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Help and
Frequently Asked Questions
This page
contains help and FAQs for the FSWE Online Registration.
Eligibility
Requirements
Testing
Accommodations
The
Alternate Test Date for Religious Beliefs
Contact
Information
AOL
and the Online Registration
Cannot
Use IE 4.5 for Macintosh
Privacy
Act Statement
Collection of Disability Information
Paperwork
Reduction Act
Problems with Online
Registration
Registration
Processing
Career
Track Selection Summary
Test
Center Choice
Test
Center Admission and Regulations
Foreign
Language Proficiency Description
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back to the online registration
Eligibility
Requirements to Bring the Exam:
Applicants must be citizens of the United States.
Applicants must be at least 20 years old to apply. They must be
at least 21 years of age to be appointed. All career candidates
must be appointed to the Foreign Service prior to the date at
which a candidate reaches age 60. Applicants must be at least 20
years of age and no older than 59 on the date of the examination.
The age limit is based on date of birth: applicants are not
eligible one day after their 59th birthday.
Availability for worldwide assignment, including Washington, D.C.
No applicant will be considered who has previously been separated
from the Foreign Service under sections 607, 608, 610, or 611 of
the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended, or who resigned or
retired in lieu of separation under these provisions. In
addition, no applicant will be considered who has previously been
separated for failure to receive a career appointment under
section 306 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended or who
resigned or retired in lieu thereof.
No specific educational level or proficiency in a foreign
language is required for applicants.
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Testing
Accommodations
The Foreign Service Written
Examination is prepared and administered by ACT for the U.S.
Department of State. In accordance with Federal law, the U.S.
Department of State will provide reasonable accommodation to
enable qualified applicants with disabilities to bring the FSWE.
Accommodation may include a reader, a person to record answers, a
separate testing room, extra testing time, a Braille or cassette
version of the test and/or large-print versions of the exam.
Decisions for these and other accommodations will be made on a
case by case basis.
All applicants, including those with disabilities requesting
accommodations, must register online. Requests for testing
accommodation and complete, current (within the last
five years) supporting documentation must be received by the
application deadline [March 1, 2007 for foreign (international)
test centers and March 8, 2007 for U.S. test centers] and must
be sent with a copy of the online confirmation received after
submission of an online application. Send requests for testing
accommodations and complete supporting documentation to:
Foreign Service Written
Examination
PO Box 4070
Iowa City, IA 52243-4070,
USA.
Requests that are incomplete
or are not supported by appropriate documentation by the
registration deadline may not be approved. Candidates who
need testing accommodations are requested to register as early
as possible in order for ACT to have sufficient time to make
the necessary arrangements.
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The
Alternate Test Date for Religious Beliefs
All
applicants, including those requesting an alternate Sunday test
date, must register online. An applicant whose religious
beliefs preclude him or her from taking the examination on April
21, 2007 may apply to test on Sunday, April 22, 2007. The
alternate test date is available only as an accommodation for
those who, for religious reasons, cannot bring the examination on
the scheduled Saturday date. These registrants may request an
accommodation to bring the examination on the alternate test date,
April 22. The accommodation request must be in writing and should
include documentation supporting the need for a religious
accommodation.
This documentation must be received by the
application deadline [March 1, 2007 for Foreign (international)
test centers and March 8, 2007 for U.S. test centers] and must be
sent with a copy of the online confirmation received after
submission of an online application to:
Foreign
Service Written Examination
PO Box 4070
Iowa City, IA
52243-4070, USA.
Please note that the applicant may initially receive an Admission
Letter for the Saturday test site, but will be reassigned to the
alternate test date test site as soon as ACT receives and approves
his or her documentation. The applicant will be reissued a new
Admission Letter once ACT has received and established the
alternate Sunday test center.
Alternate test dates for the examination will not be authorized
for any reason other than for Saturday Sabbath observance.
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Contact Information
To correct information,
inquire about registration status, or for registration questions:
Foreign Service Written Examination
PO Box 4070
Iowa
City, IA 52243-4070, USA.
To report technical problems with completing online
registration, we have provided an email address for these specific
concerns. The address is fswe@act.org.
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AOL
and the Online Registration
If you are using America
Online (AOL) to connect to the
Internet, please follow these directions to access the Foreign
Service Written Examination Online Registration from AOL.
Follow the directions below for best access to Online Registration
for your hardware and software.
AOL 4.0 through 9.0 for Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, or XP (32
bit): For users running Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, or XP
on a Pentium class machine with 16 MB RAM and between 50 MB and
230 MB free disk space (depending on which version and options
are used).
Under these configurations, you may use the AOL for Windows native
browser for Online registration.
Macintosh: The AOL Macintosh browser will not work
with this application.
Use a third-party browser, Netscape Communicator 4.7 or Microsoft
Internet Explorer 5.0 or above. Netscape Communicator for
Macintosh may be downloaded from Microsoft's website.
Once you have installed your Web browser, follow the instructions
at the bottom of this section to use it.
Instructions for running an external browser with AOL
Open your AOL software and sign on to AOL
Minimize AOL
Start your external browser by double-clicking its program icon
Enter http://www.act.org/fswe/ into your external browser to
enter online registration
If you are using a non-native browser with AOL, be careful not
to miss AOL's 45 minute disconnect alert.
Additional Requirement: This application uses Secure
Socket Layers (SSL) to encrypt your registration information.
You must have SSL enabled to register electronically.
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Cannot Use IE 4.5 for Macintosh
Microsoft
Internet Explorer 4.5 for the Macintosh has a known software
problem that makes it incompatible with the Online Registration.
Users with this combination will need to use a different
browser/computer to register, request
a printed copy of the registration guide, or access
the Alternative Registration Method.
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Privacy Act Statement
Section 301 of the
Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended, 22 U.S.C. s 3941,
provides that the Secretary of State shall prescribe, as
appropriate, written examinations for appointment to the Foreign
Service. The principal purposes of the information collected on
the registration form are to: 1) determine your eligibility to
bring the Foreign Service Written Examination; 2) register you for
the Foreign Service Written Examination; and 3) ensure the
integrity of the examination process. Routine uses of the
information collected on the registration form include preparation
of statistical reports and analyses. Such reports and analyses are
prepared in such a way that they are not individually identifiable
and may be shared outside the Department. In addition, information
on the form may occasionally be provided to other federal agencies
in response to a request for information in connection with the
hiring or retention of an employee or to Members of Congress in
response to an inquiry made at the request of that individual.
Your Social Security Number is used as your applicant
identification number. Executive Order 9397 authorizes
solicitation of your Social Security Number for use as an
identifier in personnel records management, thus ensuring your
proper identification throughout the selection and employment
process. Furnishing your Social Security Number, as well as other
information requested on the form, is voluntary, but failure to do
so may prevent timely processing of your application or may
prevent us from registering you for the Written Examination.
Collection of Disability Information
Collection of the requested information is authorized by the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112). The information you
furnish will be used for the purpose of producing statistical
reports to show agency progress in hiring, placement, and
advancement of individuals with disabilities and to locate
individuals for voluntary participation in surveys. The reports
will be used to inform agency management, the Office of Personnel
Management (OPM), the Congress and the public of the status of
programs for employment of individuals with disabilities. All
such reports will be in the form of aggregate totals and will not
identify you in any way as an individual. While
self-identification is voluntary, your cooperation in providing
accurate information is critical.
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Paperwork Reduction Act
The time burden of this
form is estimated at an average of 20 minutes, including the time
needed to look for, get, and provide the information required. The
Paperwork Reduction Act informs us that you do not have to provide
the information requested if this form does not display a
currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control
number. The OMB control number is 1405-0008. We would appreciate
any comments on the estimated response burden, and recommendations
for reducing it. Please send your comments to A/ISS/DIR, U.S.
Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20520. The U.S. Department
of State number for this form is DS-1998 E, 06-1999.
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Problems with Online Registration
If you are
having problems completing the online registration, call ACT at
(319) 341-2500 or 1-800-205-6358 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Central Time or email fswe@act.org.
Registration Processing
Please read carefully
all the instructions regarding the process and completion of the
online registration. Be certain that you have completed all items
correctly. If the registration is incomplete, it will not be
processed. You will need to allow at least 10 days for processing
before requesting registration status. Your registration must be
entered by 5:00 p.m. Central Time the day of registration
deadline. For foreign (international) test sites, the receipt
deadline for the April 8, 2007 FSWE is March 1, 2007 and for U.S.
test sites it is March 8, 2007.
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Career
Track Selection Summary
Career
candidates can expect to spend most, if not all, of their Foreign
Service careers in the career track selected when registering for
the exam. All candidates are urged to read carefully the
following descriptions in the Registration Guide before making a
decision. A brief overview of each career track is provided below.
Management Career Track:
Develop contacts with host-country government and business
officials.
Advocate for the interests of the U.S. with the host government.
Manage multi-million dollar operational and real estate budgets;
oversee local employees.
Maintain U.S. government offices and residences within the host
country.
Negotiate bilateral work agreements and reciprocal tax treatment.
Utilize personnel and other resources to support the work of the
Foreign Service.
Oversee diplomatic security for mission.
Consular
Career Track:
Acquire expertise in local laws, customs, and political climate.
Provide both emergency and non-emergency services to American
citizens.
Respond to inquiries from a range of sources, including
congressional offices.
Adjudicate visa applications to determine who may enter the
United States.
Work to combat consular fraud.
Develop innovative practices to protect U.S. citizens and keep
U.S. borders safe.
Economic
Career Track:
Develop contacts in host government and local business community.
Advance U.S. economic, commercial, scientific and technological
interests.
Work with international and non-governmental organizations on
U.S. interests.
Resolve bilateral trade disputes and promote liberalization of
world trade.
Report on policy developments and make recommendations for U.S.
action.
Negotiate trade-related agreements and treaties.
Provide assistance to local American and foreign business
communities.
Political
Career Track:
Develop host country and other contacts to advance U.S.
interests.
Assess political developments and make recommendations for U.S.
action.
Convey official U.S. communications to host-country government.
Communicate with foreign governments seeking support for shared
goals.
Participate in developing and implementing U.S. foreign policy.
Advise U.S. policy makers on local views and their implications.
Public
Diplomacy Career Track:
Serve as post spokesperson, and address all media inquiries,
support Ambassador with media events.
Explain the complexities of U.S. society, culture, and foreign
policy agenda.
Manage academic and cultural programs and encourage bilateral
participation.
Ensure U.S. positions are understood and that misrepresentations
are corrected.
Promote U.S. core values of free speech and transparency.
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Test Center Choice
Every consideration is given
to assign you to the requested test center. But, because of space
limitations, this is not always possible. In large metropolitan
areas, some test centers will be located in suburban areas. Test
center assignments are made on a first-come, first served basis.
The exact location of the test center where you are assigned will
be printed on your admission letter. You are guaranteed a seat
at the assigned location only.
All information regarding
test center hotel and food accommodations are the responsibility
of the examinee. Possible information might be accessible through
the Internet.
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Test Center Admission and Regulations
All applicants, including those requesting the alternate Sunday
test date or a testing accommodation, must register online.
If you provide an email address when you register, you will
receive an email providing directions for downloading your
admission letter when you have been assigned to a test center.
You will not be mailed an Admission Letter. Early registrants
will receive their admission letters after February 1, 2007.
Registrants registering after February 1, 2007 and later can
expect their admission letter within 72 hours.
Bring your admission letter with you to your test center; you
will be required to show it to the supervisor at the test center.
Also bring a second means of identification, such as a
government-issued ID, driver's license, passport, or any document
bearing your photograph. Test center supervisors are authorized
to refuse admittance to applicants whose identities cannot be
positively established.
The admission letter is not transferable to another person.
If you lose your admission letter, or if you have not received it
ONE WEEK before the test date, immediately notify ACT at
1-800-205-6358 or (319) 341-2500 between the hours of 8:00 a.m.
and5:00 p.m. central time and request authorization to bring the
examination. If you are properly registered and it is too late to
mail an authorization, ACT will give you the test center
reporting location and reporting time.
The staff at each test center will observe certain common
procedures to ensure that all applicants have equal testing time
and that the operation of the center meets the requirements for
standardized testing.
The Foreign Service Written Examination will be given only on the
day and time scheduled. Makeup examination cannot be authorized
for any reason.
You should report to the test center at the
time shown on your admission letter. Actual starting time of the
exam may vary at different centers due to differences in the
amount of time necessary for pre-test administrative procedures.
If you report to the center later than the time stated on your
admission letter, you will not be admitted.
No pencils are furnished at the center. Bring an eraser
and three or four No. 1 or 2 pencils for marking your answer
sheet and a black ink pen for writing the essay.
Applicants are not permitted to continue any part of the
examination beyond the established time limit. Bring a watch
since there may not be a clock visible to you in the testing
room. Proctors are present throughout the examination.
Scoring will be based on the number of questions you answer
correctly. There is no penalty for guessing.
The only things candidates are permitted to bring into the
testing room are soft-lead (No. 1 or 2) pencils, erasers, and
black-ink ink pens for the essays. For example, candidates
may not bring highlighters, backpacks, purses, briefcases, food
or drink, beeping alarms, calculator watches, wristwatches with
picture-taking feature, pagers, cellular phones, books, notes,
scratch paper, Palm Pilots or other handheld computers, any type
of digital assistants or wireless email devices, rulers,
calculators, cameras, radios, tape recorders,
lapboards/deskboards, or aids of any kind into the testing rooms.
Candidates may not wear hats, earplugs, or headphones. Any such
materials brought by applicants will be collected by testing
staff and returned when the applicant has completed the
examination and is leaving the testing room. Test center
supervisors will not permit anyone found with such materials
after the test begins to continue the test.
Scratch paper is not permitted. The margins of the test book may
be used for notes and figuring. All responses must be marked on
the answer sheet. No credit will be given for work done in the
test book.
If any applicant is discovered engaging in any kind of misconduct
during the course of the test administration (e.g., creating a
disturbance; giving or receiving help; using notes, books, or
papers of any kind; working on one section of the test during the
time allotted for another section; removing test materials or
notes from the test room; or taking part in an act of
impersonation), the applicant will be dismissed from the center,
and the answer sheet will not be scored.
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Foreign
Language Proficiency Description
Code for Language
Proficiency Scale (developed by the Department of State's School
of Language Studies).
Elementary Proficiency requires the ability to satisfy
routine travel and courtesy needs and read basic lesson material
and common signs, etc.
Limited Working Proficiency requires the ability to
satisfy routine social and limited office needs and to read
intermediate or simple colloquial texts.
General Professional Proficiency requires the ability to
speak accurately and with enough vocabulary to handle social
representation and professional discussions within special fields
of knowledge.
Advanced Professional Proficiency requires the ability to
speak and read the language fluently and accurately on all levels
pertinent to professional needs.
Native or Bilingual Proficiency requires language skills
equivalent to that of the educated native speaker.
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