What Is the CBP Entrance Exam?
The Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) entrance exam is the necessary first step to becoming a CBP Officer. The exam is extremely challenging as it is used as a screener test to select the best candidates among the most capable applicants.
The exam assesses several capabilities that are required to successfully perform the role of a CBP Officer, including logical reasoning, arithmetic reasoning, and the ability to read and write in English. Each of the three sections is timed, and the whole test will take roughly four hours to complete.
It is important to note that you will be given a calculator, scratch paper, and pencils during the exam. However, you must use the exact materials they provide and are not allowed to bring these from home. These items will be beneficial during the exam, so be sure to use them when you need them.
CBP Scoring
You must score at least a 70 on the CBT exam to be considered passing; however, since you will be competing against several qualified candidates, you will want to stand out from the crowd by achieving as high a score as possible.
If you are not satisfied with your score, you may retake the test after six months from the date of your first test.
Experience Record
Before taking the exam on-site, you must take an at-home Experience Record Assessment. This assessment will examine your past work history, experiences, and achievements. It is essential to be completely honest during this exam and answer all questions thoroughly.
You may also want to review the job requirements for a CBP Officer so you can better highlight your related skills and relevant experience during this pre-exam.
Customs and Border Patrol Entrance Exam Test Sections:
- Logical Reasoning Test – The first part of the CBP exam is the logical reasoning section which is 81 minutes long. In this section, you will receive various statements and passages that you must use to answer the given questions. You will need to draw a logical conclusion from the text or determine which statements can or cannot be concluded from the provided information. You will want to read each passage and question carefully and focus on the facts presented in the text when answering the questions in this section. Try not to use outside knowledge as the answer to each question will be given in the text.
- Arithmetic Reasoning Test – The arithmetic reasoning section is the longest test section of the exam at 87 minutes. This portion of the exam covers a variety of topics, including word problems, fundamental operations, and basic arithmetic calculations, including averages, decimals, and percentages. Remember that the proctor of the exam will give you a calculator and scratch paper to use on the test. Those items will be incredibly useful during this section. If you are unsure of how to answer a question, try using the process of elimination to narrow down the answer choices and make an educated guess on what the answer could be.
- Writing Test – The last section you will encounter on the CBP exam is the writing section. Officers need to write reports, so they need to have a basic understanding of reading, writing, and grammar. You will have 47 minutes to complete this section of the exam. Be sure to carefully read each question and answer as it is easy to make small mistakes in this section when working quickly. It is also essential to choose the best possible solution for each question. While some questions may have one or more answer choices that seem like they may be correct, select the answer that is the most correct.
How to Prepare for the CBP Entrance Exam?
The CBP Assessment is designed to be difficult as it is used to select the best candidates out of an already qualified applicant pool. To ensure that you stand out from the other applicants and are able to move successfully to the next stage of candidacy, you will have to achieve a high score on the exam.
The best way to get a high score on the CBP exam is to study ahead of time. Using materials like study guides and sample tests can increase your confidence and give you an idea of what will be on the exam. These resources will walk you through the correct answers to sample questions so you can better understand what you are doing right, how you may be doing something wrong, and how you should approach these questions in the future.
Those who take the time to prepare for the CBP test score significantly higher than those who do not study. Therefore, it is crucial to take advantage of these resources and allow yourself enough time to study.
