WEBVTT

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The Entrance Exam.

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Your first step on the road to becoming a Border Patrol Agent or CBP Officer.

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We use the Entrance Exam to assess you on skills that our employees use every day.

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The good news is,

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you don’t need to know how to do the job you’ve applied for to succeed on the exam…

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and we have a lot of resources to help you prepare.

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Here’s how it all works.

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The Entrance Exam is broken down into two parts:

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Shortly after submitting your application on USAJobs,

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you’ll receive an email inviting you to complete
the Candidate Experience Record.

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a short questionnaire about your personal and professional background.

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You can complete the candidate experience record on your phone, a tablet, or a computer.

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After that, you’ll receive an email with instructions on the next step:

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 the reasoning exams.

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You may have the option to take one or more of these exams at home.

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If you do, we recommend using a computer or tablet, versus your mobile phone.

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Otherwise, you’ll receive instructions on how to schedule an appointment at a local testing center.

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If you take the exams at a testing center,

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be sure to arrive and check in at least 15 minutes early.

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If you’re late, you may have to start your application to CBP over again.

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When you arrive,

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test administrators will take you to a computer that you’ll use to take the exam

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You’ll have to store your cell phone, bag, wallet, and other personal items in a storage area outside the room or in your car.

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but you CAN bring in a water bottle,

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and the test administrators will provide scratch paper and pens.

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All applicants will take a logical reasoning exam

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that assesses your ability to make sound decisions and draw logical conclusions based on the information provided in the exam.

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If you’re applying for a Border Patrol Agent position, logical reasoning will be your only exam–

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but keep listening for some tips that will help you prepare.

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If you’re applying for a CBP Officer position,

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you’ll also have exams on arithmetic reasoning and writing skills.

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The arithmetic reasoning exam assesses your ability to perform basic math and identify strategies to solve numbers-based problems.

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If you’re in person,
test administrators will provide you with a calculator.

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The writing exam uses a multiple-choice format to assess your ability to communicate clearly and effectively in writing.

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So, how can you prepare?

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First, there are study guides and practice tests on our website.

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at CBP.gov/Study-Guides

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Be sure to read the study guides thoroughly and set aside time to take the practice tests before test day.

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Beyond that, here are a few important tips:

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If you’re applying for a Border Patrol Agent position, your Logical Reasoning exam will take about two hours.

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If you’re applying for a CBP Officer position, your three exams will take about four hours total.

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Once you start, you have limited time to complete the exams – so focus on time management when you practice

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and, if you take one or more exam at home, ensure you have a quiet space where you can focus and complete each exam in a single sitting.

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Either way, keep in mind that these exams aren’t like a pen-and-paper test.

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You won’t be able to go back and revisit questions you’ve already answered.

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You also can’t move forward until you answer the question you’re currently on.

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That means sometimes you may have to make a best guess in order to keep going.

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And last but not least,

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take the exam seriously.

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They’re a measure of how well you’ll do on the job, and your score will determine whether your application moves forward.

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Preparation and success are up to you.

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After you finish, you can relax and go about your day.

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We’ll email you your results within about two weeks.

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Good next steps after watching this video would be to check out the study guides,

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set aside time to take the practice tests,

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and make sure you review and understand all the information in the confirmation and scheduling emails we’ll send as you move through the process.

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You can find the study guides and practice tests at cbp.gov/study-guides.

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If you haven’t already,

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 join our Talent Network to learn more about positions at CBP,

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or head to cbp.gov/careers/apply-now to start your application.

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CBPApplicantContactCenter@cbp.dhs.gov
(855) 500-3722