized professionals under the following banners: STEM, Arts & Communications, Business & Administration, Facilities & Logistics, Legal, Medical & Counseling, and Police & Security.

The FBI’s Collegiate Hiring Initiative recruits a new intake of graduates every year. The Bureau also runs a 10-week Honors Internship Program for undergraduate students in accounting, cyber, law, and STEM subjects.

Recruitment into the FBI is a long, challenging, multi-stage process that evaluates applicants across a number of different skills needed to be an effective agent, officer, or operative.

Although the exact recruitment process differs according to department and the particulars of the role, it is likely to encompass the stages detailed below.

If your initial application passes screening, you will be required to complete a number of written and practical assessments, to judge your suitability in terms of both intelligence, ability to deal with specific scenarios, and fitness level (if applicable).

Recruitment for special agents is handled through the Special Agent Selection System (SASS), and the stages can take a year to complete.

Online application

To log an application online, you’ll first need to register for an FBI Jobs account. The number of sections on the application form will differ according to the role being applied for.

You’ll be asked to upload a specifically tailored federal resume, and likely a number of required and optional supporting documents (such as proof of federal work experience or proof of veteran status).

One of the sections in the application will be a pre-application questionnaire.

FBI Phase I Aptitude Tests

If you pass the initial screening, you’ll be invited to attend an online assessment. This test must be sat in an invigilated environment at one of the FBI’s 56 Processing Field Offices (PFOs) and needs to be completed within 21 days of receiving an invitation.

The test consists of five sections and has a duration of three hours. It is designed to assess critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as give greater insight into a candidate’s behavioral preferences and suitability for their desired role.

The test sections include:

FBI logical reasoning test

The FBI’s logical reasoning test is closer to a deductive reasoning test or verbal reasoning test, as it assesses interpretation of information within written passages and statements.

Each question presents some information on a specific topic, which you’ll need to read through carefully. Accompanying this information will be a list of five statements.

You’ll need to make the required deductions and inferences from the text so you can identify which statement is true.

The logical reasoning section has 11 questions.

FBI figural reasoning test

The FBI figural reasoning section most closely resembles a diagrammatic reasoning test, as it assesses problem-solving ability using patterns and shapes. For each question, you’ll be presented with a grid featuring symbols and shapes within its boxes.

From the eight populated boxes, you’ll need to deduce the rules of the pattern. It may operate across columns, rows, or diagonals, and feature rotations, translations, transformations, or color changes of shapes and symbols.

You’ll then need to select the multiple-choice answer option that correctly completes the grid. This section has just 9 questions.

FBI personality assessment

Personality questionnaires are used to explore a candidate’s behaviors, personality traits, motivations, drives, and personal values.

The FBI test is adaptive, and you’ll need to indicate the degree to which you agree or disagree with a statement using a sliding mechanism. The section features 100 statements.

While there are no incorrect answers on a personality test, seek to display an alignment with the FBI’s organizational culture and core values through your responses.

Preferences and interests

This section carries on from the personality assessment, asking more specific questions about your ways of working and personal interests to explore your dispositional qualities.

It intends to gain a more rounded picture of each candidate, so informed decisions can be made about progressing in the recruitment process.

This section has 37 questions.

FBI situational judgment

A situational judgment test assesses your ability to deal appropriately and proportionately with a number of hypothetical workplace scenarios. You’ll be given the outline of a situation and asked to select which option, from a list of choices, most closely resembles the course of action you would take.

The situational judgment test is used to determine whether you are suited to the responsibilities and situational demands of the role. It also seeks to determine alignment with the FBI core values.

The section has 19 questions.

Meet & greet

All applicants who successfully complete the phase I test will be invited to attend a meet & greet session at their local Processing Field Office. Note that it usually takes around 16 weeks to proceed from the screening and phase I testing stage to the meet and greet, so be patient with the process.

At your meet & greet appointment, your application will be reviewed, and you’ll be asked questions to validate the information submitted. You’ll also be able to ask any questions you have about the job position or recruitment process.

After this meeting, there will be further evaluation to determine whether you meet the criteria to proceed to phase II. Your competitiveness will be evaluated using the FBI core competencies, which are:

• Collaboration
• Communication
• Flexibility & Adaptability
• Initiative
• Interpersonal Ability
• Leadership
• Organizing & Planning
• Problem Solving & Judgment

FBI Phase II Assessments

If you are deemed to be a competitive candidate, you’ll progress to the second stage of testing. The phase II FBI test consists of a writing assessment and a structured interview.

Writing assessment

The writing assessment is designed to test your ability to absorb and analyze information, and synthesize it into a well structured and comprehensive report.

You’ll be given a fictional scenario and accompanying materials containing relevant information. From this, you’ll be asked to type a report within a 2.5-hour time limit.

Close attention should be paid to readability, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Interview

If you submit a strong response in the writing assessment, you’ll be invited to attend an interview. This will be competency-based and will feature a panel of three FBI employees. It should last around an hour.

The interviewers will use standardized scoring criteria to measure your performance, so ensure you are ticking the required competency boxes with your answers. As with all interviews, try to remain relaxed and be yourself.

Ensure your responses are strong by using examples from your past educational or work experience to evidence your skills and abilities.

Conditional appointment offer

If you successfully pass phase II testing, you’ll be given a conditional appointment offer. You’ll need to pass the remaining components in the process to be able to take up the offer.

For desk-based roles, this is the background investigation. For practical (e.g. field agent roles), this is the background investigation, and graduation from the FBI Academy (which includes the Basic Field Training Course and the Official Physical Fitness Test).

Background Investigation

All candidates must be subject to a background investigation, to ensure they are approved for service within the security agency. The first step is to complete what is referred to as an ‘e-QIP application’, which will be emailed to you. The background investigation involves:

A personnel security interview, a polygraph examination, a urinalysis drug test, and fingerprinting.

A review of all your records, from your academic school record to your medical and credit records.

You will also be checked for any criminal arrest record and, if you are a veteran, your military records will also be reviewed.

Investigators will check your references, contact your current and all former employers, and speak with your family, friends, and neighbors.

The time it takes to complete the background investigation can vary according to the individual – extensive travel or time living overseas can extend the process. It usually takes around 6 months.

FBI Academy

Basic Field Training Course (BFTC)

The FBI’s Basic Field Training Course (BFTC) is designed to prepare Special Agent and Intelligence Analyst candidates for their roles. Special agents and intelligence analysts now train together on the same course, which lasts approximately 18 weeks.

The programme ensures trainees have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to begin work in the field. Training topics include defensive tactics, firearms, interview and interrogation, human intelligence, FBI intelligence products, and briefing skills.

During the course, prospective special agents will need to achieve a pass score on the Official Physical Fitness Test (PFT).

Official Physical Fitness Test (PFT)

The FBI’s Official Physical Fitness Test (PFT) is used to determine whether candidates have the stamina to work in the field. Not all applicants will need to complete a fitness test, but passing the assessment will be a condition of employment for special agent roles.

The PFT has four fitness challenges, which must be completed with only five minutes of rest time between the events.

The test includes:

Pull-ups – The number of continuous pull-ups you can do will be counted. Pull-ups replaced sit-ups as a standard event in late 2025

Sprint – A timed 300-meter sprint

Push-ups – The number of continuous push-ups you can do will be counted

Run – You’ll complete a timed 1.5-mile run

You’ll complete more than one PFT whilst undergoing FBI preparation training.

To pass, you’ll need a minimum cumulative score of 10 points across the four events (with at least 1 point in each event).

In addition to the PFT requirements, special agents must also pass a hearing test, vision test, and medical review.